IN BRIEF (Page 3)

Education

Animal welfare features in veterinary training

The Ministry of Education has included the topic of animal welfare in veterinary medicine courses curriculums this school year, reflecting the country's rising concern for animals.

Jia Zili, secretary-general of the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association's Animal Health Service and Welfare Branch, said the ministry had included animal welfare as a compulsory course in veterinary education. "Animal welfare is still not widely accepted, even among veterinarians, said Jia.

Legal

Bo Xilai to appeal life sentence

Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing Party chief, is to appeal his life sentence for corruption, Shandong Provincial High People's Court announced on Oct 9.

The appeal was submitted to the court on Sept 22 and has been accepted, the court said in an online statement. According to Chinese law, the hearing will be the 64-year-old's final appeal. The court did not say whether the hearing will be open to the public.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 10/11/2013 page3)