Briefly

Beijing improves hospice services

Beijing had a total of 650 beds for hospice patients by the end of 2022, compared to 64 beds in 2020, according to local health authorities. A total of 95 medical institutions in the city had registered hospice care departments, and 28 had set up special beds for hospice patients, said Wang Xiao'e, an official with the Beijing Municipal Health Commission. Beijing authorities issued a plan for the development of hospice care services in the city last year. According to the plan, every district of the Chinese capital will have at least one hospice care center by 2025, with no less than 1,800 hospice beds across the city.

Wuhan sees rise in wild bird population

Wuhan, Hubei province, recorded a total of 380 wild bird species in 2022, the highest since 2016 when the city launched bird monitoring activities, local authorities said. According to the Wuhan city garden and forestry bureau, 20 bird species were discovered last year. Yan Jun, head of the Wuhan Bird Watching Society, attributed the increase in the bird population to the city's abundant natural resources, improvement in the environment and growing public awareness of bird protection. Yan said the bird watching society had carried out monitoring activities in 79 key areas in Wuhan last year, and the number of wild bird species recorded in the city accounted for about 26.3 percent of the country's total.

Medical cosmetology crimes prosecuted

China's procuratorial organs have prosecuted 381 individuals in 129 cases amid a crackdown on crimes related to medical cosmetology that was launched in September 2022, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Since the start of the crackdown, procuratorial organs nationwide have approved the arrest of 306 individuals involved in 89 medical cosmetology criminal cases, said the SPP, adding that a total of 838 public interest litigation cases were filed and handled.

Former Sinograin exec pleads guilty to bribery

Xu Baoyi, former deputy general manager of China Grain Reserves Group (Sinograin), stood trial for bribery, dereliction of duty by personnel of State-owned enterprises and insider trading on Thursday. The case was heard by the Intermediate People's Court of Datong in Shanxi province. Xu was accused of taking advantage of his various positions between 2006 and 2021 to seek benefits for others in matters such as project contracting, enterprise operations, payment of project funds, and job arrangements. In return, he accepted money and valuables worth 13.8 million yuan ($2 million). In his final statement, Xu pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. Xu's sentence will be announced at a later date.

Xinhua