Briefly

Two killed in fire at Guizhou scenic area

Two villagers were killed during a fire at a homestay at a popular scenic spot at Xijiang village in Leishan, Guizhou province, on Monday morning, local authorities said. Another six were injured but are in stable condition. The fire broke out at 9:50 am and lasted about 30 minutes before it was extinguished by firefighters, the Leishan emergency management bureau said in a statement, adding that two wooden houses caught fire. A tourist surnamed Ye told Hubei province-based Jiupai News that the fire engulfed a homestay near the entrance of a scenic spot, which is renowned for its Miao ethnic style architecture. She said rescuers caught people who were jumping out of its third-story window. The Leishan emergency bureau said the cause of the fire is under investigation and recovery efforts are underway.

Flood risks prompt emergency response

China's Ministry of Water Resources on Monday activated a Level IV emergency response for flood risks in Shandong province and Sichuan province. From Tuesday to Friday, heavy rains will lash parts of Sichuan and Shandong, causing water levels in rivers to rise sharply, the ministry said. Multiple rivers are expected to see water levels exceed their warning lines, it said. China has a four-tier flood control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response.

University Party chief suspected of graft

Gu Xiaoyuan, former Party secretary of Beijing International Studies University, faces prosecution for allegedly engaging in corruption and taking bribes, according to a statement issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate. The SPP announced the news on its website, saying that the third branch of the Beijing People's Procuratorate has initiated proceedings at the Beijing No 3 Intermediate People's Court. Prosecutors accused Gu, who also served as a State official, of using his work positions to illegally control a large amount of public funds and of accepting significant sums in bribes from people she helped. Prosecutors added that Gu, 57, should be held liable for the crimes of corruption and bribery. A native of Jiangsu province, Gu was placed under investigation in October on suspicion of severely violating the disciplines of the Communist Party of China and the nation's laws.

China Daily - Xinhua