Society

Around China

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-01 07:45

1 BEIJING

Fourth orbiter ready for launch

China will soon launch its fourth orbiter into space as part of its indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network known as Beidou, or compass system.

An unnamed official with the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province said the satellite would be launched on the Long March 3III carrier rocket "in a few days".

The satellite and the rocket are in sound condition and preparations are running smoothly, the official said on Monday.

2 QINGHAI

Final quake death toll is 2,698

The final death toll from the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that jolted Yushu in Northwest China's Qinghai province on April 14 is 2,698, with 270 people missing, the province's Vice-Governor Zhang Guangrong said on Monday.

Among the victims, 2,687 have been identified while the identities of 11 bodies remains unknown, Zhang told reporters at a press conference.

He said the deceased include 199 students and a Hong Kong resident.

Yushu kids get 240m yuan

Children in Yushu, Qinghai province, on Monday received 240 million yuan ($35.1 million) in donations as a gift for Children's Day.

According to the All-China Women's Federation, the money will be used for the reconstruction of schools and kindergartens destroyed in the earthquake, subsidies for children in the quake-stricken area and buying health insurance for earthquake orphans.

3 HENAN

Agriculture fair to open Oct 18

The Ministry of Agriculture will hold the eighth annual China Agricultural Trade Fair from Oct 18 to 22 in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province.

Exhibitors from all 31 provincial, municipal and autonomous regional governments, as well as Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Taiwan and other countries, will be spread across 103,000 square meters, including 65,000 sq m of indoor area and 38,000 sq m of outdoor space.

Six special trade zones involved in agricultural materials, machineries, and products will be presented this year.

The famous annual exhibition specializing in agriculture, which has been held annually since 2003, has helped increase trade volume significantly each year.

4 CHONGQING

Cars recalled for engine flaw

The Chongqing-based Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Company started on Monday to recall 236,643 Focus cars produced between August 18, 2008 and May 28, 2009, because of potential problems with the E-gas engine that may cause the engine to stop in low speeds, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced on Monday.

The company has promised to update E-gas engines for free.

5 GUANGDONG

Zhongshan mayor under probe

Li Qihong, mayor of Zhongshan, Guangdong province, has been placed under investigation for "serious disciplinary offenses in economic activities", a local anti-graft body said on Sunday.

Li, 56, was appointed as the mayor and the city's deputy Party chief in January 2007.

(China Daily 06/01/2010 page5)