No-mercury future for thermometers

About 7 million mercury thermometers in hospitals and clinics across China may be phased out by the end of this year, as an international treaty to protect human health and the environment from poisonous mercury took effect in China on Wednesday.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

2 disease control officials punished over HIV/AIDS

Two disease control officials in Henan province have been punished for embezzling government subsidies paid to local HIV/AIDS carriers and forcing patients to buy drugs that were not approved by the China Food and Drug Administration.

Public weighs in on giant telescope design

NANJING - The Chinese public has developed an interest in the development of the world's largest telescope, as scientific disagreements about its design broke into cyberspace.

Residents pitch in to burnish coastal city's clean reputation

It was 7 o'clock in the morning. Peng Zuxun, 82, a resident of Qinhuangdao's Greatwall Garden community, left home to start his day, with a scraping tool in his pocket as usual.

Urban patrols break stereotypes

In China, when people mention the word chengguan - urban patrol officers - the first impression might be negative, thoughts of abuse of power or their rude manners when expelling vendors.

Dongguan tycoon gets life sentence

A business tycoon and former national legislator has been sentenced to life behind bars for bribery and organizing prostitution in Dongguan, Guangdong province.

Quality of medical care on the rise

The quality and safety of medical care has risen steadily in China, with patients increasingly benefiting from the adoption of international standards, according to China's top health authority.

12-year-old gives birth, abandons baby

The police in Yibin, Sichuan province, are investigating the case of a 12-year-old girl who gave birth to a baby girl, and are pledging to hold the father accountable.

Girl who was fondled in Nanjing railway station was adopted, police say

Nanjing railway police said on Tuesday that a girl photographed as she was being fondled by a man in a crowded railway station waiting room had been adopted by the man's parents.

IN BRIEF

Passenger sues Harbin rail bureau over smoking

A female railway passenger who had to endure cigarette smoke during a journey is suing the Harbin Railway Bureau for allowing passengers to smoke.