Fund to protect river sources

China launched a fund on Monday to protect its far-western Sanjiangyuan nature reserve, the source of China's major rivers.

The fund aims to set up a long-term mechanism to push for more progress on environmental protection at the source of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers in Qinghai province.

The China Construction Bank donated 3 million yuan ($480,000) to the fund.

Lost Australians rescued in Hoh Xil

Two Australian tourists were found by Chinese rescuers on Sunday afternoon, after being stranded for five days in Hoh Xil on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, police said.

One suffered an injury to his right arm, but both are in good health, said Guo Haili, head of the public security bureau of the city of Golmud, Qinghai province.

The two Australians were identified as Edward Tasman Game and Hamish Henry Reid.

Beijing

Engineer inducted into hall of fame

The chief engineer at the Research Institute of Highways under the Ministry of Transport in China has become the first Chinese inductee into the Intelligent Transport Systems hall of fame.

Wang Xiaojing was inducted into the hall of fame at the 19th ITS World Congress on Monday. His induction honors his outstanding achievements in improving China's road network.

This year's ITS World Congress is being hosted in Vienna, Austria, from Monday through Friday.

Accident leaves 6 dead, 3 injured

Six workers were killed and another three were injured in an accident at a construction site in Beijing on Monday, local authorities said.

The accident happened at 2:20 pm when the walls of a basement that was under construction collapsed in Chaoyang district, a district government spokesman said.

The injured have been sent to a local hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not life-threatening.

Convicted flight attendant appeals

A former flight attendant who was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being caught smuggling goods from overseas to sell in China has appealed to a higher court, the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Monday.

Li Xiaohang bought makeup products from duty-free shops in South Korea and brought the items through customs as personal belongings a number of times between 2010 and August 2011, a verdict provided by the Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court said.

The court said that the woman evaded 1.13 million yuan ($178,000) in taxes, and Li was also fined 500,000 yuan.

China Daily - Xinhua