Surveillance ship begins voyage

A 3,000-ton marine surveillance ship, Haijian 110, started its maiden voyage to patrol waters in the Yellow Sea and protect undersea cables, according to a statement published on the website of the State Oceanic Administration on Monday. The statement didn't reveal any details about the patrol or the ship.

University leaders to train overseas

The Ministry of Education on Tuesday launched a five-year overseas training program for 1,000 presidents of public universities based in central and western China in order to improve their management capacity. Some 100 university presidents will be sent to the United States, Britain, Australia and Germany for a three-week training course later this month, the ministry said.

State plans bid for aluminum

The National Reserve Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission plans to bid for 160,000 tons of aluminum as the first step in a 400,000-ton primary aluminum storage project, China Securities Journal reported on Wednesday. The purchasing and storage of the 160,000 tons of aluminum will be carried out through competitive bidding among more than 10 shortlisted companies.

Air China responds to crutches dispute

Air China Ltd said that physically disabled passengers can travel in a wheelchair immediately after they check in their crutches, the Beijing Morning Post reported. The statement came as a reply to complaints by a disabled Chinese singer who had a dispute with the airline at an airport. Employees at Beijing Capital International Airport said that metal crutches are forbidden on airplanes because of safety regulations.

Red Cross calls for small donations

The Red Cross Society of China in Beijing will encourage more people to make small donations through text messages, cell phones and online payments. The Beijing Red Cross faces serious challenges in fundraising and relief efforts because of limited channels and a weakened reputation, said Liu Na, vice-president of the charity, at a meeting on Tuesday.

Tianjin

More white storks found poisoned

Eight more Oriental white storks have been found dead around rivers containing pesticide in Tianjin, raising the death toll to 21. More than 30 white storks have been found poisoned since Sunday at Beidagang Natural Reserve. Thirteen of the rare birds have been sent to a local rescue center and are recovering well.

Liaoning

Poodle faints at sight of mahjong

A poodle in Dalian, Liaoning province, would pretend to pass out every time his owner plays mahjong in protest of his owner's disregard for him, local media reported. The owner, a woman surnamed Song, has loved to play mahjong ever since she retired in October but lately she has discovered that every time she starts playing, her poodle suddenly faints.

Hubei

Students asked to do labor work

Students of a university in Hubei province have been required to do labor work to get school credit, Southern Metropolis Daily reported. The report said Hubei University of Technology is requiring students to take a compulsory labor course on every Friday afternoon since last week, where they would participate in such manual labor as sweeping, mopping and trash collecting.

Jiangsu

Son bans elderly father from home

An elderly man had to go back to his hometown after he wasn't allowed in his son's home on Monday night in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, according to Modern Express. The elderly man, surnamed Zhang, traveled to Nanjing to see his youngest son from Hubei province, but the young man refused to take his father home. The father, wearing dirty jeans and a jacket, was crying and carrying shabby bags on the street.

Ancient tombs discovered

Archaeologists have found 46 ancient tombs in Nanjing Forestry University of Jiangsu province. The tombs, dating back to around AD 229, are considered to be very important archaeological discoveries. More than 100 funerary objects, including gold plates, silverware, pottery and porcelain, have been found in the tombs, which are located on a hill at the university.

Guangdong

'Uncle House' case enters new stage

Cai Bin, known as "Uncle House" in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, has been transferred to the procuratorial organ for further investigations and prosecution, according Lou Xukui, the Panyu district head. Investigations done in early October by netizens revealed that Cai, former commissar of the district branch of urban administration and law enforcement, had a total of 22 houses.

More toilets needed in subway

Guangzhou has more than 100 metro stations, but that only 16 of the stations have toilets, said Han Zhipeng, a member of the Guangzhou Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. "The need for toilets is huge, and the subway company should solve the problem," Han said.

Surveys says pension is vital

Most of the people polled in a recent survey believe that government-sponsored pensions are important. About 66 percent of them think that pensions are important to guarantee a dignified life for the elderly. The Guangzhou Public Opinion Research Center interviewed more than 5,000 residents via phone calls in 693 cities and counties around the country in September.

Chongqing

Sexologist calls for dating facilities

A sexologist has suggested universities set up specific places where couples may meet on campus, to ensure their safety and privacy during dates, the Chongqing Evening News has reported. Peng Xiaohui, professor at Central China Normal University, has encouraged universities to transform campus activity centers into half-closed booths, where student lovers can enjoy privacy.

Macao

City's package tour arrivals rise

Macao's visitor arrivals in package tours in September rose by 21.9 percent year-on-year to 749,496, according to figures released by the city's Statistics and Census Service on Wednesday. In the first nine months of 2012, visitor arrivals on package tours increased by 24.5 percent year-on-year to 6,571,468, accounting for 31.5 percent of total visitor arrivals.

China Daily - XInhua