Beijing

Sandstorm headed for capital city

A cold snap and a sandstorm could be headed for Beijing on Monday. Cold air is expected to sweep the capital, with temperatures dropping 4 to 8 degrees and dust clouding the city, according to the National Meteorological Center. The dust will hit the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and places in Northwest China, while the capital, at the edge of the cold front, is likely to witness a sandstorm, said experts from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

Scientific research stressed for military

A senior military official has urged more talents be fostered and scientific research deepened in the military field to build strong support for the country's military construction and battle capabilities. Xu Qiliang, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his recent visits to the National Defense University and the Academy of Military Sciences.

More disabled employed in 2012

Progress has been made in the employment of the disabled, as China created new jobs for 329,000 disabled city-dwellers in 2012, according to a statement released on Sunday. As many as 299,000 handicapped people received vocational training in 2012, while the number of vocational training bases increased to 5,271, from 5,254 in 2011, according to the statement, which was released by the China Disabled Persons' Federation.

Iron Man 3 to hit Chinese theaters

The Chinese version of Iron Man 3 is set to hit cinema screens on May 3. Co-produced by US Marvel Studios and China's DMG Entertainment, the film stars Robert Downey Jr and features two Chinese A-listers Wang Xueqi and Fan Bingbing, who play the roles of a doctor and nurse. In the film, which is partially shot in China, Downey Jr plays Tony Stark who embarks on a journey of retribution searching and fighting his enemy.

Hainan

Xisha Islands to open for tourism

The Xisha Islands in the South China Sea will be open to Chinese tourists before the Labor Day holiday, said Tan Li, executive deputy governor of Hainan province, on Saturday. People will be allowed to visit the islands on cruise tours, Tan said at the 2013 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. Details of the tour routes, capacity of tourist reception and cruise ships will be released later, he said.

Guizhou

Third coal miner dead in flood

Rescuers have confirmed another miner has died in a flooded coal mine in Guizhou province. Of the nine miners that were trapped at the site, three died, another three are missing and rescuers are trying to save three others who are alive. The three who are alive were about 100 meters away from rescuers on Sunday, according to the local rescue headquarters. They are in a tunnel and have a good chance of survival. The flood hit the mine in Weng'an county on Friday with the nine miners being trapped underground.

Zhejiang

Homeless man becomes millionaire

A homeless man became rich overnight as he was offered more than 7 million yuan ($1.15 million) in compensation for his land from the government in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. Zhu Jingxiu left home after his business failed in 2004. He asked for help at a shelter in Jiangxi province on Feb 5 when he was suffering from tuberculosis. The shelter staff later got in touch with Zhu's brother and sent Zhu back to his hometown in Wenzhou. Zhu then discovered he had been given the compensation.

Shandong

Author's hometown draws tourists

Hundreds of tourists visited a village in Gaomi in Shandong province during the recent tomb-sweeping holiday to visit the former residence of Mo Yan, who was born and raised in the village and became the first winner of the Nobel prize in literature who was born and is currently living in China. Some tourists even dug up bricks and dried mud from Mo's house to take as souvenirs.

Henan

6 officials die in car crash

Six officials from Henan province died in a car crash on Sunday. The accident occurred when their vehicle collided with a slag car at a crossing in Xinmi, according to the publicity department of Sanmenxia, which administers Xinmi. Six officials, including the chairman of the Xinmi committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a deputy head of the city government, died at the scene. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Chief investigated for violations

Zhang Xiaodong, 50, Party chief of Anyang, is being probed by the Henan Provincial Party discipline commission for disciplinary violations, Dahe Daily reported on Sunday. Zhang got the post in April 2012. Previously, he was mayor of Anyang, a role he held since April 2008. The last report about Zhang on the provincial government website, on March 22, quotes a speech he delivered in which he called on officials to be more dedicated to their work.

China Daily-Xinhua