Beijing

Leader calls for combat readiness

Party chief Xi Jinping has called for "expanding and deepening" the military's combat preparedness in his tour of the Lanzhou Military Area Command. Xi visited troops stationed in Northwest China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, extending festival greetings to the military. He stressed national defense efforts, urging the military to enhance its combat preparedness and constantly improve its ability to fulfill missions and tasks.

TCM maker urged to boost awareness

China's drug safety watchdog has ordered traditional Chinese medicine maker Yunnan Baiyao to boost awareness of one of its drugs' side effects and remind patients to use it properly. The Department of Health of the Hong Kong special administrative region on Tuesday recalled the drug after discovering that it contained an undeclared amount of aconitum alkaloids, which can be toxic. The State Food and Drug Administration ordered the drug maker to warn patients that they should not use the drug without authorization, increase their dosage or prolong the duration of use, an official from the administration said.

Collieries urged to finish relief systems

China's top safety administration urged coal mines to finish construction of their emergency relief systems by the end of June to provide safety shelters to miners. Previously, the deadline was 2015. According to the State Administration of Work Safety and the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, authorities have specific requirements for the safety shelters' ventilation and oxygen supply systems.

Entertainment venues banned

Public entertainment venues will no longer be established near schools and hospitals, according to a regulation issued on Wednesday. The regulation, issued by the Ministry of Culture, specifies conditions for establishing entertainment venues, regulates the approval process and stresses that administrative departments should provide cultural services. The regulation will take effect on March 11.

Henan

3 suspects killed in collapse identified

Police announced on Wednesday the identities of three people suspected of causing the truck explosion that caused an expressway viaduct in Central China's Henan province to collapse last week. The three, all of whom were inside the truck and killed when the blast occurred, are suspected of illegal production, trading and transportation of explosives, police said.

Yunnan

12 dead, 3 hurtin road accident

Twelve people were killed and three others injured after a vehicle drove off a mountain cliff in Yunnan province on Wednesday afternoon, the local government said. The accident happened at about 1:30 pm in Wumeng township near the provincial capital of Kunming, an official with the city government said.

Guangdong

Officer suspended amid investigation

A senior police officer in Guangdong province has been suspended after media reports said he owns 192 houses. The Party anti-graft body in Lufeng has launched an investigation into Zhao Haibin, deputy head of Lufeng's Xieshi township. The provincial public security department has sent a special task force to Lufeng to help with the investigation.

Jiangsu

Notice delivery sparks controversy

Government employees working in the same building compound in Nantong, Jiangsu province, have been informing each other about meetings by sending notices through courier services, sparking a heated discussion online. A government employee surnamed Dong was quoted by Xinhua Daily as saying that she recently received an express delivery that informed her of a meeting even though the sender from a different government department actually works in the same yard.

Zhejiang

Two detained over baby's death

A local official and a driver have been detained over the death of a 13-month-old baby who was run over in Zhejiang province, authorities said on Wednesday. A community official and a driver were detained on Tuesday night after the baby was fatally run over by a van in Mayu township in Rui'an, said a local government spokesman. The tragedy happened around noon Monday following an argument over family planning fines between local officials and the child's parents.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily 02/07/2013 page2)