Beijing

Better forecasting to limit damage

China has built an integrated weather monitoring system that provides better information about potential weather disasters, the country's meteorological authority said on Saturday. In the past five years, economic losses caused by weather disasters dropped from 1.22 percent to 0.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product, with the overall number of people killed decreasing by 2,000 from the previous five years, according to the National Meteorological Center.

Concerns for tourist safety in France

The China Tourism Association has expressed concerns over the safety of Chinese tourists visiting France. An association official urged French authorities on Saturday to better protect Chinese tourists. The concerns come after a Chinese tour group was robbed last week in Paris. Passports, passenger tickets and cash were looted and the group's leader was hurt. The association called for the arrest of those responsible and proper handling of the case as quickly as possible.

British university honors role model

Zhang Haidi, chairwoman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, was awarded an honorary doctorate from the UK's University of York at the university's 2013 graduation ceremony in Beijing on Saturday. Zhang received the award for her achievements in literature and her efforts in promoting the well-being of people with disabilities. This is the third time that the university in England has held a graduation ceremony in Beijing exclusively for Chinese graduates.

Liaoning

Restoration work planned for mines

Liaoning province has announced that it will invest 23.01 billion yuan ($3.73 billion) on the environmental restoration of 3,459 mines over the next five years. Authorities plan to start in mines alongside expressways and railways. The province is renowned for coal and iron reserves, and it operates more than 7,000 mines. The restoration work is being done to clean up water, air and soil contamination.

Heilongjiang

More than 100 tiger cubs to be born

The Siberia Tiger Park in Heilongjiang province announced on Saturday that more than 100 tiger cubs would be born this year. The park said the big cats mated over the winter. The pregnant females are under special protection and nursing. The park expects most of them to give birth around June. Heilongjiang established the park in 1986 to protect the endangered animal and now has more than 1,000 tigers.

Guangxi

Hail, rain persist in southern area

Rainstorms and hail that have caused havoc in southern China over the past week continued to damage regions on Sunday, authorities said. Sixteen cities and counties in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region were hit by hail on Saturday, the local meteorological center said. Also, in southeastern Fujian province, six counties experienced hail and other regions endured rainstorms and strong gales from Saturday.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily 03/25/2013 page2)