Jiangxi

Furnace blast kills 4, injures 32

A furnace explosion at an East China iron and steel factory killed four people and injured another 32 on Monday, local government officials confirmed. The furnace exploded at 11:22 am at the Xinyu Iron and Steel Group Co in Xinyu, Jiangxi province, local officials said. The injured have been hospitalized.

Jilin

6 dead in further coal mine blast

A coal-mine gas explosion left six people dead and 11 missing in Northeast China's Jilin province on Monday, three days after a similar blast killed 28 miners at the same site. The latest incident occurred around 10 am at the Babao Coal Mine in Baishan, said a spokesman with the provincial government. Rescue work is under way, and the cause of the accident is being investigated, according to the spokesman.

Beijing

Nation to 'maintain island patrols'

China will continue regular patrols of the Diaoyu Islands to safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty, the head of oceanic authorities has said. "China will maintain regular patrols in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea," Liu Cigui, director of the State Oceanic Administration, was quoted as saying by People's Daily on Monday.

Fireworks union set up amid concerns

China established a national union for the fireworks industry on Monday, hoping to reduce casualties through strict industrial self-regulation and a more standardized market. With more than 500 member companies, the China Fireworks and Firecrackers Association aims to help with mergers and acquisitions in the sector and assist the government in creating unified safety standards.

Ministry issues festival fire alert

The Ministry of Public Security urged people on Monday to prevent fires during Tomb Sweeping Day. During the holiday, which falls on April 4 this year, people pay respects to deceased family members. Traditionally, the tributes involve burning incense and paper money, which has sometimes caused fires.

Apple apologizes over warranties

Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook on Monday bowed to pressure from Chinese consumers who demanded an apology over the company's warranty policies in China. "We are deeply sorry for any concern or misunderstanding for the idea that Apple disregards or pays inadequate attention to the feedback of Chinese consumers," read a Chinese letter signed by Cook and posted on Apple China's website.

Teacher accused of sexual assault

Prosecutors in Beijing's Xicheng district are reviewing a case in which a foreigner is suspected of sexually assaulting a boy. This is the first juvenile case involving a foreign suspect that the capital's prosecuting authorities have ever handled. The 42-year-old defendant was an English teacher in an educational institute in the city.

Jiangsu

Draft regulations spark criticism

A system to encourage donations to the Red Cross branch in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, by promising preferential treatment has enraged netizens, Modern Express reported. The draft, the Yancheng Red Cross Membership Management Regulation, said a native could apply for Red Cross membership if he or she donates more than 100 yuan ($16) to the local charity, and that membership benefits include priority for being rescued when there's a disaster in Yancheng.

Guangdong

Man arrested over embezzlement

Lin Jianguo, a whistle-blower who revealed that the manager of a public cemetery was making a huge profit, has been detained on suspicion of embezzlement. The Lufeng Party Commission of Discipline Inspection, in Guangdong province, confirmed the move on Monday. The anti-graft agency said the detention was not politically motivated.

Zhejiang

Worker suspected of jabbing women

A man suspected of harassing women on a bus in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, has been arrested, according to the Hangzhou news portal Zhejiang Online. The man, surnamed Xu, a construction worker, said he jabbed the women with needles to "attract attention" and hoped it would lead to a relationship.

Xinhua-China Daily

(China Daily 04/02/2013 page2)