Beijing

Groundwater quality 'poor'

The quality of more than 57 percent of China's groundwater in nearly 5,000 monitored spots in 198 major cities was bad, according to a report released by the Ministry of Land and Resources on Saturday. The report said some of the groundwater contained excessive amounts of heavy metals.

Association topromote robots

The China Robot Industry Association was launched on Sunday to promote the application of robot technologies and products. The association has 77 members, including major enterprises and research institutes. In 2011, robot imports rose 62 percent to 38,000 units with a total value of $866 million.

Hunan

Heavy rain hits province

About 140,000 people in Hunan province have been affected by heavy rainfall since April 17, forcing 2,400 people to evacuate. The meteorological department predicted that there may be more heavy rainfall this week.

Afghanistan

Students take Chinese test

A proficiency test on Chinese language, known as HSK, was held for the first time in Afghanistan, attracting 40 participants across the country. The majority of participants are from the Confucius Institute of Kabul University and six are women.

China Daily - Xinhua

(China Daily 04/22/2013 page7)