Beijing

Phone just the ticket for public

Beijing residents can swipe their cellphones to ride buses or the subway after China Mobile signed a contract with the capital's public transportation company, the People's Daily website reported on Monday. After installing an SIM card, supporting near field communication technology, passengers can pay with their phones, the report said. China Mobile offices in the capital, including those located in Xidan, Wangfujing and Jinrongjie, have provided the service for residents. The cost to buy the new SIM card is 20 yuan ($3), the report added.

Zhejiang

8 dead, 12 injured in road accident

Eight people were killed and another 12 injured after a four-vehicle accident on Monday in Zhejiang province, authorities said. A trailer loaded with paint crashed into a motorcycle, an electric bicycle and a truck at about 9:30 am on a road in Lianmeng, a spokesman from the county committee of the Communist Party of China said. Five people died at the scene and another three in hospital, the spokesman said. The cause of the accident is being investigated.

Hubei

Seven mountain climbers missing

Seven climbers who became trapped by a flood on Sunday in Hubei province are missing, local authorities said on Monday. Police in Changyang county received a call at 7:40 pm on Sunday from a woman who said her husband and six friends were trapped by a flood at Yerengu Valley. Eighteen firefighters arrived at Muqiaoxi Village at about 10 pm, 2 km from where the climbers were trapped but the flooded stream hindered rescue efforts. The search is continuing.

Heilongjiang

New weapon fights annoying insects

A new weapon has been deployed against mosquitoes in Daqing, Heilongjiang province, the local television station reported on Monday. The city's humidity and nearby lakes have always attracted the insects, but residents say there may be more this year. In response, the city authorities have developed a large insecticide sprayer that can be put on a car, the report said. The device can spray 110,000 square meters within 40 minutes.

Guangdong

Man run overby 33 vehicles

A man who was knocked over on an expressway was then run over by 33 vehicles, Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday. The man, surnamed Tang, was hit by a truck as he tried to cross the expressway in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, at about 10 pm on June 30. Police found the driver of the truck in Shandong province on July 3 and have since identified 27 of the cars involved.

Golfer struckby lightning

A businessman struck by lightning when playing golf on Saturday afternoon in Guangdong province is in critical condition in a hospital. Deng, 48, was playing with friends at Dongguan Hillview Golf Club, when his golf club was struck by the lightening. His heart stopped immediately, and he had several burn spots on his skin and clothes. He was revived by emergency treatment and taken to a hospital. Deng is a factory owner in Dongguan.

Fake-bag plantsraided by police

Police from Baiyun district, Guangdong province, raided five plants suspected of selling fake brand-name bags and watches with international brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Gucci. Three suspects were detained on criminal charges in the sweep, which was a joint operation with police from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and Shanghai, Baiyun police announced on Monday, according to Yangcheng Evening News. More than 80 million yuan ($13.03 million) worth of goods were seized.

Dengue fever hits Zhongshan

At least 63 locally contracted cases of dengue fever have been reported in the city of Zhongshan in South China's Guangdong province, local authorities said on Monday. The cases have been reported in Huangpu township since July 16, and more cases may be reported soon, according to a statement from the provincial health department. All of the patients have been hospitalized. None of them had recently traveled to Southeast Asia, where most infections occur, indicating that the outbreak is not imported, it said. Experts have attributed the outbreak to rainy weather that has resulted in greater numbers of mosquitoes.

Hainan

Experts to helpboost Sansha

China's youngest city of Sansha in the South China Sea has hired 13 experts with doctoral degrees to help boost its economic and social development. The professionals, who are mainly from the State Oceanic Administration, universities and renowned research institutions, will work in Sansha for one year. Their research areas include South China Sea studies, marine biology, environmental protection, land planning and fisheries. They will work as assistants to the heads of government departments in Sansha City, said Xiao Jie, mayor of the city.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily USA 07/23/2013 page3)