Chongqing

Owner demands dog death apology

A taxi driver who accidentally killed a pet dog was required by its owner to apologize, Chongqing Commercial Daily reported on Thursday. The driver, named Wang, accidentally hit the dog when it ran into the road in the Banan district on Sunday. The dog owner was upset and demanded the driver show remorse and pay 4,000 yuan ($650) as compensation. The police said the dog owner was partly responsible as her dog was not on a chain. The driver eventually apologized and paid 1,000 yuan.

Hunan

Sisters drown while locked at home alone

Two sisters who were locked at home by their parents died by drowning, Changsha Evening News reported on Thursday. The sisters, aged 4 and 7, were locked at home on Tuesday morning while their parents played mahjong in a neighbor's house in Changsha, Hunan province. Their mother found them in a water vat when she returned at about 4 pm. The girls were taken to a hospital but could not be resuscitated.

Beijing

Bias against male nurses revealed

Poll results released on Thursday indicate the nursing profession is highly respected but many women would not want to be cared for by a male nurse. The survey of 1,540 people aged 18 or above by Horizon Research Group showed 94.7 percent considered nursing a respected profession and 54.4 percent would like their children to become nurses. However, 27.7 percent of female respondents said they would not want a male nurse. Less than 10 percent of male respondents would not accept care from male nurses.

Taxis to be graded on new criteria

Beijing city transport authorities are launching a performance assessment system for the city's taxi companies, and any who fail three years in a row will have their operating licenses withdrawn, Beijing Times reported on Thursday. Under the new system, announced by the Beijing Commission of Transport on Wednesday, taxi companies will be graded on 16 criteria, including the turnout for their taxis, traffic violation rates and the use of phone and mobile booking systems.

Zhejiang

Game becoming painfully popular

A new mobile phone game on WeChat, a social network app, is proving so popular it is causing injuries for its users. The game, recently introduced to WeChat's 400 million subscribers, allows users to compete online with their friends in aircraft battles. Zou Cheng, an orthopedic doctor at Hangzhou First People's Hospital in Zhejiang province, said he has seen at least five patients this week with inflammation of their tendons, which was caused by overplaying the game, Qianjiang Evening News reported.

Jiangsu

Countdown begins to the Youth Games

The countdown clock to the opening of the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games was unveiled in Xinjiekou Square on Thursday."In exactly one year, Nanjing will welcome the world's best young athletes for the second edition of the summer Youth Olympic Games," said Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, in a recorded message. The games will run from Aug 16 to 28.

Henan

Barking 'lion' lets cat out of the bag

A Tibetan mastiff, disguised as a lion, was discovered when it barked at tourists in a zoo in Luohe, Henan province, on Thursday, according to Beijing Youth Daily. Liu Suya, manager of Luohe City People's Park, said the real lion was sent out for breeding. In addition, the snake enclosure featured two huge rats, and the wolf cage was occupied by a dog, the report said.

China Daily

(China Daily USA 08/16/2013 page2)