News » China » Ministry clarifies rate of "wrongly granted" subsistence allowances

---

• Ministry clarifies rate of "wrongly granted" subsistence allowances
• Xi Jinping stresses judicial independence
• China to raise gasoline, diesel prices
• Landfill threatening Beijing drinking water
• Rare diseases not well treated in China
• Xi stresses promoting rule of law
• Chinese army to tighten expenditure
• Lantern Festival marked around China
• Chinese army to tighten expenditure
• CPC should act according to law: Xi
• Xi Jinping says all must act in conformity with Constitution, laws
• Xi stresses promoting rule of law
• China to conduct routine fishery patrols in Nansha islands
• Dubbed movies spice up life for Tibetans
• Emerging technologies benefit Chinese farmers
• Smog envelopes China during Lantern Festival
• Arson suspected in E China fire
• Migrant workers invited to prominent holiday gala
• Lien Chan pays visit to mainland
• Chinese ships continue patrolling Diaoyu Islands

Ministry clarifies rate of "wrongly granted" subsistence allowances Posted: 24 Feb 2013 11:03 AM PST The Ministry of Civil Affairs said late Sunday that 4 percent of subsistence allowances are "wrongly granted" nationwide.

Xi Jinping stresses judicial independence Posted: 24 Feb 2013 09:27 AM PST Chinese leader Xi Jinping has called for efforts to ensure judicial and procuratorial organs exercise the judicial and procuratorial authority independently, fairly and in accordance with the law.

China to raise gasoline, diesel prices Posted: 24 Feb 2013 07:38 AM PST BEIJING - China will raise the retail prices of gasoline by 300 yuan (47.8 U.S. dollars) per tonne and diesel by 290 yuan per tonne starting from Monday, the country's top economic planner said Sunday. The benchmark retail price of gasoline will be lifted by 0.22 yuan per liter and diesel by 0.25 yuan per liter, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced, making it the first oil price adjustment in 2013. Under China's oil product pricing system introduced in 2009, domestic fuel prices may be adjusted when crude oil prices in Brent, Dubai and Cinta change by more than 4 percent over 22 working days. The commission said it adjusted gas prices in accordance with the oil pricing system as oil prices in the three places have met the requirements. However, experts warned that the price hike may finally translate into consumer prices and build up inflation pressure on China. Lin Boqiang, an energy expert at Xiamen University, said although raising gas prices may not directly affect the overall price level over the short term, the pass-through effect it exerts on the downstream of the supply chain will push up consumer prices in the end. Rise in gas prices will add to costs of transportation, fishery and agricultural production, and finally pass on to consumers, said Zhang Yonghao, an analyst with chem365.net, an energy consulting website. But Lin also said China's gas prices remain in the medium level, compared with neighbors and other large oil importers. The gasoline prices in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Britain and France all exceeded 10 yuan per liter in January, at least 2 yuan higher than in China, according to NDRC figures.

Landfill threatening Beijing drinking water Posted: 24 Feb 2013 07:38 AM PST The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has launched an investigation after media reported that a landfill near Miyun Reservoir is threatening the city's main source of drinking water. The bureau said on its micro blog on Sunday that the results of the investigation will be released soon. The landfill, with an estimated area of 3,000 square meters, is full of unsorted waste such as batteries, dead chickens and medicine bottles. The head of Bulaotun township said on Saturday that all the garbage will be cleaned in 15 days but denied that the waste has been dumped there for three years, as local villagers had said earlier.

Rare diseases not well treated in China Posted: 24 Feb 2013 07:38 AM PST BEIJING - Nearly 10 million patients suffering from rare diseases in China are facing difficulties receiving proper diagnosis and treatment, a medical expert said on Sunday. Speaking at a conference on rare diseases in Beijing, Ding Jie, vice director of the Peking University First Hospital, said many patients failed to get a correct diagnosis. This is because of doctors' limited medical knowledge about rare diseases, most of which are genetic and therefore difficult to confirm. It is also difficult for diagnosed patients to receive timely treatment due to a shortage of effective drugs, most of which are imported from foreign countries. They usually take a long time to receive approval and get to market, Ding said. Some patients gave up treatment even though imported medicine was available, Ding said, adding that costly drug prices as well as incomplete medical security are major barriers. According to the World Health Organization, a rare disease is one that affects a small percentage of the population, ranging from 0.65 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,000. More than 6,000 rare diseases have been confirmed so far.

Xi stresses promoting rule of law Posted: 24 Feb 2013 07:38 AM PST BEIJING - Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed promoting the rule of law in an all-around manner. Xi called for scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, judicial justice and everyone in the country abiding by the law, while presiding on Saturday over a seminar of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. A socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, with the Constitution as the "commander" has taken shape in the country, and on the whole, there are laws to follow in every respect of society, Xi noted. "This is a significant achievement that we have scored," he said. Xi required that legislative planning be improved to highlight priorities and combine the making, amendment and annulment of laws. The legislative mechanism and procedures should be enhanced, involving increased and orderly participation from the public and listening to the opinions of all parties, Xi said. "In this way, the laws will accurately reflect the demands in socio-economic development and better coordinate interest-based relationships," he added.

Chinese army to tighten expenditure Posted: 24 Feb 2013 07:38 AM PST BEIJING - The Chinese army has vowed to strictly regulate its expenditure, echoing a sweeping campaign against waste, corruption and extravagance. Xinhua was told Sunday that a regulation jointly issued by four departments of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) offered detailed instructions on the army's spending on construction, procurement, conferences and receptions, among other items. The regulation, approved by Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, was issued by the Headquarters of the General Staff, General Political Department, General Logistics Department and General Armament Department. In terms of money distribution, the army should give priority to preparations for battle and development of information technologies, high-tech weaponry and new types of fighting capabilities. It should also prioritize combat-simulating drills and personnel training, said the regulation. "The regulation is an important move to improve the army's work style and practice frugality," said Sun Huangtian, vice head of the General Logistics Department. The army should exercise tight control over spending that is prone to misuse and corruption, including infrastructure investment, centralized purchasing, conference receptions, celebrations, housing projects, public-funded overseas trips and vehicle purchases, the regulation noted. It also stipulated that the army should strengthen supervision and penalties, and administer financial laws and regulations more forcefully. The regulation is of great significance to "further intensifying management and supervision of the army, enhancing the effectiveness of expenditures and better promoting military readiness and army modernization," Sun said.

Lantern Festival marked around China Posted: 24 Feb 2013 07:38 AM PST Performers present Yangge dance, a popular rural Chinese folk dance, at an annual gala to celebrate the traditional Lantern Festival in Yan'an City, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb 24, 2013. Chinese people marked the Lantern Festival on Feb 24, the 15th day of the first lunar month this year. [Photo/Xinhua] People around the country took part in various activities to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which falls on Sunday, marking the first full moon of the Chinese Lunar New Year. In the thousand-year-old Pingyao Town in north China's Shanxi Province, people hung lanterns above front doors and set off fireworks to celebrate. "We traveled from Beijing to Pingyao, and experienced different atmospheres of Lantern Festival celebrations. Pingyao is livelier, " said Sarah Brown, an Australian tourist. "It's easy to get separated from my friends in such busy streets.... we just learnt the charm of the Chinese Lunar New Year," she said. Zheng Rui enjoyed the local traditional custom performances.8 "My teacher told me to keep writing a diary during the winter vacation, so I watched the performances so I can write about them. The journey will be worthwhile with impressive memories," Zheng said. Besides eating Yuanxiao, a sweetened dumpling made of glutinous rice flour and stuffed with meat, nuts, fruit or sugar, Zheng, his parents and relatives visited the ancient town walls and government office of the feudal period. The old town also put on a variety of performances, including the "dragon lantern dance," the "lion dance," stilt-walking and Pingyao operas. In northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Library prepared more than 1,000 Chinese puzzles and 300 puzzles for minority residents. Humanitarians from the Communist Party of China, governments, army, schools and enterprises of Xinjiang took part in charity performances and a bazaar to help people in need and the disabled. In central China's Henan Province, to reduce air pollution and avoid smog, cities and districts of Zhengzhou, Jiyuan, Zhoukou, Zhumadian and Sanmenxia decided to cancel their fireworks displays. The government of Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, held cultural, art performances, intangible cultural heritage and large-scale lamp exhibitions in the city's parks. "It's worthwhile giving up fireworks for fresh air, and I believe citizens understand the cancellation," said Wang Dezhi, a Zhengzhou resident. "A half-hour fireworks show costs 700,000 yuan (112,000 U.S. dollars). It's a little bit regretful not watching the show, but it's more practical to use the money to improve people's lives, improve education in poor areas and build more public infrastructure," a netizen named "Yinchuanlaoliu" commented on the Internet after learning that Yinchuan City, capital of northwest Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region canceled its fireworks show. In northeastern Jilin Province, some fireworks sellers said they faced a quiet festival since people were refusing to buy products. "I only sold one hundred yuan worth of fireworks today. I bought 50,000 yuan worth of fireworks this year, but there are still more than 5,000 yuan worth to sell," said Wang Li, a fireworks shop owner.

Chinese army to tighten expenditure Posted: 24 Feb 2013 05:33 AM PST The Chinese army has vowed to strictly regulate its expenditure, echoing a sweeping campaign against waste, corruption and extravagance.

CPC should act according to law: Xi Posted: 24 Feb 2013 05:28 AM PST The Communist Party of China (CPC) organizations at all levels should act in accordance with the Constitution and laws, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has stressed.

Xi Jinping says all must act in conformity with Constitution, laws Posted: 24 Feb 2013 05:26 AM PST Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said organizations and individuals must all act in conformity with the Constitution and the laws.

Xi stresses promoting rule of law Posted: 24 Feb 2013 05:24 AM PST Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed promoting the rule of law in an all-around manner.

China to conduct routine fishery patrols in Nansha islands Posted: 24 Feb 2013 03:40 AM PST Routine fishery administrative patrols around Nansha islands in the South China Sea will be carried out to better safeguard the legitimate interests of Chinese fishermen, a fishery official has confirmed.

Dubbed movies spice up life for Tibetans Posted: 24 Feb 2013 03:31 AM PST For Tibetan herder Palzin in northwest China, seeing a hit movie used to mean a 140-km trip to the nearest city. But during the Tibetan New Year, he was able to watch one on his own TV.

Emerging technologies benefit Chinese farmers Posted: 24 Feb 2013 12:05 AM PST Wang Chenfu has spent nearly four decades growing wheat. Being a traditional farmer most of his life, he is thrilled at the sight of how technology has helped increase production on his land.

Smog envelopes China during Lantern Festival Posted: 24 Feb 2013 01:29 AM PST BEIJING - China's central and eastern parts are expected to be blanketed by heavy fog Sunday, the Chinese Lantern Festival, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said. A citizen rides a bike in the heavy smog in Taizhou city, East China's Zhejiang province on Feb 24, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua] The authority issued a yellow smog alert at 10 am. Yellow is the second lowest level in China's four-tier color-coded weather alert system. Thick fog, lowering visibility to less than 1,000 meters, shrouded central and northern parts of Jiangsu and areas in Zhejiang early Sunday morning. Smog choked southern Beijing, and parts of Shanxi, Henan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, according to NMC monitoring data. Smog will cover central and eastern China during Sunday daytime, the center forecast. There will be visibility to less than 1,000 meters in many parts of Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong and Zhejiang due to fog. In North China, the plains of Huanghuai and Jianghuai, and regions south of the Yangtze River are expected to see some smog, the center said. Zhejiang province and Shanhai municipality have had alerts for fog and smog since Saturday, according to the NMC. The center warned of a decline in air quality and advised residents in these regions to stay indoors or take precautions. Meanwhile, flurries of snow and sleet will hit Xinjiang Uygur, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions, Qinghai province, North China and Liaodong Peninsula over the next 24 hours, the NMC said. It also forecast rainfall in the provinces of Shandong and Hunan, southwestern China, south China, and Taiwan. Related: 'Smog readings in Beijing nothing to be concerned about' Fog disrupts travelers' return Through the smog, tougher fuel standards take form Photochemical smog Fog disrupts travelers' return Smog disrupts Beijing traffic, flights Beijingers cut fireworks celebration for clear sky

Arson suspected in E China fire Posted: 24 Feb 2013 01:29 AM PST HANGZHOU - A residential house fire that killed eight people in a town in East China's Zhejiang province may have been arson, according to an initial police investigation. On Sunday, police of Wenling city said they suspected the fire, which happened on Saturday morning in Zeguo township, might have been started by someone. Witnesses said that three houses caught fire and thick smog covered the site. They said the houses were rented out for office use and accommodation by two shopkeepers of an online store, which sold women shoes. A shopkeeper, surnamed Xu, died. Xu's wife, his parents and two children also died in the fire. Five of the six deceased adults were migrant workers. Another seriously injured person is receiving treatment in a local hospital, police said. Police said local resident Li Faming, owner of the three houses, has been detained and is being investigated.

Migrant workers invited to prominent holiday gala Posted: 24 Feb 2013 01:29 AM PST BEIJING -- Four migrant workers were invited to a high profile gala on Saturday evening, which was once mainly reserved for distinguished intellectuals.   Xi Jinping (C), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, talks with noted intellectuals during a gala to celebrate China's traditional Lantern Festival at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 23, 2013. The CPC Central Committee hosted a gala on Saturday evening to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which falls on Feb. 24 this year. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli were present at the event organized by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee to mark the upcoming Lantern Festival. New guests to this year's show also include representatives from different sectors and model workers. Liu Yunshan hosted the gala and in his speech highlighted the contribution of intellectuals and ordinary workers to the country's achievements and called for joint efforts from ordinary workers in all walks of life to contribute to the nation's great rejuvenation. China has 260 million migrant workers by 2012. They usually leave their hometown to seek employments in urban areas. The Lantern Festival falls on Sunday this year and traditionally marks the end of the Spring Festival season.

Lien Chan pays visit to mainland Posted: 24 Feb 2013 12:45 AM PST Honorary Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan starts a four-day visit to the Chinese mainland on Sunday, a move analysts said is expected to boost cross-Straits ties, Xinhua News Agency reports.

Chinese ships continue patrolling Diaoyu Islands Posted: 23 Feb 2013 10:45 PM PST Chinese marine surveillance ships continued regular patrols in the territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands on Sunday, the State Oceanic Administration said.

You are subscribed to email updates from Update » News » China To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610