Week in review: Traffic deaths, DIY sanitation, nude neighbors
DIY sanitation vehicle in Da County. (Scroll down for more information).
Che Yating (车娅婷), a 27-year-old student village officer (大学生村官) died in the hospital last Tuesday due to injuries sustained from a physical assault the day prior. Her attacker was a man who had nicked her while riding his electric tricycle on the Third Ring Road in Chengdu. Che was due to be married soon. The story was widely blogged about on Chinese websites, and with the help of China's human flesh search engines, the suspect has been arrested.
CRI English with more information at East South West North
TRAFFIC INCIDENTS
A bus collided with a van early Friday morning, killing six and injuring two. The bus was on a highway in Wenjiang when it crossed the middle divider and hit the oncoming van.
A senior citizen was struck and killed by a No. 821 bus August 13 on Huayang Yuanhua Dadao while she attempted to cross the street, clutching a bag full of baozi. Local residents said that since the road was built, traffic lights had never been installed.
CD QQ
A No. 406 bus was stolen from a station in Jinhua Town (金花镇) at midnight on August 13. The bus's driver, Luo (罗), said the key had been stuck in the ignition for six months, making it easy for anybody to drive away with the bus. A guard at nearby shoe factory said he watched the bus being driven away.
Nineteen drivers in Chengdu were found driving under the influence of alcohol Friday night, according to police data. The tests were part of a national crackdown on drunk driving, spawned by an influx in traffic fatalities in recent months.
China Daily
NATURAL DISASTERS and FUNDS
On Friday, the Sichuan government donated RMB1 million to Taiwan to aid in relief efforts in areas stricken by Typhoon Morakot.
China News
A study conducted by Beijing's Tsinghua University found that half of the people who donated money to relief efforts after the Sichuan quake did not know where their money went. Sixty percent said they had more faith in the government's use of their money—all totaled, about USD9.5 billion—than in that of NGOs. Immediately after the disaster, the number of NGOs soared to 300; now only about 50 remain. Volunteers, likewise, shrunk from 3 million to 50,000.
Time
"Running Fan," the former high-school teacher famous for running out of his classroom and leaving his students to fend for themselves when the May 12 earthquake struck, made news again for a scheduled (and ultimately canceled) appearance at Beijing's first Biennale in the 798 Art Zone.
Five officials from Luxian, Luzhou, are under investigation for miappropriating funds having allegedly used public money to pay for a strip show in Thailand in 2004. The county discipline inspection committee was tipped off when a forum user posted photos and identifying details of three of the officials.
Xinhua
A 51-year-old Nanchong man accused of poisoning his lover was acquitted and released from prison after 854 days, receiving a state compensation of RMB7.9 million. The man, Xie Xiangji, was caught up in a love triangle with a married woman.
PANDA NEWS
The WWF warns that wild pandas could be extinct in two to three generations unless action is taken now.
The Telegraph
CROWDPLEASERS
A DIY sanitation vehicle has been spotted on the streets of Da County's Beimiao Town. The vehicle utilizes 10 brooms rotating around a homemade axis attached to a tractor. According to its maker, a sanitation worker, the vehicle saves a lot of energy and time when cleaning the road.
China News
A wealthy businessman from Mianyang spent RMB6.4 million to purchase 30 kilograms of gold bars. A curious reporter traveled to the Sichuan Tianze Precious Metals Refinery (四川天泽贵金属精炼厂) to see just how much gold 30 kilograms is. The result? RMB6.4 million worth of gold would fit more or less in a 2.5-liter cola bottle.
CD QQ
Sichuan Airline stewardesses will don qipao on certain routes. The traditional Chinese dress known for its elegance rather than its comfort features a slit up to the thigh on each side.
Xinhau
Residents of Suining have started pelting their neighbor with soybeans, flinged at him with slingshots, in protest of his penchant for sitting on his balcony all day long in the buff. In response, the man has promised to put on his pants.
China Daily
Tattooed fish have been spotted at Chengdu's Qingshi Qiao fish and flower market. Said to bring luck to their owners, the fish are lasered with characters and other adornments and sell for at least RMB25—more than double that of an ordinary fish of the same breed.
AFP
Access to Sichuan China Unicom's "WO" 3G network is available at half-price from now until October 1. For more information or to sign up, visit a China Unicom office.
People.com
—Researched by Marvin Tan
This article was posted by Jane and published August 18, 2009
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