Zhang Kun, 65, is honored as "King of Grants" for financing more than 4,000 students in China's Guangxi, Anhui, Hunan and Sichuan provinces and regions for 23 years.
Fans of TV soaps and dramas will be able to settle back and enjoy their favorite programs without the incessant interruptions of commercials from Jan 1, 2012.
China's total output for grain this year hit a record high of 571 million tons, making it the eighth consecutive year production has exceeded forecast. More than 70 percent of this increase is expected to come from Northeast China, due to unusually favorable weather conditions, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. But agricultural experts are warning that the fat years may not continue, especially if grain production is too concentrated in the northern arable lands.
China's environmental watchdog has punished eight power plants for violations of the law on control of sulfur dioxide emissions, a main indicator for measuring air pollution.