IN BRIEF

Beijing

Ministry: Smog starting to ease

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and neighboring provinces will see the ongoing severe smog gradually ease since Wednesday night, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said. Pollution levels are expected to stay at light to good levels for five days. Anyang, Henan province, has experienced the longest and most severe smog during the ongoing bout, the ministry said, adding that inspectors have exposed problems such as the weak implementation of emergency measures by the city government and excessive discharging of pollutants from companies.

Officers punished for violations

A total of 46 people have been punished for their involvement in 10 cases of disciplinary violations, military inspectors said on Wednesday. These violations include false reimbursement, using public funds to treat personal guests, receptions and feasts exceeding set standards, and official cars used for private purposes, among others, according to a report by the Central Military Commission's discipline agency.

Newborn numbers on rise in capital

About 100,000 more babies were born in Beijing hospitals last year compared with 2015, local authorities said on Wednesday. According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, there were about 280,000 newborns in Beijing in 2016, an increase of 62 percent from 2015. About 30 percent of the newborns were not the first child in their families. Rates of maternal mortality, infant mortality and mortality among children under the age of 5 also dropped last year.

Hunan

Glass bridge free for Israeli tourists

The world's longest and highest glass bridge, in Zhangjiajie, has scrapped entrance fees for Israeli tourists from March 21 to Dec 31. The move is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Israel and to pay tribute to the skywalk's Israeli designer Haim Dotan. Israeli citizens carrying their passports are entitled to a free trip across the 430-meter long, 6-meter wide bridge.

Guangdong

Man caught with diamonds in shoes

A young man has been caught trying to smuggle more than 1,000 diamonds into Shenzhen from neighboring Hong Kong by hiding them in his shoes. Customs officials in Shenzhen found 212.9 carats of diamonds in the alleged smuggler's insoles when he passed through Luohu Port, which links Hong Kong with inland cities, on March 13. The case is under further investigation.