First geographic survey planned

China will begin its first nationwide geographic survey next year. The survey, which will cost about 1.1 billion yuan ($176 million), will take three years to monitor China's nature and geographic conditions relating to humans, a National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation statement said on Monday.

Human-trafficking bust saves 89 kids

Public security departments across the country have cracked down on nine major human-trafficking gangs, capturing 355 suspects and saving 89 children, the Public Security Ministry said on Monday. But ministry officials said the fight against kidnapping is a long-term and arduous task as the crime is still rampant in some regions.

Economic reform is priority

China should make income redistribution reforms and the pricing of resources and production its top priorities in its economic restructuring, an expert said on Sunday. Xia Bin, senior adviser to the China Western Development Promotion Association, said China must accelerate its economic reforms to solve many problems, including tepid domestic consumption and dropping exports.

More clean energy produced

China generated more electricity from clean energy resources in November, amid growing efforts to boost the use of non-fossil fuel energy sources. Electricity generated from clean energy increased 20.3 percent from a year earlier to 74.8 billion kWh in November, the China State Electricity Regulatory Commission said on Monday. Last month, hydropower grew 19.4 percent from a year earlier, while nuclear power rose 22.9 percent.

Four frigates opened to public

Four Chinese naval frigates, back from escorting duties in the Indian Ocean, will be open to the public this week in the port cities of Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhoushan. The vessel docked at Zhoushan will be open on Tuesday and Wednesday, while the other three are expected to welcome visitors from Wednesday to Friday.

Zhejiang

Ex-driver gets 16 years in prison

Yang Shenghua, the former driver of Yang Xiuzhu, former deputy mayor of Wenzhou who made the headlines when she fled the country to escape prosecution for corruption, was sentenced to 16 years in prison last week for corruption and embezzlement of public funds. The court ordered the confiscation of his personal assets worth 300,000 yuan ($48,000), Hangzhou-based newspaper City Express reported on Monday.

Court upholds ruling in disputes

A provincial high court on Monday upheld a ruling in favor of a jailed Chinese businesswoman in two 6-year-old property dispute cases. The Zhejiang Provincial High People's Court affirmed the decision concerning Wu Ying, who is in prison for cheating investors out of 380 million yuan ($60.9 million) through private lending scams from May 2005 to January 2007.

Hubei

Wuhan to redesign subway mascots

Wuhan's subway operator announced on Saturday that it will redesign its two mascots following complaints from experts and residents. One of the mascots, a crane, symbolizes how the subways will add fuel to the city's development, while the other, based on the rare Yangtze finless porpoise, suggests the city's enthusiasm and hospitality. But netizens said the two characters cannot be any uglier.

Fujian

Xiamen marathon begins on Jan 5

The 2013 Xiamen International Marathon will be held on Jan 5, with more than 74,000 runners from 32 countries and regions registered for this year's event, according to the organizing committee. More than 30 world-class competitors from 10 countries and regions, including Kenya, Ethiopia and Russia, will participate.

Gansu

Province cuts officials' perks

Official cars will be gradually replaced with domestic brands in an effort to save public money, according to a new regulation in Gansu province. Provincial-level officials must strictly abide by the Party's rules on the purchase of official cars and buy domestic brands to avoid extravagance, according to the regulation announced by the Gansu provincial Party committee on Sunday.

Hunan

Migratory birds damaging crops

Winter migratory birds resting in East Dongting Lake have severely damaged crops in the area, Beijing Morning Post reported on Monday. The wetlands around East Dongting Lake attracted around 150,000 birds from 2010 to 2011. However, statistics from the local forestry bureau show that the birds damaged more than 8,600 hectares last year, with an estimated loss of 25 million yuan ($4 million).

Henan

Workers told not to rest near roads

Authorities in Zhengzhou have banned migrant workers from seeking shelter near major roads after one worker died under an overpass last month. City officials have now placed plants and iron fences on open ground flanking roads to discourage people from seeking shelter in similar areas, in the hope of preventing similar tragedies. Alternative settlements have also been offered to homeless workers.

Hubei

$160,000 statue draws criticism

Officials in the poverty-stricken Yunxi county have come under fire for spending more than 1 million yuan ($160,000) on a bronze bull sculpture for its main square. The 12-ton structure was commissioned in August 2010, but has only just become controversial after tourists noticed two plates besides the sculpture gave contradictory information about the size of the bull.

China Daily-Xinhua