Beijing

Nation has 300 million under-18s

Under 18-year-olds make up 22.5 percent of the population, or around 300 million, according to the China Child Welfare Policy Report released on Friday. The figures revealed there are 104 million people under 6, accounting for 7.9 percent, and of these, 60 million are under 3, and 45 million are between 4 and 6. More than half of the nation's children live in rural areas, according to the report.

Bag ban saves6m tons of oil

A plastic bag ban launched five years ago has cut consumption by at least 67 billion bags, saving an equivalent of 6 million tons of oil, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday. Since the ban was implemented, the use of plastic bags has dropped by more than two-thirds, an official from the commission said. China banned the practice of offering free plastic bags in supermarkets, department stores and grocery stores from June 1, 2008.

Shanghai

Teacher detained for injuring kids

A kindergarten teacher was detained for allegedly cutting the wrists of seven children with scissors in Shanghai, police said on Friday. Some of the children sustained cuts 2 to 3 centimeters long and were sent to hospital. Police received reports on Friday and detained the teacher and the head of the kindergarten for further investigations.

Shanxi

Official's case sent to prosecutors

A case involving an official, whose wife was known for owning multiple properties, has been sent to prosecuting authorities after he was suspected of breaching Party discipline, Chinanews.com reported on Friday. Sun Hongjun, former director of the public security bureau in Xiaxian county, Yuncheng city, Shanxi province, was removed from office in 2011 for abuse of duty, the report said. The provincial disciplinary authorities confirmed that Sun's case had been filed and sent to prosecutors.

Guangdong

Nine arson suspects arrested

Nine suspected arsonists have been arrested in Guangdong province, local police have reported. A fire broke out around 2:10 am on Thursday in a roadside store in Chang'an township in the city of Dongguan. Four people - two children, the store owner's brother and his wife - were killed in the fire, which police said was an act of arson after interviewing witnesses and checking surveillance video.

Liaoning

Shenyang hospital in privacy leak

A Shenyang hospital that specializes in reproductive treatment has been accused of a major privacy leak, according to Shenyang Evening News. A patient, surnamed Zhao has accused Shenyang No 204 Hospital of posting his personal information on its website without permission. The hospital also disclosed the information of another 69 couples receiving services at the hospital.

Rewards for heroic deeds increased

Liaoning province plans to double the size of awards being paid to civic-minded citizens who conduct acts of bravery or carry out deeds to promote social justice, Liaoshen Evening News reported on Thursday. Awards will be categorized according to the sacrifice involved. The highest reward will be 1.2 million yuan ($195,720), almost 60 times the average annual income for residents in the province.

Police unit faces fund allegations

The women's mounted police unit in Dalian, Liaoning province, is facing allegations of illegal business operation, the First Financial Times reported on Thursday. The training base for the unit has been operating as a tourist attraction since 2001, and managed to raise at least 30 million yuan ($4.89 million) over the past 12 years from selling tickets to visitors. According to the People's Police Law, the police are prohibited from operating commercial activities or being employed by any individual or organization.

Guizhou

Girl, 2, slapped by nurse, dies

An autopsy is being carried out on a 2-year-old girl who died after being slapped by a nurse, in a bid to revive her after she underwent heart surgery, Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday. The girl did not regain consciousness after the surgery in a hospital in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province. She was placed in an ICU, where the nurse slapped her in a bid to wake her up. The nurse has been suspended from duty, the report said.

Jiangsu

6 killed, 3 injured in road accident

Six people were killed and three others injured after a semi-trailer collided with a mini-bus in Jiangsu province on Friday morning. The collision happened at 10:08 am on the No 333 provincial road in the city of Gaoyou, according to the municipal publicity department. Rescue work is under way. The cause of the accident is being investigated.

China Daily - Xinhua