Around China

Inner Mongolia

Ex-official slashes his wrists in office

Zhang Penghui, the former chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference in Hohhot, killed himself by cutting his wrists in his office on Monday, xinhuanet.com reported. Police are investigating the case.

Shanghai

Fisherman lands shells from World War II

A fisherman hauled an iron box containing 16 artillery shells into his boat in the Jiuduansha waters near the Yangtze River estuary on Monday, Laodong Daily reported. Experts said the anti-aircraft shells date from World War II and the gunpowder they contain remains dangerous. Fire control specialists took charge of the ammunition.

Mistress told to give rent to wife of lover

A mistress who lived secretly in a section of her lover's family home has been ordered to pay 190,000 yuan ($30,976) rent to the man's wife, Jiefang Daily reported on Tuesday. A court initially ordered the mistress, who uses the alias Wang Mei, to pay the wife 1.3 million yuan rent for living in the house in Weifang Street from 2009 to 2014. However, the amount was reduced after Wang appealed on the grounds that she and the man have a daughter and he allowed her to live in the house while she raised her.

Same-sex marriage by diplomat confirmed

Britain's consul-general in Shanghai married his same-sex partner at the ambassador's residence in Beijing at the weekend, sparking debate over gay unions in the country. Brian Davidson wed his American partner Scott Chang on Saturday, according to posts on a verified micro blog account, under new rules allowing UK nationals in same-sex relationships to marry in British consulates in 24 countries around the world. A spokesman for Britain's embassy in Beijing confirmed to AFP that the wedding had taken place, but said that the couple viewed it as a "private matter".

Hubei

Payout set for man who died donating sperm

The family of a man who died as he was donating sperm is to receive 190,000 yuan ($30,975) compensation from the reproductive medicine center where the death occured. The man, a physician and PhD candidate, had donated sperm four times in 11 days at the clinic in Wuhan in 2011, Changjiang Daily reported on Tuesday. His family claimed 4 million yuan from the center and a Wuhan university they alleged had encouraged him to make the donations. But a court ruled that the center and the man were responsible.

Jiangsu

Cash denied to family of man killed by own car

The family of a 22-year-old man who was killed by his own car on an expressway has been refused compensation by his insurance company, Modern Express reported on Tuesday. Li Liang had stepped out of his car, and died when it ran into him after being struck by another vehicle. The owner of the other car accepted half the responsibility for the accident. Li's father then sought 300,000 yuan ($48,883) from the insurance company, but the claim was rejected. The father has now filed a lawsuit against the company.

Beijing

Man sentenced to 4 years for raping client

A Beijing man received a four year prison sentence for rape, Beijing Times reported on Tuesday. The 34-year-old man, surnamed Hao, invited a client, Jiang Mei (not her real name), to a karaoke hall in December 2011 and raped her after she became drunk. One month later, Jiang discovered she was pregnant and went to the police. A DNA test revealed Hao had impregnated her, and he was detained.

Natural disasters claim 759 lives in August

Natural disasters killed 759 people in China in August, with 123 still missing, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Tuesday in a statement. More than 57.5 million were affected by natural disasters, and more than 600,000 people were relocated, the ministry said. Earthquakes, droughts and floods were the main natural disasters to hit China last month. Hail, mountain collapses, landslides, mudslides, and forest and prairie fires also struck the country. Some 18,000 buildings collapsed in the disasters.

Chongqing

Loneliness leads to 1,438 police hotline calls

A lonely man in Chongqing made 1,438 phone calls in a year to the police hotline 110 because he wanted someone to chat to, Chongqing Evening News reported on Tuesday. The man, surnamed Zhao, felt lonely after his divorce and his children moved to another city to work as migrant workers. Learning of his situation, the local police station recently sent officers to visit him.

Shop owner's photos of thieves condemned

A shop owner in Chongqing put up photos of thieves who stole from his shop and a lawyer has said the man violated the thieves' rights, Chongqing Economic Times reported on Tuesday. The shop owner said he caught the two thieves in June and called the police. He posted photos from the video surveillance in his shop to warn other thieves. However, lawyer Huang Mingxi said the shop owner violated the thieves' rights.

China Daily-Xinhua-AFP

(China Daily USA 09/10/2014 page3)