Talent show star killed in plastic surgery mishap

A 24-year-old female singer died early last week while receiving plastic surgery in Hubei Province, local authorities confirmed Wednesday, as postings about her death drew extensive attention online.

Sex ed curriculum offered by more local schools

After a two-year trial run in 30 select schools, a second round of sex education classes is being expanded to more local schools. There are 45 local primary and high schools volunteering to add the curriculum to their studies.

City’s high-rise impossible for firefighters to defend

The capital’s 58 super high-rise buildings, those more than 100 meters high or more than 30 stories, are a lost cause for local firefighters. Zhao Zixin, director of the Beijing Fire Control Bureau, said Monday that these buildings cannot be reached by aerial ladder, helicopter or any other core firefighting tool.

Residents may face fines for mixed garbage

Beijing residents may soon be fined for dumping their trash without sorting it, according to draft regulations made public by the local government this week.

Civil services sent overseas for experience

The Dongcheng District Government published its first 20-year talent development strategy on Monday. The district plans to send its best officials and civil services to temporary posts in developed countries in groups for training. It plans to invest 50 million yuan in the program each year.

Spider-Man musical preview beset by mishaps

A new Spider-Man musical, the most expensive in Broadway history, has suffered a string of mishaps during its first preview performance.

Enemies of progress: the Catholic bishops pontificate on education

Long before he became Pope, Joseph Ratzinger had a low opinion of bishops’ conferences and their bureaucracies. I doubt he’d change his mind after reading the press releases on the subject of education emanating from the November plenary session of the Bishops of England and Wales.

Israel accused over ‘cruel’ Gaza blockade

Gaza’s 1.5 million people are still suffering from a shortage of construction materials, a ban on exports and severe restrictions on movement six months after Israel agreed to ease its blockade on the territory, according to a report from 21 international organisations.

Chinese man jailed for publishing bomb-making tips online

A man in China has been jailed for publishing instructions on how to make explosives on a website owned by Chinese search engine Baidu, state media reported.

China AIDS death toll up nearly 20,000 in a year

The total number of reported AIDS deaths in China has jumped by nearly 20,000 since an official estimate last year, state media said Monday as Beijing vowed to step up efforts to curb its spread.