Scandal’s aftermath leaves Red Cross short on blood

The blood bank at the Beijing Red Cross Blood Center is down to a third of its normal stock. Many hospitals are postponing surgeries, and some are asking patients to persuade their relatives and friends to donate blood.

Students chafed by housing discrepancy

Last week, an American student studying at Peking University wrote online that the university offers its best housing to international students while domestic students are forced to live in poor, overcrowded dormitories.

Authorities probe alleged theft of Tian’anmen paintings

Municipal authorities said Wednesday that they are investigating an anonymous report that eight precious paintings have been stolen from the Tian’anmen Rostrum and that others have sustained mildew damage due to mismanagement.

Schools for migrants’ children closed

Beijing authorities closed 24 schools for the children of migrant workers only weeks before the new semester was to begin, renewing concerns about the capital’s unequal access to education.

Change in marriage law could restore focus on love

The Supreme Court recently released a new interpretation of the national law that governs marriage, clarifying how real estate disputes are to be settled in the country’s increasing number of divorces.

Gov branches unite to crack down on fetal sexing

Six government organizations, including the National Population and Family Planning Commission and the Ministry of Health, began a nationwide crackdown on Tuesday to stamp out fetal sexing and selective abortion.

Nation considers allowing foreigners to hunt

The nation may reopen its forests to foreign hunters for the first time since 2006. An expert team at the State Forestry Administration (SFA) recently approved seven foreigners to hunt certain Class 2 protected animals in the country.

Public still wary of slower bullet trains

The State Council’s decision to slow the operational speed of the nation’s high-speed rails on Wednesday was met with a tepid welcome after last month’s fatal train collision raised concerns over safety.

Officials enter the microblog era

Yunnan’s former deputy director of the department of information Wu Hao may have been the country’s first official to tweet under his real name, but Cai Qi was the first to win more than a million followers.

Internet monitoring software pinches bars and cafes

Last week, the Beijing Public Security Bureau began requiring certain bars and cafes in the eastern part of town to install expensive monitoring software for their Wi-Fi networks.