Air pollution documentary goes viral online

A documentary on air pollution in China has provoked a national discussion after going viral online.

The self-funded film by Chai Jing, Under the Dome, remained one of the hottest hashtags on Sina Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter. As of Monday the documentary had been viewed more than 28 million times on Youku, a major Chinese video sharing website.

The former Chinese celebrity TV presenter became a household name through her in-depth investigative reporting for China Central Television of national news stories such as the SARS outbreak, Wenchuan earthquake and coal mine accidents.

The103-minute film became so ubiquitous that Chen Jining, newly appointed minister of Environmental Protection, said he had called Chai to express his appreciation after watching the whole video.

4,300 suspects illegally detained

National prosecuting departments have identified nearly 4,300 suspects who have been illegally detained for more than three years without being prosecuted or sentenced, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said.

"Such illegal detention has seriously harmed the defendants' rights and damaged the image and credibility of judicial authorities," said a senior official at the Procuratorate, who declined to be named.

The maximum allowable detention time for the suspects is seven months, and prosecuting departments must prosecute suspects within six months.

Tuesday - March 3

Five-year pollution control project planned

China's Ministry of Science and Technology has started planning for a five-year air pollution prevention and control project, the ministry announced.

A draft blueprint for the project has been published on the ministry's website and the ministry is soliciting comment from the public, government departments and experts. According to the draft, the project will be carried out starting this year until 2020.

The focus of air-pollution control should be shifted from simply responding to heavy smog to a coordinated plan to prevent both PM2.5, or airborne particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter, and ozone (O3), according to the draft.

Air pollution monitoring and management practices will be shifted from the city level to a regional scale, the draft said.

Research will focus on the cause and spread of pollution, its impact on health, monitoring and warning systems. (Photo 1)

National political advisers expelled from party

A total of 14 national political advisers were expelled due to corruption, China's top political adviser said.Yu Zhengsheng made the remark on Tuesday at the opening meeting of Third Session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body. Those removed include two vice-chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee.

On Monday, a second group of 14 formerly high and well-connected officers in the People's Liberation Army were placed under investigation and charged with violating Party discipline and laws, a phrase referring to corruption, according to an announcement by the military.

Wednesday - March 4

Couriers agree to curb illegal wildlife trade

Major courier companies in China announced that they will have zero tolerance for trading in illegal wildlife and wildlife products.

Representatives of 17 courier enterprises, including China Post, SF Express and STO Express, signed a proposal in Beijing on the second World Wildlife Day, promising to refuse to handle orders of illegal wildlife and wildlife products, including ivory, rhino horn and tiger bone.

The proposal was signed at the suggestion of the State Forestry Administration to curb the increasing illegal trade of wildlife and wildlife products through e-commerce websites and courier companies.

Zhang Libao, an official of the administration, said most of the illegal wildlife trade is conducted through couriers, as e-commerce has rapidly developed in recent years.

Fifth lunar probe scheduled for 2017

China is set to launch the unmanned Chang'e-5, its fifth lunar probe, in South China's Hainan province in 2017, a top Chinese space scientist and a national political adviser told Xinhua.

It is the first Chinese lunar probe that will collect lunar samples and return to Earth. The research into the launch is going as planned, said Ye Peijian, chief designer of Chang'e-1, China's first moon probe, and chief commander of the Chang'e-2 and Chang'e-3 missions.

China's lunar exploration program, named after the mythological moon goddess Chang'e, is divided into three stages: orbiting, landing and return. (Photo 2)

Thursday - March 5

Defense budget to be raised by 10 percent

China will raise its defense budget by around 10 percent this year, the lowest in five years, a senior official said.

Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the 12th National People's Congress, said China needs strong armed forces that can safeguard its national security and people.

"Lagging behind leaves one vulnerable to attacks. That is a lesson we have learned from history," she said. "Financial support is essential for the modernization of China's national defense and the People's Liberation Army."

China's defense budget rose by 12.2 percent last year, riding on a multiyear run of double-digit increases. (Photo 3)

Domestic violence penalties are toughened

Committing domestic violence can result in penalties as severe as the death sentence, according to a guideline released by China's top judicial authorities.

The guideline gives clear definition on crimes relating to domestic violence, including intentional injury, homicide, and abuse, and specifies penalties for such crimes.

China still lacks a special law on domestic violence, which causes legal difficulties in domestic violence criminal cases, difficulties such as starting legal procedures and giving verdicts, Yang Wanming, a judge at the Supreme People's Court, said.

Domestic violence in China has increased in recent years. According to a report released by All-China Women's Federation last year, nearly 40 percent of Chinese women who are married or involved in a relationship experience physical or sexual abuse, and only 7 percent of women surveyed who had experienced domestic violence called the police.

Friday - March 6

Alibaba buys stake in TV content, film producer

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, the Chinese Internet giant, has agreed to invest 2.4 billion yuan ($383 million) in TV content and film producer Enlight Media, the latest part of its strategy to expand into the culture and entertainment sector.

Alibaba will take an 8.8 percent stake in Enlight, becoming the company's second-largest shareholder, according to a statement issued by the media company.

Enlight is one of the country's largest privately owned video content providers and operators. It provides a wide range of entertainment content ranging from news broadcasts to variety and live shows.

"Social networking is one of Alibaba's weaknesses, therefore it has an interest in taking a stake in a company like Enlight," said Will Tao, a technology analyst at consulting firm iResearch. (Photo 4)

Shanghai is ranked the top mainland city

Shanghai is the top mainland city for quality of living, according to a ranking report.

The ranking by Mercer, a talent, health, retirement and investments consultancy services provider, is based on surveys of social conditions in cities, including economic development, health care and education access, consumption and residential conditions, weather and climate.

Globally, Shanghai is in the 101th spot of 230 cities covered in the list and in 8th place in Asia ahead of Beijing (118th globally), Guangzhou (121th) and Shenzhen (139th).

Other key cities in Asia ranked globally include Singapore (25th), Hong Kong (70), and Seoul (72) and Taipei(83).

Vienna remained at the top with the best living quality in the world, the report said. (Photo 5)