成都网络公关

[Impression Liu Sanjie] [Yulong River rafting]

An undated photograph posted recently online shows five schoolgirls smoking on a street in Foshan, Guangdong province. [ China Daily]

Photographs posted online of a group of teenage girls in their school uniforms smoking on a street in Foshan, Guangdong province, have aroused public concern.

The photos were published on a popular, local online forum by an Internet user, who goes by the pseudo name 'toxicwaltz', on Tuesday afternoon.

The post on www.ttx.com.cn said the five girls, four of whom were seen smoking in the photographs, are students of the Foshan No 10 Middle School.

The photos show two of the girls throwing their cigarettes while two continued puffing after they noticed a camera pointed in their direction.

'It is usual to see schoolboys smoke, but I never expected such awful behavior from girls,' wrote 'toxicwaltz'.

The biggest full moon of the year will light up China''s Lantern Festival on the weekend, assuming favorable weather.

'The full moon on Sunday, which coincides with the Lantern Festival, will look 10 percent bigger than its normal size,' said Wang Sichao, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Sciences'' Purple Mountain Observatory based in east China''s Nanjing City.

He said the moon will pass the area around the perigee at 6:00 a.m. Sunday. However, the brightest and roundest moon will be observed on Monday, March 1.

The Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, is an occasion for family reunion. It marks the formal end of lunar New Year festivities.

According to Chinese tradition, people go outside and enjoy the colorful lanterns on the streets and in parks the night of the festival. They also eat yuanxiao, small dumplings made of glut

A Beijing court began hearing the first trials Monday involving alleged wrongdoers connected to the massive blaze that damaged the multi-billion-yuan China Central Television (CCTV) high-rise one year ago.

Beijing No 2 Intermediate Court said yesterday it had received a case filed by local prosecutors against 23 suspects charged with causing accidents with dangerous materials.

Among them is Xu Wei, former director of the national TV network''s new headquarters, who prosecutors said decided to store illegal fireworks and hold the grand display on the building during Spring Festival last year.

The move backfired and the fireworks ended up severely damaging the 30-story annex tower.

Those charged include six other former CCTV employees and six former employees from the project''s construction company.

Prosecutors said the suspects organized the illegal firework display, something that was not

Animal raisers face a fine of up to 50,000 yuan ($7,320) for improper use of feed and additives, including practices such as adding illegal materials to animal feed and feed additives, and using meat and bone meal for ruminant livestock feed, according to a draft regulation made public over the weekend to solicit public opinion.

The draft regulation also stipulates that animal feed and feed additive companies are obliged to immediately recall products upon discovery of any defect that may harm animals or people.

Other stipulations in the draft include those covering imports and exports. For example, foreign companies are only allowed to sell feed and additives in China through domestic branches or local agents.

The full text of the draft regulation can be found on the website of the State Council Legislative Affairs Office, and feedback can be sent before March 15.

The office said the draf

Citigroup Chief Executive Vikram Pandit said yesterday that the bank would continue to expand its presence in China, reflecting the banking major''s commitment to growth in emerging markets.

'There is no doubt that China is critically important to Citi and our long-term growth ambitions, and it still remains a priority market for us,' Pandit told China Daily in Beijing.

The remarks came after the bank said yesterday it got the regulatory approval for a new branch in Guiyang, Guizhou province.

The new branch is expected to open in the first half of this year and would expand Citi''s network in the country to 10 cities.

'We are committed to pursuing growth across multiple lines of business in China, and the new branch reflects our intent to expand in the country this year and beyond,' said Pandit.

Apart from the retail banking franchi