September 23, 2008
A giant ding (鼎, a triple-legged pot) appeared on the front page of today’s Ningxia Daily, the regional party newspaper based in Yinchuan.
The pot, bearing the inscription “ethnic solidarity” in President Hu Jintao’s hand, was given to the Ningxia government to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the autonomous region, which took place on September 25th, 1958. The ding was accompanied by many other goods, including ambulances, winter coats, and computers.
More than 35% of Ningxia’s population belongs to the Hui nationality. It is one of China’s five ethic minority autonomous regions and remains economically underdeveloped.
The Chongqing Evening News reported that two men who were responsible for bomb hoaxes were brought to trial yesterday. Zheng Xuhua, one of the culprits, told the court, “I don’t have anything against the society. I just felt depressed that day. I hope the court give me a chance to reform myself.” The article explained Zheng’s depression as stemming from a fight he had with his wife before the crime.
The incidents started on August 2, when Zheng called up the Chongqing Department Store. He claimed that he had put explosive devices in the store, causing a public panic and evacuation. Zheng said he was a terrorist during the phone call.
September 23, 2008
On August 4, Wang Xuhua used a pay phone to call the police to tell them that there was a bomb on the top floor of the same Chongqing Department Store. Wang was arrested after police got ahold of his image through a security camera installed on the pay phone. Wang was said to be drunk when he was arrested. Both of the accused were charged with spreading false information to cause a terrorism scare.
The Chongqing Evening News also reported on the case of a former Xiamen Airline captain who was stripped of his job when he was fingered for sexual harassment by a flight attendant. After he was fired in 1999, Gong Haomou filed a number of lawsuits against the airline and the attendant but has yet to win any of them. Yesterday, his case was accepted by the Supreme Court. Gong has demanded 60 million yuan in damages.
- Ningxia Daily (Chinese): Central government sent us “Solidarity of All Ethnic Groups” Ding
- Chongqing Evening News (Chinese): Two men in Chongqing caused panic creating a hoax bomb scare
- Sohu.com (Chinese): Airline captain suspended flying for sexual harassment expecting a new trial.