Beijing

Data network on eldercare launched

China has launched a universal network covering the data of eldercare facilities across the country, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Thursday. Information about the institutions in the network will include internal management, service quality, security management and staff profiles. The ministry said it has started a training campaign on how to use the new network, and the first set of information will be entered by May 10.

Four officials fired after theft of relics

Four officials have been fired after a pair of 400-year-old candle holders were stolen from the Ming imperial tombs, local authorities said on Thursday. The officials, from Changping district, include the head and the Party chief of the Ming Tombs Special Area Agency, and two people in charge of security and cultural heritage. The mausoleums were built for the emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The missing white marble candle holders were placed in front of the mausoleum of the dynasty's last emperor, Chongzhen.

Enrollment rate at high schools to rise

The Ministry of Education released a plan on Thursday, setting a goal of increasing the high school enrollment rate nationwide from the current 87.5 percent to 90 percent by 2020. According to the plan, more attention will be paid to the development of secondary vocational education to ensure that it can accept as many students as ordinary high school education.

Shanghai

12 missing after ship capsizes

A foreign vessel sank near the Yangtze River estuary on Thursday, according to the Shanghai maritime authority. The ship carrying 4,850 metric tons of coil steel overturned on Thursday morning after a suspected collision, according to the authority. The 97-meter-long vessel is registered in Kiribati, an island country in the west Pacific Ocean. Two crew members were rescued by a nearby vessel. The search continues for the remaining 12.

Chongqing

Glass bridge opens to public

A glass-bottom skywalk, believed to have the longest cantilever in the world, opened to the public on Saturday. The bridge extends 86 meters from the cliff wall, and hangs more than 200 m above ground level at Wansheng Ordovician Theme Park. During last week's three-day Qingming Festival holiday, nearly 10,000 tourists visited the bridge.

Hainan

Oceanic research team returns

The crew of China's 38th ocean scientific expedition returned to Sanya on Wednesday. The 59-day trip marks the conclusion of the first stage of a 124-day mission. Xiangyanghong 09, the mother ship, left Qingdao, Shandong province, on Feb 6 with the country's first deep-sea manned submersible, Jiaolong, and more than 150 personnel. After a rotation of crew and material supplies, the ship will embark on its second phase on Sunday.