STORM AID: Coast guard sailors help to fasten a fishing boat during tropical storm Parma, which made landfall on the southernmost province of Hainan on October 12 and killed at least three people

Riot Trials

Twelve people who were convicted of murder and other crimes in Xinjiang's July 5 riot were sentenced to death during their trials on October 12 and 15. Four others were jailed for life.

During the first trial on October 12, seven defendants were sentenced for their parts in the riot, which left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 injured in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

All seven men were convicted of murder, and some were also convicted of arson or robbery.

Another 14 people went to trials on October 15 on charges of murder, robbery, arson and vandalism during the riot.

Corruption Punishment

China reported 135 officials who violated Party discipline involving the country's economic stimulus projects as of August 15, said the Party discipline watchdog in Beijing on October 14.

Among those who were reported, six broke laws and were handed over to prosecutors, said a statement issued by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The others received administrative or disciplinary punishment, it said.

One of the most serious cases was that of Lan Shaowei, deputy head of Hanyuan County in southwestern Sichuan Province, who was found to have taken 585,000 yuan ($86,000) from bidders on a reservoir project. He was expelled from the CPC and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Weathering the Crisis

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Donald Tsang delivered an annual policy address to the Legislative Council on October 14, outlining government efforts in the coming year.

In the address titled Breaking New Ground Together, Tsang said Hong Kong was hit hard by the global financial turmoil and the economic downturn but residents "have done a great job in keeping the ship afloat."

Hong Kong, one of the freest economies in the world, recorded sharp declines in its gross domestic product and external trade during the downturn. It reversed four quarters of contraction in the second quarter to record a quarter-on-quarter growth of 3.3 percent.

Tsang outlined plans to promote innovation and knowledge-based industries, such as education and medical services, testing and certification, environmental industries, innovation and technology, and cultural and creative industries.

Green Label

Chinese environmental authorities are to offer assessments of the carbon "imprint" of products and certify "low carbon" labels for use by manufacturers if their products meet standards.

The move is aimed at encouraging manufacturers to develop low-carbon-intensive products so consumers can make informed choices, said the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The carbon imprint of products with effects on the climate could be labeled by manufacturers as "low-carbon products" if they meet the standards, according to the statement.

The ministry was yet to set the standards and the exact date for starting certification has not been finalized.

The ministry signed a contract on October 15 to cooperate with German environmental bodies on certifying low-carbon-intensive products. More than 10 countries have similar programs.

Environmental issues, especially climate change, are becoming a growing concern around the world. With a population of 1.3 billion, China is gearing up efforts in fighting against environmental deterioration.

DELICATE SKILLS

An Afghani military officer (left) learns how to lay a de-mining detonator during a humanitarian training course in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, on October 13. The two-month training program was for 40 military officers from Afghanistan and Iraq

ART OF COURAGE

Young acrobats from Shanghai perform during a dress rehearsal in Taipei, China's Taiwan Province, on October 13

STORM AID

Coast guard sailors help to fasten a fishing boat during tropical storm Parma, which made landfall on the southernmost province of Hainan on October 12 and killed at least three people

HOME TEAM

Peng Shuai (right) of China and Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei hold up trophies during the women's doubles awards ceremony during the China Tennis Open Tournament 2009 at Beijing's National Tennis Center on October 10