2 detained for inciting self-burnings

    Sichuan Province police have detained a monk and his nephew for their roles in inciting a series of self-immolations, local police said on December 9.

    Lorang Konchok, a 40-year-old monk at the Kirti Monastery in Aba County, has goaded* eight people into setting themselves on fire, including three who died, since 2009, police said. He acted on the instructions of the Dalai Lama and his followers, according to his confession* and a police investigation.

    Food-test scandal

    Parents of children who unknowingly participated in a study involving genetically modified rice in Hunan Province have received compensation, but say they are more worried about their children’s health than money.

    Families of 25 children who were fed 60 grams of genetically modified (GM) “golden rice” each received 80,000 yuan (US$12,800) on December 7.

    Beijing car plate scandal

    The son of Beijing’s traffic management bureau director instigated the license plate lottery scandal that has embroiled* his father, marking the latest twist on December 9 in the controversy involving hotly sought license plates in the vehicle-clogged* capital.

    Media reports on December 6 accused Song Jianguo, director of Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, of corruption in the license plate lottery, prompting Beijing police to quickly deny the allegations.

    Red Cross enlists scrutiny

    The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has set up a special committee to supervise the collection and management of donations to the charitable organization, in an effort to improve transparency* amid widespread mistrust.

    At the committee’s first meeting on December 7, committee members discussed the committee’s charter and reviewed RCSC data including its financial report, details about implementation of its major charity programs and descriptions of volunteers’ work, said an announcement on the RCSC’s blog on Weibo.

    (SD-Agencies)