Tomb robbers caught in raid

    More than 170 tomb raiders* have been arrested and 1,168 cultural relics recovered in an operation, said the Ministry of Public Security on May 26.

    The ministry valued the looted* artifacts at more than 500 million yuan (US$80 million). The tomb raiders are suspected of illegal excavations* in Niuheliang, a Neolithic* site in northeastern Liaoning Province.

    No gambling for visitors in TW

    Chinese mainland authorities have ruled out* the possibility of its citizens being allowed to gamble in Taiwan, as casinos* are considered on one of a number of Taiwan islands that have recently been made more accessible to* mainland tourists.

    Mainland regulations and cross-Strait agreements between the mainland and Taiwan are consistent in prohibiting mainland tourists from gambling in Taiwan, said Fan Liqing, spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on May 27.

    S. Korean isolated in GD

    A South Korean man suspected of having the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS*) who came to China’s Guangdong Province on May 26 has been placed under isolation in Huizhou City.

    The 44-year-old man, whose father was infected by the deadly virus, was among 64 people placed under isolation by South Korean health authorities last week.

    But the man violated the quarantine* order and stayed in Hong Kong on May 26 before heading to Huizhou via Shenzhen’s Shatoujiao Checkpoint on a business trip.

    $900b in Belt, Road initiative

    China announced plans to boost Belt and Road trade and invested nearly US$900 billion in countries along the route.

    Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said the country is mulling* six economic corridors with countries along the Belt and Road, the government’s name for the New Silk Road initiative, trade route to better connect Asia and Europe with funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fundation. (SD-Agencies)