WHO experts arrive

A PANEL of scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in Wuhan, capital of Central China’s Hubei Province, on Thursday to cooperate with their Chinese peers in research on the potential origin of the novel coronavirus.

The WHO team underwent throat swabs and serum antibody tests for the coronavirus at the airport. They will go through the required quarantine procedures before conducting field work.

Plant explosion

ONE person was killed and seven others injured in a gas explosion at an auto parts plant in North China’s Tianjin Municipality on Thursday, local authorities said.

The rescue operation ended at about 3:30 p.m. and no people were found trapped in the blast, according to the fire department in Tianjin Port bonded area.

Maiden flight

CHINA’S WJ-700, a high-altitude, high-speed and long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of conducting reconnaissance and strike, has performed its maiden flight, its developer announced Wednesday.

Developed by an institute under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp., the WJ-700 has adopted a number of advanced technologies. Its key indicators such as endurance, range and carrying capacity reached an advanced level.