BEIJING

Special teams to run gang crime crackdown

China's national office against organized crime said that special inspection teams will be sent to 10 provincial-level areas early this month to oversee crackdown operations against gangs and organized crime. During their one-week inspection tour, the accredited inspectors－selected from among in-service and retired officials in political and legal affairs departments, as well as experts in political and legal practices－will supervise the fight against organized crime, focusing on major cases and prominent problems in key areas, the office said.

HEILONGJIANG

Highway linking Mohe, Beijing opens to traffic

A national highway has been extended to Mohe, China's northernmost city. With the opening of the 157-kilometer section passing through the complex permafrost zone to Mohe, the Beijing-Mohe National Highway (G111) is now fully open to traffic, linking the nation's capital directly with the city, which borders Russia. Mohe often sees temperatures dipping below minus 40 C in winter, but its specular snowy landscape, starry sky and polar lights attract amateur astronomers and tourists. With the transportation infrastructure improved, Mohe now has one freeway, four national and provincial highways and three county roads leading to all of its villages.

GUIZHOU

7 confirmed dead after gas blast in coal mine

Seven of the eight miners trapped in a coal and gas blast in Bijie on Nov 25 were confirmed dead after rescuers retrieved the last body on Sunday. Only one miner came out alive after the accident at the Sanjia coal mine. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The Ministry of Emergency Management launched a three-month work safety campaign last month after multiple coal mine safety accidents.