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Straits Times
7 days ago
- Straits Times
Residential building explosion in Fujian, China, kills two, injures five
Residential building explosion in Fujian, China, kills two, injures five Two people were confirmed dead and five were injured in an explosion on June 9 in a residential community in Xiadian village of Nan'an city, Fujian province, China Central Television reported on June 10. The five injured individuals were sent to the hospital and are in stable condition. The blast occurred at around 10.30pm local time. It is suspected to have been caused by a gas pipeline rupture, resulting in the collapse of a three-story residential building, the report said. Emergency management, fire, public security, and medical departments arrived at the site to handle the emergency rescue and disposal work. The on-site rescue operation has concluded and an investigation into the cause is ongoing, according to the CCTV report. CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Straits Times
China's first police corgi has 400,000 followers and a nose for trouble
Fu Zhai lost his Lunar New Year 'bonus' for sleeping on the job and using his dog bowl as a urinal. PHOTO: CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK China's first police corgi has 400,000 followers and a nose for trouble BEIJING – China's first police corgi will do anything for food. With a keen sense of smell and legs that seem too short for his body, Fu Zai the corgi has won a huge social media audience that has followed him doing official duties since he started as a sniffer dog in September. He was a pet puppy when a dog trainer spotted his potential at a park and recruited him to the Weifang Public Security Bureau, in the northern coastal province of Shandong. A love of earning treats as rewards has earned Fu Zai strong performance reviews. But it's also proved a challenge, as his trainer has found that keeping him in line is not easy. Fu Zai was caught on camera recently grabbing a bite of a sausage in a child's hand during a street patrol. Officers have since tried to train him to better resist food, but many social media users offered support – and free sausages – for Fu Zai the next time he patrolled the streets. In another video, some of the corgi's toys and snacks – part of a Lunar New Year 'bonus' – were confiscated for sleeping on the job and using his dog bowl as a urinal. Dog experts said such behaviour is normal for corgis. 'That's why they're challenging, too, because they get distracted pretty easily. And they also have a lot of prey drive, so if there's anything that moves really quickly, they want to go and investigate,' said Mr Leonardo Palacio, owner of Real Focus K9, a dog training school in Stamford, Connecticut, that specialises in training dogs with behavioural challenges. He added that a corgi often moves with the confidence of 'a big dog in a small dog's body'. Fu Zai is an unusual choice for police work. Traditionally, corgis were bred to work on farms, herding cattle by biting their ankles. In recent times, they have become popular choices for pets or companion dogs, most famously associated with Queen Elizabeth II. But some have retained the propensity to nip. That trait might dissuade trainers when assessing the suitability of a dog for the disciplined forces, said Mr James Leung, a training director at Hong Kong Canine, who has experience training police dogs. 'It's all trainable, but that's just one less thing I have to train,' he said. Golden retrievers and spaniels are more typical choices for sniffer dogs because they are typically seen by the public as friendly, he added. Those short legs Fu Zai's trainer at the Weifang police, Mr Zhao Qingshuai, said in an interview with China's state broadcaster that he initially ruled out a corgi as a police dog because of the breed's reputation for curiosity and distractibility, not to mention the short legs. Meeting Fu Zai changed his mind. Mr Zhao said that after first encountering the dog by chance in the park and chatting with his owner, Fu Zai came running after Mr Zhao called his name. When offered treats, he was a good sport in games like spinning on demand. 'He could not resist food, an indication that he has a strong drive to work for food,' Mr Zhao said. He later invited Fu Zai to train at the police base to assess his skills. Over the next few months, the corgi excelled in detecting explosives. Moreover, he could fit under tight spaces some other dogs couldn't reach, making it easy to sniff out the bottom of vehicles and inspect the underside of bus seats. 'His short legs have actually become an advantage, allowing him to perform tasks that larger dogs can't,' Mr Zhao said. Fu Zai, whose name means something like 'Lucky Youngster', became a full-fledged member of the Weifang police in October. Social media star He has since been beamed around the Chinese internet as a friendly face for the regional force, making frequent appearances on the Weifang Public Security Bureau's official account on Douyin, China's version of TikTok. A separate account the department maintains, named 'Fu Zai and his comrades', has more than 400,000 followers. The videos show a glimpse of police dog life: practising drills, patrolling a regional kite festival and riding on the back of a motorcycle, doggy shades on. (His former owner pays him regular visits, according to videos on her Douyin account.) But the drive for food that helped him land the job has also gotten him into some of his troubles. While a working dog needs enough self-control to consistently follow instructions, it is also important that it keeps its natural drive or instincts, said Ms Vivien Chin, owner and principal trainer at Active K9 Academy, a dog training school in Singapore. 'You want it to be a bit more independent and a bit of a go-getter to actually go out and get the guy, or to brave all the different environmental obstacles that may come its way,' she said. Whether as a temptation he can't resist or a treat used in training, there will probably be more sausage in Fu Zai's future. And whatever his performance review says, his status as a social media star is unlikely to fade. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
05-05-2025
- Climate
- The Star
10 dead, dozens hurt after boats capsize in China, reports state media
A file image of a tourist boat sailing on the Liuchong River in Qianxi city, in China's south-western Guizhou province. -- PHOTO: CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK BEIJING (AFP): Ten people have died and 70 were hospitalised after strong winds caused boats carrying tourists to capsize at a scenic spot in southwestern China, state media said Monday. The passenger boats overturned Sunday afternoon on a river in Qianxi city, Guizhou province, state broadcaster CCTV said, sending 84 people into waters. As of Monday afternoon 10 were dead, 70 have been hospitalised and four were unharmed, state media said. The last person reported missing earlier in the morning was found by rescue personnel around noon, but "showed no signs of life", CCTV added. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged "all-out efforts" in the search and rescue operations and treatment of those injured, state news agency Xinhua said. Xi also "underscored the importance of strengthening safety measures in tourist attractions" and other large public venues, the agency said. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to the scene to oversee the rescue efforts, state media added. An investigation has found the boats were not overloaded with passengers, CCTV said. Sunday's incident comes just over two months after 11 people were killed in a boat collision in central China. The accident in Hunan province occurred when a passenger boat struck an industrial vessel, throwing 19 people overboard. - AFP
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Straits Times
Death toll rises to 9 after tourist boats capsize in China
A file image of a tourist boat sailing on the Liuchong River in Qianxi city, in China's south-western Guizhou province. PHOTO: CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Death toll rises to 9 after tourist boats capsize in China BEIJING – Nine people died and 70 were hospitalised after strong winds caused four boats carrying tourists to capsize at a scenic spot in south-western China, state media said on May 5. The passenger boats overturned on the afternoon of May 4 on a river in Qianxi city, Guizhou province, state broadcaster CCTV said, sending 84 people into the water. The China Daily, citing the official Xinhua news agency, said the boats overturned at around 4pm when torrential rain swept over the Liuchong River, a tributary of the upper Wujiang River. Passengers and crew members were thrown into the water. By 7pm, rescue teams had pulled more than 50 people from the river. As at the morning of May 5, nine were dead, 70 have been hospitalised and four were unharmed, Xinhua said. One person remains missing. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged 'all-out efforts' in the search and rescue operations and the treatment of those injured, Xinhua said. Mr Xi also 'underscored the importance of strengthening safety measures in tourist attractions' and other large public venues, the agency said. Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to the scene to oversee the rescue efforts, state media added. An investigation has found that the boats were not overloaded with passengers, CCTV said. The incident comes just over two months after 11 people were killed in a boat collision in central China. The accident in Hunan province occurred when a passenger boat struck an industrial vessel, throwing 19 people overboard. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Straits Times
Three dead, 60 hospitalised in China after tourist boats capsize
File image of a tourist boat sailing on the Liuchong River in Qianxi city, in China's south-western Guizhou province. PHOTO: CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Three dead, 60 hospitalised in China after tourist boats capsize BEIJING - Three people died and 60 others were hospitalised after two boats carrying tourists capsized in south-western China on May 4, according to state media. Around 70 people fell into the water when the two passenger boats overturned on a river in Qianxi city, Guizhou province, Xinhua news agency said, citing local authorities. Rescue workers were searching for 14 people still missing on May 4 evening. China's leader Xi Jinping urged 'all-out efforts' in the search and rescue operations and treatment of those injured, Xinhua said. May 4's incident comes just over two months after 11 people were killed in a boat collision in central China. The collision in Hunan province occurred when a passenger boat struck an industrial vessel, throwing 19 people overboard. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
