23 countries restrict entry of Zongzi

About 23 countries and regions have banned bringing or mailing Zongzi, sticky rice dumplings, into their country, ahead of Dragon Boat Festival that features the food, people.com.cn reported on May 20.

Some countries, including the US, Japan and Canada, prohibited the entry of meat Zongzi because it might transmit infectious diseases such as bird flu and foot- and- mouth disease.

Ban on eating lifted on Beijing subway

A ban on eating and drinking on the Beijing subway was removed from the railway's safety regulations, the Beijing News reported on Wednesday.

Not eating and drinking on the subway will be included in the passenger manual as an encouraged behavior.

According to the previous ban, that started March 10, subway passengers were fined up to 500 yuan ($80) if they were found eating or drinking during their commute.

Poisonous parcel

Two people who allegedy illegally delivered hazardous substances in parcels,poisoning an expressman, have been detained, xinhuanet.com reported Wednesday.

On May 11, the two suspects, who worked at a chemical company in Jiangsu province, sent the parcel, which contained five kilograms of methacrylate chemicals, to a Nanjing company. The expressman said he smelled pungent odors and then vomited and suffered breathing problems. Nanjing police said the two suspects violated an article in China's Public Security Administration Punishments Law prohibiting the delivery of poisonous substances.

Travel-weary photos

It seemed a good idea at the time when a young Chinese man set out to visit Northwest China's provinces and regions. But after almost a year on the road, the intrepid, fresh-faced explorer had taken on a decidedly weather-beaten demeanor. By the end of his trip he was barely recognizable. Photos of his dramatic change went viral online, as 26,000 Sina Weibo users commented and forwarded these photos, exclaiming how many difficulties he must have overcome to finish the journey. Exposure to ultraviolet light at high altitudes, high winds, a lack of proper rest and ever-changing accommodation all contributed to the dramatic changes to his appearance.

Agency bans school rankings, competitions

Beijing's Education Commission released a notice on Monday requiring any exam with the purpose of gaining a certificate or any academic competition at the primary and middle school level be cancelled. It also said any ranking of schools is forbidden, the Beijing Times reported on Tuesday. The notice was released to further cut down on student workloads.

'Shoelace' bites and injures college student

A 21-year-old university student in Changsha was bitten by a 15-centimeter-long centipede he mistook for a shoelace, Changsha Evening News reported on Tuesday. The student, surnamed Liu, 21, was drowsy after waking early on May 17 and went to retrieve his shoes on the balcony. The insect was lying on the shoes. Doctors warned that centipedes become active in the summer and urged caution. Although a bite to an adult human is usually quite painful and may cause a reaction such as swelling, chills, fever or weakness, it is unlikely to be fatal, according to an online encyclopedia. Bites can be dangerous to small children and to people with allergies to bee stings.

Marriage ceremony comes before jail

A man who used a false driver's license was allowed to get married before going to jail, Chengdu Commercial Daily reported on Tuesday. The 21-year-old resident of Taiping township drove a truck with a false license and was caught by traffic police on May 15. Officers learned that his wedding was planned for May 17 and decided to postpone his 10-day detention.

Netizen claims govt didn't pay bills

Several departments of the local government of Hezheng county have accumulated a debt of more than 600,000 yuan ($96,000) over the last 13 years to a local restaurant, Jinghua Times reported on Tuesday. On April 16, a netizen posted an item on the Internet claiming the restaurant is nearly bankrupt because a number of government bureaus have failed to pay their dining and lodging fees over the years, the report said.