Beijing - An explosion has killed 47 miners in a north China coal mine which had been operating illegally after being closed for safety reasons last year, writes Miriam Donohoe.
A police search was under way yesterday for the owner of the mine in the city of Hancheng, in Shaanxi Province. He is reported to have fled the scene shortly after the blast ripped through an underground shaft.
A factory producing cigarette lighters based in a primary school in Hebei Province has been shut down by police.
According to official media, the Bazhou City Shuangfa Lighter Factory rented part of the primary school in the village of Xiaojiabao, in the city of Langfang, to make lighters after signing a contract with the village committee in August.