HELLO LEOPARD: Image of the rare snow leopard is captured in a remote nature reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, researchers said on November 26. This is the first time researchers with the Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve have managed to obtain photographic evidence of the endangered animal (XINHUA)

Pollution Law

China's State Council on November 26 passed an amended draft air pollution prevention and control law, which emphasizes addressing the sources, total discharge and density of pollutants.

The amended draft specifies punishment for violations such as discharging pollutants without a certificate, over-discharging pollutants and fabricating monitoring data, according to the draft discussed at an executive meeting of the State Council, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

The amended draft has provisions on conducting coordinated control of multiple pollutants from coal burning, industry, automobiles and dust, as well as launching coordinated regional actions in key areas.

The draft will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation after further amendments.

Family Abuse Law

The Chinese Government is consulting the public on a draft of a national law on family violence, the first law of its kind in the country.

The draft gives social organizations and individuals the right to dissuade, prevent and report physical and psychological abuse from within the victims' family. Governments at all levels will allocate funds to combat family violence, according to the draft, published by the legislative affairs office of the State Council.

According to the draft, social aid organizations, primary and middle schools, kindergarten classrooms and medical institutions must report to authorities cases of family abuse and could bear legal liabilities should they fail to do so in a timely manner, resulting in "serious consequences."

The law states that government, judicial and other related authorities must provide medical treatment, legal aid and judicial assistance to family abuse victims and should protect the victims' rights in terms of property division and child custody should domestic violence lead to divorce.

According to the office, members of the public can voice their comments on the proposal until December 25.

Lottery Sales

China's lottery sales in October hit 32.7 billion yuan ($5.34 billion), up 20.3 percent year on year, the Ministry of Finance said on November 27.

Welfare lottery sales reached 17.75 billion yuan ($2.81 billion), up 14.5 percent year on year. Sports lottery sales rose 27.9 percent year on year to 14.95 billion yuan ($2.37 billion).

In the first 10 months of 2014, total lottery sales stood at 312.11 billion yuan ($51.13), up 24 percent from a year earlier.

Under China's lottery management rules, proceeds from lottery ticket sales cover administrative fees and public welfare projects as well as the jackpot.

Last year, total lottery sales topped 309 billion yuan ($49), up 18.3 percent year on year, ministry data shows.

Bilingual Teachers

China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region plans to train 16,500 teachers to teach in the local dialect and Mandarin.

Ma Wenhua, deputy head of the Xinjiang education department, said on November 27 that 254 million yuan ($41.48 million) would be channeled into the project from 2013 to 2018, in an effort to make up for the shortage of bilingual teachers in the region.

The initiative will target ethnic minority teachers under the age of 35, he said. By the end of 2013, 21,800 ethnic minority teachers in the region had received government-funded bilingual training.

The local government aims to enroll about 75 percent of ethnic minority students in bilingual education by 2015 and more than 90 percent by 2020.