Beijing, January 5

Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked the military to strengthen training to hone its combat skills and remain on high alert as the new revised defence law expanding the armed forces’ power came into force this year.

Xi, who also heads the ruling Chinese Communist Party besides the Central Military Commission, signed the commission’s first order, which listed priorities in the training of the army.

Ex-official gets death sentence for graft

Lai Xiaomin, 58, former head of China Huarong Asset Management Co Ltd, was sentenced to death for bribery on Tuesday. Besides corruption, the Second Intermediate People’s Court of Tianjin found him guilty also of bigamy. Agencies

He said the military must remain on high alert to ensure troops are always ready for any engagement. — PTI