Archaeologists announced Wednesday neolithic ruins dating back 4,500 to 5,000 years had been found in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

The ruins was found on Lingshan Mountain in the ancient city of Langzhong last July, when villagers were building a reservoir, said Sun Zhibin, from the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute.

A team led by Sun excavated the ruins from Sept. 2016 to Jan. 2017.

A total of 108 items were found at the ruins, including porcelain pots and plates, and stone tools, such as axes and spears.

“The discovery has provided new material for the research on cultural blending in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding culture,” he said.

The discovery, the first ruins dating back to the late neolithic period near the middle reaches of Jialing River, has put back human activity at Langzhong from 3,000 years ago to 4,500 to 5,000 years ago, said Sun.

China will increase research on smog in its battle against air pollution in Beijing and surrounding areas.

Government agencies, including environmental protection authority, academies and institutions will work together to integrate resources, according to reports of a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday.

Scientists working on anti-smog research may be given extra funding from the central budget.

The work will focus on causes of the heavy seasonal air pollution, emission control and health.

The government hopes to improve air quality and explore transferable pollution control systems for all parts in the country which suffers from smog.

China is addressing air pollution with stricter measures on emissions and an emphasis on clean energy. The Minister of Environmental Protection Chen Jining said earlier this week that Chinese cities reported more “good air” days in 2016.

26 Apr 2017

Labour have announced their candidate to fight the East Renfrewshire seat in the upcoming Westminster election – even though members there don’t have any faith in their leader.

Blair McDougall will contest the seat in June’s vote.

However, he will have to convince voters to back Labour despite the fact the party’s own branch doesn’t endorse Jeremy Corbyn.

In an open letter, 14 members across Eastwood said Corbyn “cannot provide the leadership” to form a government.

They added: “We need a credible, competent opposition, but Jeremy Corbyn is currently unable to fill all positions on his front bench. Jeremy Corbyn wants to captain a ship for which he has no crew. For the good of the party and, more importantly, the country, he must step aside.”

And McDougall himself has been a regular critic of Corbyn.

During the leadership election he backed Owen Smith on the basis “we cannot win with Jeremy”.

He also described as “fantasy” a remark by Corbyn that Labour were ahead in the polls last year.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader and MSP for Eastwood Jackson Carlaw said:

“How can the Labour candidate in East Renfrewshire expect people’s votes, when members themselves won’t back Jeremy Corbyn?

“It demonstrates the chaotic state the Labour party finds itself in.

“Even Blair McDougall thinks Jeremy Corbyn can’t win, which tells voters across East Renfrewshire everything they need to know.

“Only our candidate, Paul Masterton, can beat the SNP here, as we did at last year’s election.”

The open letter from Labour members is available here: http://labourhame.com/scottish-labour-members-call-for-corbyn-to-go/

The Scottish Conservative candidate for East Renfrewshire is Paul Masterton.

To see a list of critical tweets and retweets by Blair McDougall about Jeremy Corbyn, visit:

https://twitter.com/blairmcdougall/status/767111872025878529 https://twitter.com/blairmcdougall/status/763811597554941952 https://twitter.com/blairmcdougall/status/759477962714513408 https://twitter.com/blairmcdougall/status/766772372955357184 https://twitter.com/blairmcdougall/status/768759041514405888

In 2012 the BGS acquired a modern passive seismic measurement unit (Tromino) to complement the existing suite of near-surface geophysical equipment.