Afforestation project A RESEARCH academy on China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), a large-scale afforestation project, was launched Sunday in North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The new institute will provide scientific and technological support for major national ecological project constructions such as the TSFP. Launched in 1978, the TSFP consists of forestation in Northwest, North, and Northeast China. Joint air force exercise CHINA and Pakistan kicked off a joint air force training exercise Monday within Chinese territory as part of efforts to further boost training and coordination between the two militaries and deepen their exchange and cooperation on military technology. It is the 10th joint training exercise between the Chinese and Pakistani air forces. The exercise will focus on training in typical combat scenarios such as joint air defense and joint countermeasures. Alert for rainstorms CHINA’S National Meteorological Center yesterday renewed a blue alert for rainstorms as heavy downpours are expected to lash multiple regions of the country. Heavy downpours and rainstorms are forecast to hit regions such as Heilongjiang, Jilin, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan, Sichuan and Taiwan Island, according to the center. | 