Trending news across China on Oct 20

Ex-con opens new company

Lyu Dong, a former football player involved in a nationwide crackdown of soccer gambling, has opened a new company with friends after being released from prison. Prior to that, he ran a barbecue restaurant that subsequently failed. Lyu was the first person involved in the scandal to be released from prison after more than two years in jail. (Shenyang Evening News)

Real-name transportation cards

Beijing citizens can report the loss of their transportation card and get a new one after real-name cards are implemented in the future. The measure is part of a new technical standard for Beijing transportation cards that is currently seeking public opinions. The card will be applied to more fields in the future, including train tickets and online shopping. (Beijing Morning Post)

Debt of gratitude

A woman surnamed Huang appealed to court for 100,000 yuan ($16,399) in compensation that she provided to her ex-boyfriend as financial aid and indemnity during college 12 years ago. Huang's ex-boyfriend, surnamed Peng, found a new girlfriend at school and proposed to repay Huang but failed to carry out his promise. (Wuhan Evening News)

Railway discounts

A bullet train pulls out of Zhengzhou East Station, Sept 28, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

A series of discounts will be offered for 24 bullet trains on the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed rail from Nov 1 to Dec 31. The discounts will cover business cabins, state cabins and first-class seats on certain railway lines, according to the Beijing Railway Bureau. (Beijing Youth Daily)

About 300 fans joined in to taste genetically-modified rice at Huazhong Agriculture University on Saturday. Zhang Qifa, one of the organizers and the dean of the College of Life Science of the university, revealed that 61 academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering have submitted a written statement to State leaders to call on the industrialization of GM rice. (Southern Metropolis Daily)