China’s CNOOC offers Katrina aid

China's state-controlled CNOOC, forced to drop a bid for US oil producer Unocal Corp amid opposition from the Congress, will match donations...

China’s state-controlled CNOOC, forced to drop a bid for US oil producer Unocal Corp amid opposition from the Congress, will match donations from its employees for victims of Hurricane Katrina, a spokesman said on Monday.

CNOOC’s 30,000 staff had raised 800,000 yuan ($98,600) for the victims by Friday, Liu Junshan said.

CNOOC, China’s top offshore oil and gas producer, provided humanitarian assistance to shoulder its international responsibility, the semi-official People’s Daily website quoted an unidentified executive as saying.

Story continues below this ad

CNOOC said the company will donate the same sum to help the victims recover their normal life and rebuild their home.

As enterprise citizens, CNOOC will shoulder its social responsibility to offer humanitarian help as much as possible for the victims, said sources with the CNOOC.

According to the company, it has contacted the afflicted area and will send the donation to the victims as soon as possible. CNOOC’s listed unit dropped an unsolicited $18.5 billion bid for Unocal last month amid opposition from the US Congress which feared a Chinese buy-out would compromise national security.

Among dead in Vijay rally stampede, young mother, couple set to marry

Cities58 min ago

A rally by actor-politician Vijay in Velusamypuram ended tragically with 40 deaths in a stampede. Non-political workers gathered to see the superstar, but exhaustion, heat, and poor planning caused chaos. People collapsed, ambulances couldn't reach, and police presence was inadequate. Vijay's team ignored instructions, and the narrow roads and insufficient crowd control added to the tragedy.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS