China Southern will more than double the size of its operation in the home province of rival Hainan Airlines over the coming five years, taking advantage of subsidies offered by the local government. The airline, China’s largest, says it will deploy aircraft worth more than 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) to the island province, aiming to promote it as an international tourism destination.

The Chinese airport where a Henan Airlines regional jet crashed during the evening of Aug. 24 is unsuitable for night landings, according to China Southern, which flies from the airfield only in daylight. The Henan Airlines Embraer 190 appears to have brushed trees on its final approach to the airport before crashing 2 km. (1.1 nm.) from the runway. Branches on trees about 1 km. back from the crash site show signs of having been scraped, says Deputy Chief of the Civil Aviation Administration of China Li Jian.

DEATH PENALTY: Singapore will now impose the death penalty or life imprisonment on hostage takers acting against governments of international organizations. The city-state’s new anti-terrorism law also strengthens the hand of authorities trying to stop ransoms being paid, giving them the power to freeze bank accounts. Murder, including killing a hostage, is already punishable by death in Singapore.