UPDATE 1-PRESS DIGEST - China - April 2

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BEIJING/SHANGHAI, April 2 (Reuters) - Chinese newspapers available in Beijing and Shanghai carried the following stories on Thursday. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

CHINA DAILY (www.chinadaily.com.cn)

-- Guangdong province is to keep a "close watch" on possible cases of corruption relating to the state and province's massive investment projects this year.

-- American sporting goods giant Nike (NKE.N) is suing two Chinese companies for copying one of its logos - a silhouette of former basketball star Michael Jordan slam-dunking.

-- The China Meteorological Administration said weather forecasts ahead show more blizzards and thunderstorms will hit southern China during this crucial month for rice cultivation.

PEOPLE'S DAILY

-- China will spend 8 billion yuan ($1.2 billion) for raising the safety of schools in earthquake and other disaster zones over the next three years.

CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL

-- More than 300 firms are preparing to apply for a listing on China's planned Nasdaq-style second board for start-up firms, according to unnamed sources.

-- Huaneng Power International (600011.SS) (0902.HK), China's largest electricity provider, hopes to return to the black in the first quarter, company executives said.

SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS

-- Air China's (601111.SS) state parent may bid for assets of debt-ridden private-sector carrier East Star Airlines, unnamed sources said.

-- The Chinese government may hand out more than 5 billion yuan ($732 mi Motor Co (600166.SS) has signed a 23.36 million yuan contract to supply 10 hybrid buses to the public transportation authority of Jinan city in eastern China by August of this year. ($1=6.833 Yuan) (Compiled by Beijing and Shanghai Newsrooms; Editing by Edmund Klamann and Jacqueline Wong)