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Typhoon Leaves 25 Dead, More Than 50 Missing in Southeast China
BEIJING - Typhoon Kaemi has taken its toll on the Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian provinces, causing landslides, flash-floods, and levee damage that have left 25 dead, 53 missing, and hundreds homeless.
Most of the damage was done in the Jiangxi province, where a mountainside flood washed out an entire military barracks. Workers in Fujian are currently trying to patch up leaks in a 320-yard levee, the failure of which would threaten more than 20,000 residents in six villages.
Kaemi is one of several typhoons to hit during this year's rainy summer season. In addition to numerous casualities, the typhoons have cause stoppages in public train service that added up to over 600 hours.
Read the full article on Kaemi here.
Chinese Prime Minister Looking to Avoid the Dangers of Economic Success
BEIJING - Due to a decade-high growth rate for the second-quarter and forecasts that show no signs of an impending cool-off, China's top official has called for measures that will slow down its rapidly growing economy. These measure will aim at averting a financial crisis brought on by inflation and debt-increasing over-lending.
Construction and accompanying bank-lending booms have produced an 11.3% growth rate that has reduced poverty but may become counter-productive if allowed to get out of control. Prime minister Wen Jibao is also concerned that extensive urban investment at the expense of rural industries could increase the gap between China's rich and poor.
Expected moves include raising the interest rate, collecting a 20% capital gains tax, and raising taxes on property sales. Other moves involve limiting foreign investment.
Read the full article here.
Government Clean-up: China convicts more than 10,000 officials
BEIJING - In an attempt to end bureaucratic corruption and to promote governmental openness, the Chinese government has spent the last six months investigating violations of administrative law. The invesigation was conducted by the Chinese Communist Party's specialized Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
The investigation has produced more than 10,000 convictions on various corruption-based charges, including the improper use of torture on criminal suspects, a practice that China has been under pressure to abolish.
Read the full article here.
New refinery to be constructed in Guangzhou as result of Sinopec-Kuwait Petroleum deal
BEIJING - The China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (Sinopec) has recently received permission from the Chinese government to begin construction on a $5 billion refinery plant in the Guangzhou province, near the city of Nansha.
Although the plant will be run in a joint venture with the Kuwait Petroleum Corp, Sinopec will hold a majority stake. This is the biggest foreign oil-industry collaboration that China has ever seen and marks a growing Chinese interest in Middle Eastern oil.
The refinery is expected to be completed by 2010, and will have the capacity to produce 15 million tons of oil per year. The plant will also produce ethylene, a key component in the manufacturing of plastics. 1,000 new jobs are expected to be created by the plant.
Read the full article here.
Paralyzed Chinese activist 'beat himself up,' government agency concludes
HUBEI, China - Fu Xiancai, a local activist for the thousands of villagers displaced by the Three Gorges Dam who was recently found beaten within inches of his life after a visit with local police, apparently 'beat himself up,' according to Chinese investigators.
Fu, who may never walk again, drew constant ire from local officials for making public accusations of corruption in their ranks. An offical investigation recently concluded that the attack was made up by Fu, on the grounds that no other footprints were found at the scene.
Human Rights in China (HRIC) is concerned about the partiality of the investigation, as it was conducted by the same group that Fu has come into conflict with in the past.
This news comes in the wake of a Chinese journalist's death as a result of a beating by an enraged policeman.
Read the full article here.
Chinese government seeks to reemphasize icon-status of Dr. Norman Bethune; 20-part ideological epic to air in August
BEIJING - In response to what many communist party insiders see as a lessening of public-spiritedness, a 20-part primetime miniseries on the life of Canadian surgeon and Chinese revolutionary hero Norman Bethune will air on China's biggest television network in August.
Bethune played a key role in both Mao's revolution and in the Sino-Japan War as a Red Army doctor. He is traditionally celebrated in China as a man who died for his belief in socialism. He is not only the only Westerner to have a statue erected of him in Communist China, but a eulogy of Berthune written by Mao himself is required reading for Chinese students.
The series is considered part of this summer's celebration of the 85th anniversary of communism in China, which has been marked thus far by a presidentially-led campaign to revive what Hu Jintao sees as a decline of socialist values.
See the full story here.
Chinese national table-tennis team decides to police itself after drunk-driving scandal
BEIJING - Double gold medalist Kong Linghui's arrest for drunk driving last week has prompted team officials to impose a ban on both drinking and driving during Olympic training.
As part of a new five-point discipline plan, ping-pong legend Kong was required to prepare a public apology and to submit to a "self-criticism session" with his teammates after crashing his Porsche into a taxi-cab early Friday morning.
The word is still out on whether or not Kong will face a suspension. His fine for drunk-driving was $226 and he lost his driver's license for six months.
For the Full story, click here.
Dr. Margaret Chan to join list of nominees for WHO director general
BEIJING - The Chinese government recently announced its nomination of Margaret Chan for director general of the World Health Organization (WHO). In keeping with WHO policy, Chan, who is from Hong Kong, had to step down from her current position as a WHO senior official as a result of her nomination.
Chan is best known for her work with the WHO regarding world-wide preparation for influenza, particularly bird flu, pandemics.
The director-general position is vacant as a result of the recent death of South Korea's Lee Jong-Wook. Wook died in May after receiving brain surgery.
For the full story, click here.
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