May 24-26, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defender
北京当局限制艾滋病工作者万延海的人身自由 (Beijing Authorities Restrict Personal Freedoms of AIDS Activist Wan Yanhai)
Radio Free Asia, May 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/wanyanhai-05252008171614.html
Prominent AIDS activist and director of the Aizhixing Institute Wan Yanhai (万延海) has come under harassment by Beijing police. According to Wan, he was told by the local police that they would be keeping watch outside his home, asking him to ride in a patrol car when going out, and following him wherever he goes. Wan has written a letter to the director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau saying that this has had dire effects on his daily life and that he is unable to understand the reasoning behind the Haidian district police's actions. Aizhixing Institute announced in April 2008 that it would be cutting back on services before the Olympic Games due to increased harassment of its clients.

News
Disasters
China Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 62,664
Xinhua (available at People's Daily), May 26, 2008
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6417976.html

China Orders Richer Cities to Help Quake-Ravaged Communities
Los Angeles Times, May 24, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-fg-china24-2008may24,0,5505150.story

Foreign Aid Gains Pace as Rain Clouds Threaten China Quake Zone
Agence France-Presse (via Google), May 25, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hEC6noCIuf34UTQDyARN1Xvcdlsg

Govt Urges Patience on Adoptions
People's Daily, May 26, 2008
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/6418012.html

红十字会的救灾和募捐工作受到多方质疑 (Red Cross' Disaster Relief and Donation Collections Called into Question)
Radio Free Asia, May 26, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/earthquake_redcross-05232008111656.html

Strong Aftershock Destroys 71,000 Homes, 6 Killed
China Daily, May 26, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/26/content_6710320.htm

Swelling China Lakes a Danger 2 Weeks after Quake
Reuters, May 26, 2008
http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKPEK15270720080526

U.N. Leader Praises China's Quake Response
New York Times, May 25, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/world/asia/25china.html

灾民向本台反映救援物资无法落实到灾民手中 (Quake Victims Report that They Are Not Receiving Relief Goods)
Radio Free Asia, May 25, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/zaiqu-05252008161912.html

Economic Development
China Orders 6 Telecoms to Merge Their Assets
Bloomberg (via New York Times), May 26, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/business/worldbusiness/26telecom.html

Environment
China Sacks Plastic Bags
Scientific American, May 23, 2008
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=china-sacks-plastic-bags

Fin Soup Threatens Survival of Ocean Sharks -Study
Reuters, May 22, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL21837168

专家称中国因污染造成经济损失达5100亿元 (China's Pollution Has Caused Loss of 510 Billion Yuan: Expert)
Radio Free Asia, May 23, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/wuran-05232008104543.html

Human Rights Defenders
湖南多名异见人士被当局传讯 (Several Hunan Rights Defenders and Dissidents Subpoenaed)
Radio Free Asia, May 23, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/hunan-05232008083152.html

揭发司法黑幕的上海维权人士冯正虎被禁止出境 (Shanghai Rights Defender Feng Zhenghu Forbidden to Leave Country)
Radio Free Asia, May 26, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/rights_assault-05232008113130.html

Multilateral
WTO Members Want More Transparency in China Trade Policies
Agence France-Presse (via Google), May 26, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hzzr81u100Kx_xX8vI5klKHopU5w

Olympics
China Shortens Tibet Leg of Olympic Torch Relay
Associated Press (via Google), May 25, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gEtQD-yS0Xp4_sizYjZ8SE7bG_1gD90SM75O3

Politics
深圳拟在条件成熟时进行市长差额选举 (Shenzhen Drafts Plans for Competitive Mayoral Elections When Conditions Right)
Xinhuanet, May 23, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/local/2008-05/23/content_8232848.htm

Related article:
《深圳市近期改革纲要》公众咨询公告 (Public Announcement on Seeking Opinions
on the "Shenzhen Program for Future Reforms")
Shenzhen Municipal Reform Office, May 22, 2008
http://www.shenzhen.gov.cn/zwgk/gzxx/ggtz/200805/t20080521_352924.htm

Public Health
Infection Control Crucial in Next Few Months, Says Expert
South China Morning Post, May 26, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=9bb1f6ba0f02a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Religion
China's Catholics Visit Shrine under Watchful Eyes
Reuters, May 26, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSHKG17937420080524

Society
优惠政策助力少数民族地区走向繁荣发展之路 (Preferential Policies Put Minority Areas on Road to Prosperity)
Xinhuanet, May 26, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-05/26/content_8255461.htm

Taiwan
Taiwan, China to Restart Talks in June: Official
Agence France-Presse (via Google), May 24, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJVR2IorjSgrBmwH4TeBBsPiLKUg

Tibet
Tibetans Losing Faith in Talks, Says Dalai Lama
Financial Times, May 25, 2008
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/da0e34a6-2a83-11dd-b40b-000077b07658.html