News & Reports 2010-06-26

Hello and Welcome to News and Reports on China Radio International.

In This Edition

China's National People's Congress endorses 1 the first amendment 2 to the country's 10-year-old Administrative 3 Supervision 4 Law.

World leaders arrive in Toronto, Canada, for the G20 summit for global economic talks.

Thailand incinerates some 6 thousand kilograms of confiscated 5 drugs ahead of the United Nation's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit 6 Drug Trafficking.

Ceremonies held all across the world to mark the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.

Hot Issue Reports

China Approves Amended 7 Law to Better Protect Informants

China's National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, endorsed 8 Friday afternoon the first amendment to the country's more than 10-year-old Administrative Supervision Law.

The amended law highlights specific provisions, which are aimed at strengthening the protection of informants.

The newly amended law stresses that those who reveal an informant's personal information or the issues they report will be punished or even face criminal charges so as to protect the informant.

It also requires authorities to tell the informant the results of the investigation 9 for tip-offs where informants give their real names.

Liu Xirong, deputy chairman of the law committee of China's National People Congress, explains the considerations behind the amendments 10.

"In practice, it often happens that whistle-blowers' personal information is leaked, which brings about retaliation 11 by the wrongdoers. In light of this situation, we should strengthen protection of the informants by clarifying the treatment procedures on informants' reports and legal liabilities for information leakage 12."

Moreover, a new provision of the amended law states that supervision authorities should release information about their supervision work to the public.

Feng Jun, a law professor from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says this provision is significant for the country's administrative supervision.

"We should involve the general public into our administrative supervision work. The release of information about administrative supervision work will improve the effectiveness of China's administrative supervision."

China passed the Administrative Supervision Law in 1997 in an effort to improve administrative efficiency and fight corruption 13.

But the law lacked detailed 14 procedures concerning how to apply administrative supervision and effective protection on informants.

The Supreme 15 People's Prosecutor 16 says whistleblowers in China have helped uncover more than 70 percent of all registered cases of work-related crimes involving officials.

But it also reveals that about 70 percent of those who report suspects to the prosecution 17 system nationwide have encountered some form of revenge.

World leaders arrive for G20

World leaders have now arrived in Toronto, Canada, for the G20 summit for global economic talks.

Security is tight as foreign leaders arrive, and barricades 18 are erected 19 around the city.

Police say they have arrested a driver whose car contained 'dangerous materials' near the site where the summit will take place.

Toronto Mayor David Miller 20 says police are ready to respond to any threats to security.

"Our police are working very hard to identify anybody who might commit a violent act and do their level best to make sure they don't. And, of course, you can never predict what is going to happen. We are confident in the response capability 21 we have."

This time, Britain, Japan and, unexpectedly, Australia were sending new leaders to the G-20 summit.

What G20 will do for the global recovery?

The G8 and G20 Summits are running alongside each other as the world continues to emerge from the economic and financial crisis.

Host Canada wants to make sure members follow through on earlier commitments. Focusing on continued recovery while making sure that future growth will be sustainable and balanced.

For more on this, "People in the Know" host Nigel Ballard ealier spoke 22 with the Co-Director of the G20 Research Group based in Toronto Canada, Dr. John Kirton.

Bomb kills aide to Greek counter-terrorism minister

A bomb blast at the offices of Greece's public order ministry 23 in Athens killed a close aide to the minister responsible for counter-terrorism.

Police said the victim opened a parcel bomb.

The explosion happened only meters away from the office of the minister, Michalis Chrysso-hoidis, who was unhurt.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said the bombing was a terrorist attack.

The victim was identified as Giorgos Vassi-lakis, a 50-year-old father of two.

Greek Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysso-hoidis called for justice for the crime.

"We say once more that we are not afraid and we are not terrorised. We will continue our struggle to keep our citizens, neighbourhoods and cities safe. The cowardly murderers will be brought to justice, to be tried in accordance with the constitution and our laws."

So far no group has said it was beind the bomb.

Thailand , China Destroy Drugs to Mark International Day against Illict Drug Trafficking

Thailand incinerated some 5,700 kilograms of confiscated drugs ahead of the United Nation's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

The drugs were loaded into an incinerator under the close supervision of police, soldiers, and Thai and international officials who were on hand to witness the event.

The drugs consisted mostly of marijuana, methamphetamine and heroine together with other narcotics 25, with a total value of more than $179 million US dollars.

Thai Public Health minister, Jurin Laksana-wisit, says drug addiction 26 is a serious health problem in Thailand, especially for young people.

"The major problem of our country is methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin 24. But for heroin, Thailand is a transit 27 country to the destined 28 countries."

On the same day, Chinese customs officials destroyed more than two tonnes of drugs, most of them heroin, in the southern province of Guangdong, as part of a government move to demonstrate its tough stance against drug abuse.

Police seized nearly 28 tons of drugs last year.

Russia restarts full gas supplies after Belarus row

Russia's state-run gas company Gazprom now says it is resuming gas supplies to Belarus after receiving payment for its outstanding gas bills.

Belarus says it, in turn, has received payment from Gazprom, which uses pipelines 29 across Belarus to pump gas into Europe.

It is not immediately clear whether both sides are entirely 30 satisfied with the payments, though Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has implied that the row seems to be over.

"The situation as a whole is very deplorable, because the conflict that emerged is the conflict with the republic, with the state with which Russia has special relations. Along with that, I draw your attention to the fact that the Belarus partners receive Russian natural gas at the lowest prices."

Cash-strapped Belarus initially 31 refused to pay what it claimed was too high a price for the Russian gas deliveries this year.

In return, Russia started cutting supplies earlier this week, after saying Belarus had failed to pay its nearly 200 million US dollars bill.

In turn, Belarus claimed it was owed 260 million US dollars by Russia in fees for using its pipelines.

The dispute briefly 32 caused a 40 percent drop in Russian gas supplies to Lithuania. A similar row with Ukraine last year cut off heating to millions in Europe in the middle of winter.

Jackson's One Year Anniversary Approaches

Friday marked the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death and various ceremonies were being held all across the world.

At Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, several fans gathered to lay flowers and reflect on the loss of the entertainment giant.　

"I can't even put into words, the best entertainer, dancer, just everything to me, I believe that Michael Jackson opened the door to a lot of entertainers out there, and I just really would love for somebody to just respect that and open our eyes and see that."

"Well, I can't believe it's already been a year, I was in Dallas at the time when it happened, working, and I heard that Michael Jackson died, so I was like 'what? How's that possible?'　He was one of those people that you think is immortal 33, but everyone's got to go once in a while."



The cemetery 34 where Jackson is buried near Los Angeles will open its gates to all fans today, but they will not be allowed into the vast mausoleum containing his body.

Balloons, doves, radios and candles have also been banned in what officials hope will be a quiet and respectful occasion.

There are no major tributes planned by the official Michael Jackson estate, which now controls rights to the singer's music, likeness 35 and other memorabilia.

In the family hometown of Gary, Indiana, matriarch Katherine Jackson will unveil a monument to the singer outside the humble 36 house where the legendary 37 Jackson 5 began their singing career half a century ago. A memorial and candlelight vigil will follow, ending with the song "We are the World."

Jackson's children, Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket, are expected to mark the anniversary privately 38 in Gary, Indiana.

Jackson died on June 25th last year after taking a powerful sedative 39 to help him sleep. The doctor who administered the sedative, Conrad Murray, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and is awaiting trial.

Building Houses with Wood

The Chinese love wood. Some of the most magnificent historical buildings in China have been constructed with the material. But when it comes to the modern era, most Chinese have little choice but to settle for cement structures. In the Urban Best Practices Area at the Shanghai Expo, the city of Vancouver brings wood into the limelight. An exhibition in its pavilion encourages visitors to explore the advantages of building with wood.

Beijing's Biggest Market About to get Even Bigger

Covering 1,520 acres and employing a workforce 40 of almost 2,000, Xinfadi wholesale 41 market in southwest Beijing is said to be one of the largest in the world. And it's about to get even bigger with the addition of a new international section. Dominic Swire visited the bustling 42 stalls to bring us this report.

China Beats American and South Korean Rivals at Robot World Cup

China's national football team may not be playing in South Africa, but its robot team has emerged victorious 43 at the International Humanoid Robot Olympic Games in Harbin.

Chinese, South Korean and American teams pitted their humanoid robots against each other on the virtual soccer pitch as people watched the two mechanical players on each team dribble 44, kick and pass the ball, while a third robot defended the goal.

Computer science major at Harbin Institute of Technology, Guo Weichao, won the match after his robot scored the most goals in a penalty shoot-out.

"What makes us better than the human Chinese team are two things. One is physical ability. When humans are playing a match, their physical performance will weaken. But our robots are the best among electricity-powered options; they will never get tired during a match."

While South Korea advanced to the knock-out stage in real life, its robot players failed to hold off China's attack.

Nevertheless, Kim Jong-Hyeok looked forward to improving his players for the next match.

"Everybody knows it, we prepared well. We worked hard for this. Of course the Korean professional soccer team performed well in the World Cup. And it's too bad that our robot team lost. But for our next competition, we'll do our best."

Other robots displayed their prowess in fencing, golf, dancing, weight-lifting and running.

From Yahoo Sports: Landon Donovan's career will never be same after his dream World Cup goal – and neither will his bank balance.

Donovan's memories of his goal against Algeria that kept the United States in the tournament are priceless. But there is also a very tangible 45 side effect to that unforgettable moment, both to the midfielder's wealth and his future prospects 46.

Paul Ridley, owner of a leading London sports business firm, says Donovan can easily make $10 million dollars on endorsement 47 deals. That could be just the tip of the iceberg 48, compared to the money Donovan could earn playing club soccer in Europe.

Out of the Los Angeles Times: Former US President Bill Clinton enjoyed his visit with the U.S. World Cup team so much, he's staying for the next game.

Clinton said he changed his schedule so he can attend the Americans' game against Ghana over the weekend. The honorary chairman of the U.S. bid to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, Clinton was in the stands for the thrilling 1-0 victory against Algeria that sent the United States on to the round of 16.

Clinton said he went down to the locker 49 room to congratulate the players in what he expected with be a short visit. But he said that when the players asked him to stay and have a beer with them, he stuck around for about 45 minutes.

Clinton said he had to drink hot tea and honey for an hour because he had lost his voice during the celebration.

Market Update

US Bank stocks shot higher Friday after an agreement on a financial regulation bill reassured 50 investors 51 that new rules won't devastate 52 financial companies' profits.

The Dow fell 0.1 percent, to 10,144. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 0.3 percent, to 1,077, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 0.3 percent, to 2,223.

European stocks fell with debt crisis concerns resurfacing before a crucial G20 weekend gathering 53, while London was hit by fears about BP's soaring costs from the US oil spill crisis.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of top shares was down 1 percent to close at 5,046 points.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 lost 0.6 percent to 6,071 and the Paris CAC 40 dipped 1 percent to 3,520.