Roundup - 01/12/2009

• On World AIDS Day China's Health Ministry has warned that the infection rate among homosexual males is on the increase. Hu Jintao met some of Beijing's 50,000 volunteers working in AIDS prevention and treatment yesterday where he promised to mobilise society to combat the disease. However, with China's basic healthcare provision already largely limited to urban areas it is still impossible for many sufferers to receive treatment.
  
  
  
• Commerce Minister Chen Deming has called on the 7^th WTO Ministerial Conference to send a signal to help the world economic recovery. He also promoted reform of the organisation and its commitment to the Doha round's development mandate.
  
  
  
• China has lifted the ban on importing pork from Mexico, Canada and the USA. The ban was imposed earlier this year amid fears over Swine Flu. However, imports of pork may continue to fall due to a regime of subsidies for breeding sows.
  
  
  
• Somali pirates have warned that they will kill kidnapped Chinese crewmen if attacked by the PLA. 25 crewmen were captured when pirates seized the De Xin Hai. The ship, owned by the Qingdao Ocean Shipping Company, was carrying 76,000 tonnes of coal. The pirates claimed they were negotiating a $3.5 million ransom.
  
  
  
• New official appointments on Monday included two 46 year-olds promoted to the level of Party Secretary. This marks the rise of what is touted to be the 'sixth generation' of Chinese leaders. The 'fifth generation' is expected to take the reigns of power in 2012 when Xi Jinping is likely to take the presidency. The 'sixth generation' should come to power in 2022.
  
  Notably, one of the two new Party Secretaries is a protege of Hu Jintao, Hu Chunhua. The two worked together during Hu Jintao's time as Provincial Committee Secretary of Tibet 1988-92. Hu Chunhua has made hid career in Tibet before being appointed Acting Governor of Hebei in 2008. He has also spent most of his career working with the Communist Youth League, a significant power base of Hu Jintao's. He also won widespread aclaim for hs handling of the tainted milk scandal.
  
  
• 24 people have been arrested in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou after a dispute over housing development. Guizhou Boyu Real Estate Development Co. seems to have forcibly evicted residents from their homes at 5am on Friday before demolishing 26 buildings. Municipal police say that four residents were injured in the process.
  
  Angry residents then began blocking all roads in the area. 4 residents and 20 people working for the development company have been arrested. Police say the evicted residents have been properly accommodated.
  
  
  
• On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People Premier Wen Jiabao declared his full support for 'the demands of the Palestinian people for the restoration of their legitimate national rights and the establishment of an independent state.'
  
  
  
• Authorities in China are vowing harsh punishment for those who illegally build golf courses. In 2004 a moratorium on new golf courses was imposed in an effort to save land for agriculture. However, amid economic growth and the related growth in interest in golf as a symbol of status, golf courses have blossomed all over the country. Golf will be included in the 2016 Olympic Games.