NEW HOME Giant panda Fu Ni sniffs apples at Australia's Adelaide Zoo on November 28. A giant panda couple, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, arrived that day for a 10-year stay, the first of the endangered species to live in the southern hemisphere (XINHUA)

Human Rights

The human rights situation in China achieved all-round development during 2009, said Wang Chen, Minister of the State Council Information Office, at a meeting in Beijing on December 3.

The State Council Information Office held the Mid-term Evaluation Meeting for the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-10) on December 1-3. More than 200 responsible officials, intellectuals and experts from more than 50 departments and units of the Central Government attended the meeting. Forty-seven representatives delivered speeches, recognizing achievements of human rights in different areas of Chinese society in 2009.

The National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-10), issued by the State Council Information Office on April 13, highlighted various human rights that would be promoted and protected in less than two years, from people's right to work, to the rights of detainees and the disabled.

Drug Bust

Chinese police have smashed the country's largest drug-making operations and seized 85 people involved in the case, drug enforcement authorities said on December 2.

Police busted five drug-making gangs and destroyed eight drug-processing factories. They confiscated 44 tons of raw materials, 415 kg of ephedrine, 955 grams of methamphetamine and 18.2 million yuan ($2.7 million) for making drugs, according to China's National Narcotics Control Commission and the State Food and Drug Administration.

Police also confiscated 10 apartments, 21 vehicles, three pistols and 10 bullets illegally possessed by the suspects, officials said.

Honoring Scientists

The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) announced on December 2 that 48 prominent scientists have been elected academicians, bringing the number of CAE academicians to 756.

"The average age of the newly elected is 56.2, the youngest in CAE's academician election history," CAE Vice President Xu Rigan said.

About 67 percent of the new academicians are under 60, up from 46 percent in 2007. The oldest is 75 and the youngest is 41, he said.

A CAE academician, a lifelong honor, is the highest national academic title in engineering science and technology. New members are added every two years, with a quota of no more than 60 for each election.

Curbing Accidents

China's Ministry of Public Security on December 1 launched a month-long campaign to reinforce road traffic checks in light of rising accidents in November.

The ministry's traffic bureau announced that police nationwide would intensify road patrols and strictly check for overloading, speeding, drunk driving and driver fatigue.

China saw an increase in fatal road accidents in November. Problematic driving caused 40 percent of the accidents with more than three deaths, according to the ministry.

No exact November death toll was immediately available, but a single accident in northeast Heilongjiang Province on November 22 left 37 dead or injured.

Free Vocation Education

The Chinese Government plans to exempt needy rural students from paying tuition in government-funded vocational schools, said a statement issued by the State Council on December 2.

The policy will be implemented nationwide beginning in the autumn semester this year, said the statement.

Schools will receive government subsidies to compensate them for financial losses caused by the policy, the statement said. They are also encouraged to work with enterprises to increase their revenue.

Students who study in vocational programs related to agriculture will also be eligible under the policy. In addition, qualified students in private vocational schools will receive subsidies from the government, though they will not be exempted from paying tuition.