■ China
Corrupt banker repatriated
A former Bank of China manager convicted in the US of embezzling US$485 million has been deported to face legal charges in China, in the latest scandal to hit the top bank. Yu Zhendong, 41, was handed over to Chinese authorities in Beijing on Friday on the condition that he not be tortured or put to death, the US Embassy in Beijing said in a statement. "The defendant and his alleged co-conspirators, all employees of the Bank of China, embezzled approximately US$485 million from the Kaiping branch of the bank during the 1990s," it said late on Friday. The embassy said Yu was deported after he pleaded guilty in February to racketeering charges in a US court in Las Vegas, Nevada. As part of the plea, it said, China agreed not to sentence Yu to more than 12 years in jail or to death.
■ China
`Dear Leader' may visit
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will visit China soon, possibly as early as next week, for talks that may cover issues such as a crisis over North Korea's nuclear program, a Japanese newspaper said yesterday. Diplomatic efforts aimed at convincing communist North Korea to give up its nuclear arms ambitions have made little headway despite two rounds of six-party talks hosted by China. Arrangements are being made for Kim to visit China by the early half of next month and there is information indicating he could visit Beijing as early as next week, the Asahi Shimbun said, quoting Chinese sources.
■ Australia
Gambler loses US$3.7m
A Hong Kong gambler Saturday lost a A$5-million (US$3.7 million) wager on a horse, one month after winning the single biggest bet ever placed in modern Australian history. The punter's wager had increased the stake fivefold for Lonhro's farewell gallop in the seven-horse Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Sydney's Royal Randwick racecourse. However, to the gambler's surprise the runaway favorite came an unexpected second only. The punter had been emboldened by two consecutive big wins on Lonhro. He won with bets of A$1 million (US$750,000) and A$2 million (US$1.5 million).
■ China
Christian concert canned
Authorities forced a leading Chinese chorus to cancel a concert yesterday of Christian-themed music in Beijing, its conductor said, amid official unease about the growing appeal of Christianity in China. The Ministry of Culture ordered the chorus of the China National Orchestra to withdraw from the concert, conductor Su Wenxing said Friday. Su said orchestra managers refused to tell him the reason given by the ministry. China's Communist government, although officially atheist, allows worship in government-monitored churches. Public religious and cultural activities require government permits.
■ China
Fake formula claims lives
Several dozen babies died of malnutrition in rural central China after being fed fake baby milk powder which contained little nutritional value, state media said yesterday. Several companies making fake and low-quality baby formula started selling their products to village markets in Fuyang city in Anhui Province last year, the Beijing News said. Some 100 to 200 babies who had the formula came down with what doctors then called "big head disease."
■ United States
China denounced
The US on Friday denounced China and Zimbabwe for using procedural technicalities to thwart debate on resolutions condemning their records at the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights this week. The State Department said Washington would press ahead with efforts to prevent countries from employing "no action" motions to block criticism, and maintained that neither Beijing nor Harare could claim to have been exonerated of abuses simply because the resolutions were killed. "Silencing discussion through a no-action motion, we think, is inappropriate," spokesman Richard Boucher said.
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