Today's Links: Melamine scandal grows, Singapore plays peacemaker, and Chinese religious freedoms questioned

"Researchers estimate that thousands have died. In many cases, the precise origin of the poison has never been determined. But records and interviews show that in three of the last four cases it was made in China"

Xinhua quotes Chinese government agency report that "the two companies illegally added melamine...in a bid to meet the contractual demand for the amount of protein in the products,''

"Chinese animal feed producers often came to purchase cyanuric acid to blend into their feed because it was cheaper and helped increase protein content,"

"Good relations between America and the major countries... are critical because the south-east Asian countries want to be friends with both, and do not want to have to choose sides with either."

"The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its findings last week that every religious community in China continues to be subject to serious restrictions, state control, and repression."

Despite a 20% drop in annual mining-related accidents, "Companies tend to ignore work safety rules and surpass their production capacity, overworking their employees and overloading equipment to meet the demand,''

"(Shanghai)... has been transformed into a glittering metropolis of 21 million people, with more skyscrapers than New York and a public transport system that will soon overtake London's in size."