It's been a frustrating month for reporters in China. The Economic Observer’s deputy editor in chief, Zhang Hong, was removed from his position soon after the release of a joint editorial attacking China's hukou system, and the paper’s other top editors received harsh warning from the authorities. more ›

• Just in time for Christmas: Australians have been warned against buying cheap, discounted Chinese-made toys, as authorities have already seized 5000 units with excessive levels of lead. [Herald Sun]
• Xi Jinping, president of the Central Party School, encourages a revamped look at Marxism. This is not isolated nostalgia, explains Francesco Sisci, especially in the wake of apparent Capitalism fail (i.e. the recession). [Asia Times]
• Five church leaders, accused of "illegal land occupation" and "assembling a crowd to disrupt public order," have been sentenced to prison for up to seven years. [Associated Press]

Screw Shakespeare and forget that Chinese opera business - right now, preparations are underway to bring a sing-song version of Karl Marx's Das Kapital to the Shanghai theater. more ›