Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy Was Never Meant To Be Heard, In Bigger Than The Sound [MTV.com] "If the reports are true — and given that W. Axl Rose is involved, there's a very good chance they might not be — then Chinese Democracy is coming, and its release would be an event unlike any other in the history of rock music. The sun would be blotted out, the gates of heaven would open, and......

Holiday tourists flock to Beijing, drawn in part by Olympic venues [Xinhua] "Tourist arrivals here rose 14.4 percent year-on-year in the first two days of the National Day holiday, with 635,000 travelers, many of whom packed historic sites and Olympic venues, tourist officials said. "Taiwan Premier demands apology from China over melamine [Taipei Times] "Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) yesterday demanded an apology from China for allowing products contaminated with melamine to be exported to Taiwan."China......

Paralympics - changing attitudes in China [Radio Netherlands] "It's money well spent, but China's own 83 million disabled people no doubt find it more important not to be discriminated against any more by the rest of society, or to be stared at as if they were circus freaks."Woman who stripped during Paralympic opening mentally ill [AFP] "A woman who burst into the Beijing Paralympics opening ceremony and tried to remove her clothes was mentally ill,......

The Olympics may be over but the Paralympic torch relay has only just begun. Olympic organisers have scrapped the international torch relay and pared it down to a domestic one that will go to only 11 cities, and involve 850 torchbearers.The fourth attack in Xinjiang province in less than two months came in a village in Jiashi County, killing another two policemen and wounding several others. Few details are known about the latest attack but......

A crotch kick shames the host nation [IHT] "As usual, jokes about the Chinese team flew fast and furious around the Internet: "The Chinese team just won two red medals." "Our soccer team won the gold medal in martial arts." "The Chinese team wants to make sure its opponents get to compete in the Paralympics.""You think NBC is bad? You haven't seen CCTV. [Slate.com] "...what's on television in China right now shows what happens when......

Photo by Marc van der Chijs The Opening Ceremony Reuters: World media hails Beijing's perfect night China Daily: Zhang rises to greatest directorial challenge The Guardian: Patriot games: China makes its point with greatest show BBC: Spectators awed as Games begin The Hindu: Games get off to a cracking start AFP: Beijing's Games kick off with spectacular opening ceremony The Independent: Opening ceremony: the meaning behind the spectacle LA Times: An Olympics, at least,......

This weekend, in just 14 hours, the panda population of China increased by four, as three female pandas at different zoos gave birth. An event worth noticing, since giant pandas in captivity hardly ever seem to mate without the right encouragement. Olympic athletes with time on their hands will not have to be bored for long, the Olympic Village provides a training center where athletes can learn basic Chinese, or brush up on their calligraphy......

The state-owned asset regulators are now considering a merger of China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines, broke the Caijing magazine yesterday, saying the discussion was only among government agencies so far, while spokesmen with the two airlines pled ignorance of any such plans. Great hopes ahead for improved competitiveness in China's aviation sector.2004 bronze medalist Kendra Zanotto, who was set to work as an expert synchronized swimming reporter for the Olympic News Service, an official arm......

A letter from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued on Wednesday warned the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) to keep politics separate from sports. The letter was issued after the IOC read the remarks of Zhang Qingli, Tibet’s Chinese Communist party secretary, at a torch relay in Lhasa. "Tibet’s sky will never change and the red flag with five stars will forever flutter high above it," Qingli said, adding: "We will certainly......

The worrisome rise of pro-China youth [LA Times] " As human rights protesters dogged the Beijing Olympics torch relay, as supporters of Tibet condemned the violent crackdown in Lhasa, and as Darfur activists demanded change in China's Sudan policy, Chinese young people worked themselves into a different form of righteous anger."China’s Religious Character May Be Deeper Than Thought [Reuters] "Now a window has been opened on faith and religion in a country where six decades......

China nixes major academic conference ahead of Olympic Games [AP] "Without giving a specific explanation, Chinese organizers have pulled the plug on July's world congress of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, the latest in a slew of events to be canceled or postponed ahead of the games in August."Japan, China agree to regular summits on landmark visit [AFP] "The leaders of Japan and China agreed Wednesday to resolve a territorial row and......

Photo from Randy Meetings with Dalai Lama envoys Reuters: China, Dalai Lama aides agreed to talk again Washington Post: Envoys for Dalai Lama, China to meet again Monsters & Critics: China continues anti-Dalai Lama tirade after talks (Roundup) PTI: China accuses Tibetan group of Al-Qaida links AFP: Dalai Lama has committed 'monstrous crimes': China's state press The Yangpu bus blast Xinhua: Inflammable goods cause lethal Shanghai bus fire Wall Street Journal: Deadly Blast In......

Photo by nocas Protests spread to Xinjiang IHT: China discloses protest in Muslim region The Guardian: Muslim 'separatists' protest as unrest spreads in China The Times: Tibet unrest spreads to Muslim separatists in China PTI: Muslim extremists attempted 'uprising' in Xinjiang: China Olympics, the Internet and human rights Associated Press: IOC Tells Beijing: Don't Block Internet Reuters: IOC sets out updated Internet rights rules AFP: China rights abuses worsening in Olympic run-up: Amnesty Xinhua:......

The boxer shorts rebellion [Mara Hvistendahl, The New Republic] "You'd think that the younger, Internet savvy generation of Chinese twenty- and thirtysomethings would be the ones guiding China into better relations with the West. Instead, they seem to have glanced toward the rest of the world and turned back, appalled."Avoid tall buildings [Adam Minter, Shanghai Scrap] "Half the steel material sold at wholesale markets and now being used in construction has failed quality tests."Shanghai-Hangzhou express......

Anti-China exiles ready for Tibet trek [AFP] "Tibetan exiles in India were set to begin marching to their homeland Monday as part of protests marking the Dalai Lama's escape from China in 1959 and the run-up to the Beijing Olympics."China's International Schools are Growing [US-China Today] "Christiana Lilly is not your typical American girl. As the daughter of a diplomat, her world and life experiences extend far beyond the United States. Between Taiwan, Singapore, Burma,......

China Hikes Military Budget 17.6% [National Post] "For the 19th year in a row, China has announced a double-digit increase in military spending. The move comes a day after the Pentagon released an annual assessment of China's military power that concluded the world's largest army is rapidly developing the resources and technologies it needs to put regional stability at risk."Aussies unhurt after China hostage drama [The Age] A man armed with explosives took 10 Australian......

Landscape lights switched on again in Shanghai [Xinhua] "Shanghai switches on its landscape lights on Friday night after a lapse of more than four weeks. "Shanghai Cancels Art Exhibition [NY Times] "An exhibition of works by the artist Zhang Huan, right, was canceled by Shanghai’s local government just before it was to open this week at the Shanghai Art Museum. The Shanghai Cultural Bureau, which oversees the museum, declined to comment on Friday, as did......

Photo by Peijin Chen Sexually transmitted diseases on the rise Reuters: China reports rise in sexually transmitted diseases Independent: China admits that cases of HIV/Aids have risen 45 per cent AFP: China launches first anti-AIDS drive for gay men: state media Religion AP: China Official Explains Religion Policy The Hindu: China for conditional constructive dialogue with Vatican Christian Today: Miliband should raise religious freedom in China visit – CSW The environment Reuters: Top China......

As China's inflation soars, world fears knock-on effects [AFP] "As China's factory floors feel the pressure from spiralling costs, there is growing nervousness in the rest of the world that the Asian giant's next big export could be inflation."China Could Give Classical Music a Boost [AP] "Facing dwindling popularity in the West, classical music could receive a boost from a large Chinese population increasingly interested in other cultures, the music director of the New York......

Photo by Mike Chen The Steven Spielberg pullout... AFP: Spielberg mocked in China over Olympic pullout Business Week: Why Spielberg doesn't care about annoying Beijing Xinhua: Spielberg slashed by Chinese, but his movies still admired ... and the fallout Reuters: Dutch party seeks boycott of Olympics opening The Canadian Press: An athlete's voice of protest could become a roar at Beijing Games AFP: Ex-China basketball star says Olympics are platform for change The spy......

Photo by Michael D Manning Chinese espionage New York Times: Justice Dept. Announces Arrests in 2 Chinese Espionage Cases AHN: Pentagon Analyst, Boeing Engineer In Hot Water For Spying For China Red Orbit: U.S. Space Secrets Sold to China Monsters & Critics: Taiwan accesses damage after US unveils Chinese espionage New internet purge Guardian Unlimited: China launches new internet purge AP: China Targets Internet in Crime Sweep Xinhua: China to tighten supervision over "virtue......

By 2 dogs: The new CCTV building in Beijing The winter chaos continues CNN: Chinese travelers gradually get back on track AP: Train Woes Ease in Snow-Wary China Bloomberg: China to Restore Power Cut by Snow Before New Year Forbes: Chinese PM urges people to be brave amid winter chaos Al-Jazeera: Stranded worker dies in China crush Reuters: China steeled for worse weather as holidays loom Yet another dumpling crisis AP: Insecticide Found on......

By Jake in Shanghai Chinese New Year around the world Reuters: Chinese New Year exodus exposes Singapore generation gap AFP: Brown sends New Year wishes to China Xinhua: Chinese new year goods sold in Mexico's Chinatown AllAfrica.com: Botswana: Chinese Celebrate New Year The Canadian Press: Chinese New Year banquets being held more frequently in restaurants Xinhua: Danish PM wishes for closer cooperation with China in New Year HIV/AIDS China Daily: Charting the battle against......

By Jos H.L. Kurstjens Around Shanghai New York Times: Plan to Extend Shanghai Rail Line Stirs Middle Class to Protest AFP: Shanghai metro apologises to kissing couple in Internet video Xinhua: Shanghai aims to become national trendsetter AFP: Beckham to play in Shanghai China Daily: Shanghai to base growth on service industry The New Year Chill AFP: Snow storms cause deaths in China ahead of Lunar New Year AP: Heavy snow in China strands......

Photo by 2-C Around Shanghai AFP: Kissing couple sue Shanghai metro over Internet video China Daily: Shanghai to reduce house sizes AFP: Shanghai observatory blinded by city lights AFP: Shanghai to close hundreds of migrant schools Olympic watch Reuters: Beijing seeks "civilised" crackdown on beggars CNN: Human rights questions remain for China The Canadian Press: Beijing wants to cut smoking in hotels for Olympics Miscellaneous AP: China Shuts Down Pornographic Web Sites Globe and......

Photo from Yansi Gordon Brown's China trip The Independent: Brown invites China's 'big red chequebook' to Britain Reuters: Brown hails environmental work with China Xinhua: British PM visits Shanghai The China Eastern saga Bloomberg: China Eastern `Doubts Sincerity' of Air China Bid Forbes: Air China parent formally proposes China Eastern tieup, to reveal details Jan 22 Trading Markets: China Eastern Airlines suspended from trading in Hong Kong China's land rush WSJ: Buying Into China's Land......

Reuters: China urges flexibility from Iran and the West The Press Association: Brown in first visit to China as PM Reuters: UK's Brown urged to press China on human rights Reuters: China housing prices jump 10.5% in December AFP: Kung fu out in Beijing Olympic Games cold Taipei Times: Beijing, not Huang, should be blamed: Chen The Times of India: China is India's largest trade ally Photo from 2 dogs......

Xinhua: One body found, 10 still missing after ferry capsizes near Shanghai Reuters: HK protesters march against Beijing suffrage ruling Xinhua: Beijing ready for English menu revolution before Olympics The Australian: China to test betting AP: Taiwan Poll Results Stir Beijing Hopes Reuters: China "elects" own Taiwan representatives Photo from Les Izmore......

China Daily: Beijing-Shanghai Railway to break ground mid-Jan Xinhua: Shanghai launches research center to study job-related crimes WSJ: China Punishes Violators Of One-Child Policy Reuters: China Party expels members for flouting one-child rule The Canadian Press: Canadian exports to China rise strongly, unaffected by human rights emphasis Xinhua: Beijing student commits suicide for 'hukou' Forbes: Taiwan president says opposition win could see island join China Photo from Ken Yip......

Censorship Sydney Morning Herald: China to tighten Internet control Guardian Unlimited: China cracks down on "vulgar" entertainment NYT: China Censors a Film, Then Bans It Entirely The building frenzy Canada.com: Beijing's new skyline: China set to show off to the world Indo-Asian News Service: Beijing opens world's largest air terminal The great big clean-up IHT: Beijing steel company shuts down blast furnace in cleanup effort before Olympics Environment News Service: China to Begin First......