Two months into the rebuilding of the TVCC tower in Beijing, we're seeing some evidence of the changes happening. The pictures here show construction workers removing the burnt shell which should be completely replaced in a month. The Rem Koolhaas design caught fire because of illegal fireworks set off during Chinese New Year celebrations in 2009. more ›

It's been almost a year and a half since the TVCCbuilding next to Beijing's new CCTV headquarters went up in flames... and it's only now that they've started the reconstruction. more ›

For the first time ever, photos have been released of the inside of the wrecked TVCC tower, which caught on fire last year after an illegal yet CCTV-sponsored fireworks display. 21 people were just recently charged for their roles in the blaze, which allegedly had damages of 160 million yuan. more ›

• China will prosecute 23 people for the CCTV tower that was set aflame last Chinese New Year... someday. Apparently no trial or hearing date has been set yet. [AFP]
• While much of the press about the Winter Olympics has been about Zhou Yang winning China's third gold, 2nd gold winner Wang Meng's disqualification is barely being whispered. [China Sports Today]
• Oxfam is now being blacklisted in China by the Education Ministry for allegedly having a "hidden political agenda." [Washington Post]

Caijing has a spectacular article looking at some of the troubles still shrouding the CCTV fire from last month, and they don't all have to do with the destroyed building. The blaze that gutted the TVCC building on February 9 may have also uncovered questionable financial deals made by high-level CCTV executives. more ›

By Kate Ray more ›

12 people have been detained by Beijing police over the illegal fireworks that allegedly burned up the TVCC complex. Four CCTV staff members and the eight employees connected with the company hired to fire off the fireworks display have been detained for their suspected roles in causing the fire. CCTV said the fireworks had been powerful enough to require a special permit, but the broadcaster had not applied for one and deliberately ignored police safety warnings. Source: AP more ›

CCTV has publicly apologized for the fire that ravaged the TVCC building yesterday night, saying that it was their fault since their employees had illegally staged fireworks too close to the unfinished complex. In an official statement posted to its website, the network said it was deeply grieved “for the severe damage the fire caused to the country's property.” Altogether, the blaze destroyed the Mandarin Oriental, the TVCC's theater complex, killed one firefighter and injured six others. Source: IHT more ›

It's the morning after, and people in Beijing are reporting that last night's burning building, the TVCC Center right across from the main oddly-angled CCTV headquarters, has been put out. By people, we mean the twitterati, because most media organizations here aren't covering it (yet) at all. more ›