Emanuele Scimia

70-year-old Chen Chien-jen is the second Taiwanese citizen to join the academy, the first being Nobel laureate Lee Yuan-tseh. An epidemiologist, Chen was instrumental in Taipei's success in containing the first wave of Covid. He also denounced China's manoeuvres to block Taiwan's participation in the WHO Assembly.

Judges impose a nine-year sentence on Tong Ying-kit, 24, for inciting secession and terrorism. He was arrested for waving a pro-independence flag. His lawyers plan to appeal the conviction. More than a hundred people have been arrested in connection with alleged violations of national security legislation. More than 60 are awaiting trial.

The Delta variant infection traced to city airport. The capital has also been affected. The infection in Jiangsu is more serious than recent ones in Guangdong and Yunnan. Authorities respond with lockdowns and mass screening. In an effort to contain contagions from Myanmar, Beijing is also providing vaccines to ethnic militias fighting the coup junta.

Sun Dawu, a businessman and philanthropist, was accused of "creating unrest" and financial crimes. Critical of the leadership, he has long been targeted by the regime because of his support to dissidents and activists. Family members and employees of his company were sentenced with him. Large private groups that could threaten the power of the Chinese Communist Party have come under attack.

The consecration is in line with the Sino-Vatican agreement on episcopal appointments. Bishop Li had been appointed a year ago. Police arrest Fr Joseph Liu of the diocese of Mindong, torture him for 10 hours, and force him to join the Independent Church, an expression of the Chinese Communist Party.

Local sources: 50 villages suberged by water; many missing. Aid is concentrated in large cities. Suburbs and rural areas neglected. Army stationed around most affected areas to prevent access to journalists, especially foreign ones. Fatal delays reminiscent of Covid-19 in Wuhan.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with top Chinese diplomats. The talks were described as "frank and open". The Chinese want an end to US interference in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Taiwan and the South China Sea, and to attacks regarding the origin of the Covid virus.

Xi’s visit marks the 70th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese troops sent to occupy Tibet. The president wants to promote local stability, development and environmental protection. Tibetan government in exile slams Beijing for destroying Tibet’s identity, calls for renewed dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Deaths caused by floods in central China spark protests.

One of them, Lam Man-chung, was arrested yesterday. Journalists' Association: it's 'white terror'. RTHK journalists are banned from writing about 'the president or government of Taiwan'. Five trade unionists arrested for publishing children's stories explaining 2019 anti-government protests.

A large dam near Zhengzhou is at risk of collapsing. People stranded in underground stations. Rail and road networks blocked. Xi Jinping sends 3,000 soldiers and another 1,800 rescuers. After the heaviest rainfall in 1,000 years, 46 rivers in 14 provinces overflowed.

Yesterday, 49 cases were recorded, compared to 15 on July 6. Many originating in the former Burma. Chinese scientist leading the fight against the virus receives third dose of a different vaccine. Study: Sinovac produces one-tenth of the antibodies produced by Pfizer-BioNTech. Health workers vaccinated with Chinese drugs die of coronavirus in Indonesia and Thailand.

Kim's regime claims no coronavirus cases in the country, while controls at the Chinese border remain strict. Some 20 trading officials are arrested. Trade between the two communist states is at its lowest since 2001. North Koreans could face food shortages as early as this August.