Wang Zhicheng

Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the autonomy of the Chinese church in the area of the appointment and ordination of bishops. Patriotic bishop Ma Yinglin, ordained without the approval of the Holy See, also present. Hopes for dialogue with the Vatican may be vanishing.

Priest and faithful attacked with clubs and stones. Because of "gang-like" threats, since August 15 there have been no Masses or catechism classes. The former director of the PA has appropriated church property. The faithful are appealing to the slogan of Hu Jintao ("building a harmonious society") to call for justice.

The Shanghai stock exchange is in a free fall. Some 67,000 companies have gone belly up. Foreign companies are rushing to leave. Real estate and the banking sector are going under. An economic analyst shows the emptiness behind the images of power. In Mao’s time people died of hunger; today they die of bankruptcy.

The arrest took place shortly before ceremonies concluding the Olympics. The bishop had been under house arrest for months. Catholics fear a worsening of persecution and arrests now that the Olympic “truce” is over.

The Olympiad’s legacy of brotherhood, friendship and mutual understanding among peoples is the main focus of the closing ceremony. The Games were “exceptional” according to Jacques Rogge with dividends out of this world. China becomes a “superpower” in the medal count, but remains a backwater in terms of human rights. A civil war cannot be excluded.

It happened in Zhengding on the feast day of the Assumption. Fearing bad publicity during the Olympics, police allow Bishop Jia Zhiguo to celebrate mass, but he is still banned from meeting priests and seminarians.

Foreigners are guaranteed ceremonies, meetings and even mass in their own language; Chinese Catholics from the Official Church are ordered not to hold large gatherings that last too long. Bishops and priests from the underground Church are under house arrest. Msgr. Giulio Jia Zhiguo under round the clock police surveillance. The pretty pictures of China Daily.

Hu Jintao greets 80 international political figures. Press and TV do not mention the threat of attacks, but residents are afraid to leave their homes. The local population is absent from celebrations. Dissidents, protestant pastor, bishops under surveillance. Jacques Rogge gives his “blessing” to Beijing’s “good” air.

The XXIX Olympiad began with a lavish ceremony, celebrating China’s greatness and its opening to the world. President Hu Jintao and the entire Politburo were present. But if inside the stadium it was all celebrations, outside in the city security was tight for fear of attacks.

Atmospheric conditions are worrying the organizers just hours before the inaugural ceremony for the games. At risk, some of the performances of what has been announced to be the most spectacular opening ever. For some time, China has been funding experiments to "control the weather".

Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut and basketball star Yao Ming are the first to carry the flame. Beijing residents are invited to remain at home to avoid problems. “Great China” is on the world stage. A group of protesters take to Tiananmen Square against the expropriation of their houses.

As of yesterday some sites are accessible. Among these the BBC, Wikipedia and Amnesty International. But the liberalisation is valid only for the Olympic village and its press centre. The foreign press association demands transparency from the International Olympics Committee, accused of connivance with Chinese censors. Hu Jintao: Do not politicise the Olympics.