China

The communist party officially approves reforms in view of elections, including independent candidates and judicial independence. The country is seeking a political alternative to the corruption of the single party model: in Guangdong, two elections have been overturned because of fraud and corruption.

The government announces "limits" on the number of journalists, and criticises those who pose "harmful questions" to survivors. Curbs on websites that talk about collapsed schools or delays in aid. Experts: it will not be possible to wipe out this new experience of complete, live information.

Buddhist leader expresses his condolence to the Chinese government for the devastating earthquake. Together with the Tibetan government-in-exile he commemorates all the victims. In Tibet police surrounds monasteries, accusing “separatists” of preparing attacks.

Almost one month after the earthquake, no one can explain why so many schools collapsed, while the parents of the students who died say they were constructed poorly. Now the police are breaking up their gatherings, and driving away the journalists. But one parent warns: "We are not afraid, we have already lost everything".

The communist leader, under house arrest for his opposition to the massacre, asks the government to make public events surrounding the killing of thousands of people, with the same transparency seen in their dealing with the Sichuan earthquake. Ding Zilin, leader of the “Mothers of Tiananmen”: “We want dialogue now”. One Human Rights" needs to be added to the Olympic slogan "One World, One Dream."

A long report by Chinese Human Rights Defender highlights how some people are still in prison, whilst others are still subject to government surveillance and persecution for taking part in the 1989 demonstrations against corruption and the Communist dictatorship.

In Dharamsala, a vigil and a documentary film on the Chinese pro-democracy movement. Comparisons with the recent repression in Tibet. Pro-Tibet activists: solidarity with the Tiananmen Mothers movement, which has been asking for justice for 19 years.

The organisers of the demonstration arranged for the observance of a minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the earthquake that struck China. Chanting and singing suspended, while the proceeds of the traditional gathering of funds will be given to the Red Cross, working in the area of the tragedy.

The day-to-day emergency continues. But the channel for draining lake Tangjishan is ready, the risk of epidemic has been ruled out, and life in the "tent cities" is being reorganised. Protests over the collapsed schools. The government is demonstrating unusual openness to foreign aid, and concern for the safety of each person.

The new government of the island, headed by the nationalist Ma Ying-jeou, has suspended its search for new diplomatic allies, and is asking China to do everything it can to maintain peace in the Strait. For its part, Beijing has made the former foreign minister the head of the office for relations with Taiwan, an appointment received very favourably by Taipei.

Benedict XVI asks all Christians to rediscover this "centre" of faith, love, and hope, of life and of the world. A prayer for the populations of China and Myanmar, marked by natural catastrophes, and for those who suffer.

Priests forced to "take a trip", to prevent them from going to the shrine of the Virgin of Sheshan; priests prohibited from praying "with the pope"; a shrine in Taiyuan closed and monitored by thousands of police. The war of the Patriotic Association a few months ahead of the Olympics.