China

Residents take to the streets to have power plant shut down. For years, it pumped lead into children's blood. The authorities close the plant but try to cover up the damages, igniting an even angrier popular response. Analysts and even state newspapers warn that limit has been reached and a new balance between the economy and the environment must be found.

Trade with the EU fell by 25.1% in one year, 11, 9% with China. U.S. exports rose only 4.7%. Low domestic demand in the country, due to the slow post-tsunami reconstruction.

The seminaries will be closed until further notice, a nun was forced to step down as superior general. Seminarians and nuns "did not cooperate" with the government for the ordination of July 7, when Ma Daqin decided he was quitting the Patriotic Association. Catholics resistance to and criticism of official Church body on the rise. A bishop tells AsiaNews: "The government has lost control of the masses and the confidence of the people."

China accuses the United States of backing Japan in the dispute over the Islands' sovereignty. This month's Japan-US drill is evidence of that. In an editorial, Xinhua says peace in the area is jeopardised.

He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II. He always worked for reconciliation in China. In the final years of his life, despite his cancer, he never spared himself to preach the faith and evangelisation. A mainland priest remembers him with emotion. He will be remembered by Chinese Catholics.

Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil makes the announcement in Moscow where he is discussing possible new presidential elections. For the United States, there wasn't "anything terribly new" in his statement. Jamil refuses preconditions on talks. In the capital, 42 civilians die. Four foreign journalists have also died since the uprising began.

The Chinese shun number 4 (similar to the sound of the word "death") in hospitals, homes, phone numbers. They prefer the number 8 (prosperity), 5 (unlimited wealth), 9 (long lasting life). From now on, Beijing buildings will have to submit to the dictatorship of numerical progression. Yet the same government made the Olympics start on August 8 at 8:08 pm!

The visit by a top ranking North Korean official to the Chinese capital fails to produce any results. A source tells AsiaNews that he hoped to get money but "returned empty-handed." Instead, China gave "a lesson on the principles of the free market" and then sent him home, fed up with North Korean antics.

Speedily convicted for sharing information about and photos of the self-immolation of a nun, Tenzin Wagmo, the monk spent eight months in jail during which he was tortured. Elsewhere, Chinese authorities issue rule banning suicide among Tibetans on pain of "detention."

The sentence was suspended for two years. Gu Kailai’s sentence could be commuted to life imprisonment and perhaps a release on medical grounds. Two million Chinese blog comments. Four heads of the Chongqing police department, sentenced to prison for withholding evidence of Gu’s crime. Great Britain is pleased that trial does does not apply death penalty.

In the last two days popular demonstrations have verged on hysteria over Japanese "abuses" on the disputed archipelago. In Shenzhen, more than 20 thousand people overturned Japanese cars and smashed shops and restaurants from the Land of Rising Sun under the eyes of police, who did not intervene. Experts agree: "It is convenient for Beijing to let people vent their frustrations. But if the demonstrations were to degenerate, they are ready with the repression. "

Talks centred on developing special economic zones along the Sino-North Korean border. Jiang Song-thaek has a reputation of being a moderniser in Pyongyang. Although the country is still suffering from mass hunger, the regime will not give up its nuclear programme.