Increasingly, the focus of new possibilities opened up by melting ice, polar routes have become a place of geopolitical confrontation. Although Russian officials continue to project an image of equal cooperation with China, Russia actually finds itself in a vulnerable position.
The government made the decision in order to showcase the country's rich fossil heritage. The new facility should also help Mongolians better understand the legacy of the big reptiles. It should also help stop the illegal smuggling of specimens abroad.
Zhong Nanshan, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and head of the Institute for respiratory diseases in Guangzhou, warns: "We could defend ourselves from the terrible infection but it is impossible to escape this smog." Peak in hospital admissions for the "Beijing cough", citizens vent anger on the internet: "This is the price to pay for economic growth."
Xu was one of the first members of the Communist Party, which he immediately left after the riseto power of Mao Zedong and the beginning of the repression of human rights. True champion of democracy, he continued to resist until the end of the communist regime in spite of 20 years of exile in the countryside and 11 arrests.
Particulate levels are three times higher than the highest tolerable level. Dozens of flights are cancelled as municipal authorities reduce the number of official cars on the road and urge residents to stay indoors. However, the impact is minimal with hospitals overrun by children suffering from the 'Beijing cough'.
Between 30 January and 2 February, a series of events and meetings will be held in New Delhi on Chinese repression in Tibet. The international community "must act now and condemn what is happening in this land," Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay said. Although he is opposed to self-immolations, he believes they are sign of Tibetans' desperation and determination.
Nagasaki and Kumamoto prefectures ask Culture Minister Hakubun Shimomura to submit a list of 13 Christian locations as World Heritage Sites, including Oura Cathedral, Pius IX's 'miracle of the Orient', and various places where Christians met martyrdom. Evangelisation in Japan was subjected to one of the harshest repressions in history.
This morning, the values of PM2.5 were 495 (normal value, for the WHO is 20). Growing risk for people with heart and lung problems, the elderly and children. Expatriates seek to escape from the polluted cities. In 10 years lung cancer increased by 60%. The anger of the Chinese people towards leaders, surrounded by air purifiers and "organic” products.
After new chief Xi Jinping calls for action, party opens an investigation against Politburo member Li Jianguo. The 25-member body is one of the country's top political institutions. However, the signals are mixed. Some whistle-blowers end up investigated themselves.
The missile program of Kim Jong-un has resulted in new, terrifying food shortages in the country: according to some (unconfirmed) rumors the first cases of family cannibalism have already occurred. AsiaNews sources neither confirm nor deny this "But given the situation in the North, anything could happen."
A group of demonstrators gathered this morning in front of the court in the capital of Guizhou to support the disgraced former secretary of Chongqing. But his trial not held there and perhaps hasn’t even begun. The event, experts explain, "shows that the Maoists still exist in China."
The president of the Catholic University of Korea has no doubts that artists like Psy and award-winning South Korean movie directors "are the by-product of cultural work that must be nurtured." However, "we must focus on ethics as well, training people to be competitive but also endowed with a soul."
The bank inks a new deal to provide fresh loans to the former Burma. As the Japan Bank for International Cooperation pledges a bridge loan, Japan lines up to take advantage of the country's potential. The Asian Development Bank does the same. Aung San Suu Kyi insists both China and the United States remain Myanmar's friends, also notes that corruption and freedom of thought are challenges to its development.
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