For the second time in a month, Chinese officials have abandoned plans for environmentally hazardous industrial plants due to massive demonstrations. A paper processing plant in Qidong, a city near Shanghai, is now cancelled. Four weeks ago officials scrapped plans for a copper processing plant in the south after violent measures to curb protests backfired. A new trend? See the analysis.
The blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng met with US lawmakers on Wednesday, imploring them to take a stronger stance on what he called "deteriorating" human rights in China. He specifically talked about the massive and extra-legal government body known as the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee, PLAC, which some suggest operates with a budget larger than China's military. Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi were among those in attendance.
To increase "social stability" in the Xinjiang region during the month of Ramadan, Communist Party officials are encouraged to bring gifts of food to Muslim village leaders. Most adult Muslims will be fasting during daylight hours, however, throughout the holy period. Party officials are also encouraged to prevent children from entering mosques during the holy month.
Popular Chinese opinion is decidedly behind the Chinese swimmer who smashed world record times only to have doping suspicions leveled at her. But mixed feelings have been expressed for the badminton pair disqualified for allegedly throwing a match.
On August 3, the documentary film "Free China: The Courage to Believe," produced by NTD and World2Be Productions, was named Most Outstanding Film at the Denver International Freethought Film Festival. This is the film's 4th major award.
On August 1, NTD's entertainment flagship program, E-Star, and high-end watch maker Breitling, hosted "Dazzling Summer Night," a cocktail party where business and community leaders joined hands to facilitate integration between the Chinese community and the larger business world. website
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