Quote of the day: “That’s only for Olympics-related stories, and I don’t think you are here for the Olympics.”

- An officer telling BBC reporters to stay away from the massive protests in the town of Zhushan, despite the new foreign journalism laws

STEPS TO DEMOCRACY

Communist China finally endorses private property rights – “China swept away a pillar of its communist idealogy Friday when parliament gave unprecedented rights to private property, one of two landmark laws that were passed aimed at making society more equal.” I am extremely happy about this.

HUMAN RIGHTS

China, Russia seek to block U.N. report on Darfur – “China and Russia joined Arab and Muslim states on Friday in urging the U.N.’s human rights watchdog to ignore a report from a mission to Darfur that blamed Sudan for continuing war crimes against civilians there.” We already knew this would happen. China has agreed to Sudan’s safe passage in the UN in exchange for use of Sudan’s resources (Oil).

PIRACY

China produces 500 million pirated books each year – “Pirates and smugglers in China produce 120 million counterfeit audio and video products and 500 million unauthorised books a year.” Correlation…people like access to knowledge…China blocks access to knowledge…people illegally access knowledge…China increases blocking access to knowledge…?????…profit?

TIBET

China says door for dialogue with Dalai open – “‘Our policy toward the Dalai Lama has been clear and consistent. That is to say as long as the Dalai Lama recognizes that Tibet and Taiwan are parts of inseparable Chinese territory and abandons splittist activities … then the door is always open,’ Wen told a news conference…Wen accused the Tibetan god-king of ‘demanding that all Chinese troops withdraw from Tibet, that all Han Chinese and other ethnic groups living in Tibet also evacuate.’” When did the Dalai Lama say that? Or should I say “Wen, did the Dalai Lama say that?”

Dalai Lama not against Chinese migrating to Tibet: Tibetan PM-in-exile – “Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche has said the Dalai Lama is not against Chinese people migrating to Tibet.”

MILITARY

Premier: World shouldn’t fear China army – “In a two-hour news conference at the end of China’s two-week legislative session, Wen said the nation is opposed to the militarization of outer space despite a recent test of an anti-satellite weapon that prompted international criticism.”

ECONOMY

China announces 0.27 percentage point increase in key interest rates – “The 0.27 percentage point hike in one-year deposit and lending benchmark rates will go into effect Sunday, the People’s Bank of China said. That would raise lending rates to 6.39 percent and deposit rates to 2.79 percent, the bank said in a statement on its Web site. The new rates will ‘promote the good, fast development of the national economy’ by guiding an increase in credit and investment, preserving price stability and steady operation of the financial system, the statement said.”

Audit: Social Security Funds Misused – “Auditors have found 30.8 billion yuan ($4 billion) from China’s social security funds was misused and officials involved have been punished, a government news agency reported Friday…The latest violations were found during an audit of some 800 billion yuan ($105 billion) in social security funds, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing Yu Xiaoming, deputy auditor general for the National Audit Office.”