The full extent extent of the damage caused by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit China's Sichuan Province on Monday afternoon is just starting to become clear. It is estimated that about 9,000 people were killed. The quake was felt in Beijing and Shanghai, and in places as far reaching as Taipei, Hanoi and Bangkok.

In order to reassure people and to squelch false rumors, the Chinese government is using SMS text messaging (translated) to mobile phones as well as internet postings to inform people that the areas where they live are not in the seismic zone. Over a million such messages were sent in nearby Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guizhou Province.

The government plans to use text messaging not only for emergencies, but for various situations relating to the public interest. The plan is part of the government's new openness in information regulations which it says will promote "openness as principle, being closed off as the exception" in an effort to provide timely and accurate information to the public.

The hand of the government doesn't seem so far away when it's reaching you through a device clutched in yours.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

The U.S. needs the UN according to a new report by Alistair Millar and Eric Rosand, of the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation titled, Building Global Alliances in the Fight Against Terrorism. Both authors spoke on Friday afternoon at the New America Foundation along with Steve Coll, author of Ghost Wars and The Bin Ladens. The speakers point out that if we can stress the common security interests of all nations, the UN will once again function as an effective international body. Fighting terrorism is one issue that requires nothing less than the whole world's attention, but it is also a divisive issue. The UN has so far failed to even agree on a definition of terrorism, though Eric Rosand had a good working one: "Politically motivated violence against civilians."

The main argument is that the United States is missing an opportunity to work with the United Nations in its global fight against terrorism. The speakers were careful to stress they are not suggesting the fight be handed over to the UN. Instead, the U.S. should use the platform as underlying support for its existing efforts while maintaining sovereignty over U.S. interests. They believe that many bi-lateral negotiations are perceived as American sledgehammering and may be better received through the lens of third party. Policy recommendations include the appointment of a counterterrorism czar in the White House (non-military in nature), and the formation of a global counterterrorism body.

While I agree that the U.S. cannot "go it alone" in the war on terror, the bottom line is that unilateralism is a direct result of international lack of will. The United States has gone it alone in part because of the inaction of the UN and its member states. Hezbollah is a prime example of this inaction. Under UN resolutions enacted in 2004 and 2006, Lebanese militias were to be disarmed. In April of this year, the security council adopted a presidential statement reiterating this. Instead, over the past few days Hezbollah has taken over half of Beirut.

While I like the idea of a future with international cooperation and committment to fighting terrorism, I think we need to first make sure the international community is interested in bearing the costs to achieve results. And state-sponsored terror is going to be a big obstacle in this process.

ANWAR AMRO/AFP/Getty Images

In the second day of an escalating standoff between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah, there are reports of at least one death and five injuries and the possibility of civil war seems less far-fetched.

The unrest first broke out after the government tried to cut into Hezbollah's operations by banning a Hezbollah-run telecommunications network in southern Lebanon. The network was likely Hezbollah's primary means of communication during its 2006 war with Israel. 

Then, reports that Hezbollah had installed cameras near the Beirut airport to monitor the movements of anti-Syria politicians -- possibly to assassinate them -- led the government to dismiss the airport's security chief. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to keep the employee in his post and to strike back at these affronts, irking Lebanon's top Sunni leader Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani:

We used to think that Hezbollah is concerned with fighting the Israeli occupation, and all of a sudden it is turning to be a militant force to occupy Beirut, and this is why we call upon the Arab and Islamic nations to help us and stop these harmful aggressions in Lebanon."

Meanwhile, Ya Libnan makes an interesting point that Nasrallah's campaign may achieve the very thing Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt. General Dan Halutz threatened at the start of the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006: to send the country back twenty years. Hezbollah supporters' tent camps have paralyzed parts of downtown Beirut and now they are springing up along the road to the airport which will be a vital source of tourism revenue this summer. It's shaping up to be yet another example of Hezbollah's "resistance" hurting the very people it claims to fight for.

Shizuo Kambayashi/Pool/Getty Images

Politics

Chinese President Hu Jintao is visiting Japan for a diplomatic summit on Sino-Japanese relations.  Some are optimistic that Hu and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda can settle claims on undersea gas resources in the East China Sea by summer. The two leaders will also engage in some literal ping-pong diplomacy.

It’s still unclear what is causing the high number of hand, foot, and mouth disease cases in Anhui province. Almost 16,000 cases have been reported, including 28 fatalities likely linked to a coupling with the virus EV71. Government officials say that the high fatalities are not evidence of a new strain.  Infections in Singapore and Vietnam are also much higher than normal this year. The Chinese government plans to step up public hygiene efforts to combat the spread of infectious disease this summer.

The Chinese State Food and Drug Administration, charged with investigating the contamination of the blood-thinner Heparin, has accused U.S. drug company Baxter of being unhelpful in the investigation. It also maintains that the link between the drug and the deaths in the United States has not yet been proven since other countries using similar substances reported no such fatal allergic reactions.

China acknowledged that changes in visa restrictions are taking place ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games. However, the Foreign Ministry insists that the changes are “according to the practice of the past Olympics and usual international practice.” Fewer (if any) multiple entry visas will be issued and some travelers may need letters of invitation, and proof of hotel accommodations and return air tickets. Previously, the ministry had denied that any changes were planned.

Concerned about overspending on student subsidies, the Chinese government is limiting the growth of doctoral programs to less than two percent annually in favor of professional degree training programs. China is the world’s leader in turning out phD's with an estimated 60,000 in 2007, yet over half of graduating candidates end up in government rather than academia.

Economy

The Hong Kong stock market is looking abroad for investment growth and hoping to attract sovereign wealth funds. Government intervention in the Shanghai market is hurting its international reputation.

Forget poverty assistance programs, relocation is the best way to help drought-stricken farmers in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwestern China, said a local official. Around 206,000 people will be relocated over the next five years to irrigated and suburban areas along the Yellow River that can better support them at a cost of $406 million.   

China’s household spending power will surpass that of Britain’s by 2017, putting it third in the world behind the U.S. and Japan according to a forecast released by Barclay’s and the Economist Intelligence Unit today. Full report (PDF).

Taiwan

Three Taiwanese government officials have resigned as investigators searched their homes and offices for clues in the case of the missing $30 million in “diplomatic aid” to Papau New Guinea. There is a middleman on the run according to the International Herald Tribune.  

Analysis

The American Institute in Taiwan held a video conference panel discussion on Tuesday about the U.S.-Taiwan relationship in light of coming political changes in both countries. Speakers included Robert G. Sutter of Georgetown University, Alan D. Romberg of the Stimson Center, and Bonnie Glaser of CSIS. The Taipei Times reports on the event saying that experts don’t expect big changes.

Jamil Anderlini of the Financial Times looks at the latest incarnation of China’s fenqing, or hyper-nationalistic “angry youth.”

Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer sits down with Der Spiegel to talk about the role of his company’s gear in the torch relay saying, “I don’t have a guilty conscience,” and stressing the company’s commitment to sports, not politics. (Hat tip: The American's Duncan Currie.)  

This week's China moment

It took forty workers 48 hours to complete the world's largest Chinese flag. The flag is roughly 200 x 300 feet (88.88 meters- note the lucky eights). The banner was so big, it needed a last-minute switch to a larger-class airplane as it left Beijing. It will follow the torch relay around the country and go on display in Beijing a day before the Olympic Games. (Hat tip: Passport reader Andrew Schorr)

CIA Director Michael Hayden gave a smart talk earlier this week about where the world is headed and what role the United States will play in it (video). With the world population set to grow about 34 percent by mid-century, the agency will be especially attentive to demographic transitions in countries that can't sustain higher populations, he said. But Hayden also had a message for China:

China is a competitor—certainly in the economic realm, and, increasingly, on the geopolitical stage. But China is not an inevitable enemy. There are good policy choices available to both Washington and Beijing that can keep us on the largely peaceful, constructive path we've been on for almost 40 years now.

On a very hopeful note, Hayden also said Americans have to start putting themselves in others' shoes:

[A] greater number of actors will have influence on the world stage in this century. And that presents one overriding challenge to those of us responsible for our nation's security: We must do a better job of understanding cultures, histories, religions, and traditions that are not our own. We must broaden our understanding, and guard against viewing the world exclusively through an American prism. We must not rely exclusively on an American—or even more broadly, Western—lens in assessing foreign challenges and helping policymakers decide how to respond.

Politics

AFP/Getty Images

The Olympic torch relay has returned to China, passing through Hong Kong today. Three Danish pro-Tibet activists were denied entry to Hong Kong ahead of the events. Earlier, protests during the Seoul leg of the relay turned violent, and South Korea plans to deport the Chinese demonstrators involved.

China announced its willingness Friday to talk with the Dalai Lama but condemned him on Monday for manipulating foreign opinion. 

In the first round of sentencing from the Lhasa riots, a Chinese court found 30 people guilty of crimes including arson to disrupting public services.

A deadly virus, EV71, has broken out in Anhui province with over 900 cases and the deaths of 20 children. The outbreak began in March but wasn't reported until this past Sunday.

French supermarket chain Carrefour, in a bid to bolster its patriotic image, clad employees in new uniforms with the Chinese flag including hats bearing the Olympic rings and "Beijing 2008." The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games promptly deemed the hats a copyright infringement.

A Chinese student threw a water bottle at a Tibetan monk during a lecture at the University of Southern California. Several other American universities have seen clashes between pro-Tibet and pro-China students.

A Guangzhou newspaper has uncovered a disturbing child-labor ring in Guangdong province. More than 100 children were rescued after reportedly being sold or kidnapped into labor and forced to work up to 300 hours per month.

Economy

China and India will likely sustain Asia through a global economic slowdown, according to Standard & Poor's.

U.S. regulators are questioning China's ability to control its products after at least 81 U.S. patients died from contaminated doses of heparin, a blood thinner. The contaminant was traced back to a Chinese supplier of an ingredient that gets processed into the final product by Baxter, a multinational company. The FDA suspects the act may have been intentional.

Officials were sacked and excessive speeding blamed for the worst train accident in a decade. The accident, which took place in Shandong province, killed 70 and left hundreds injured.

China may become a corn importer as government incentives are not pulling farmers away from other crops such as soybeans, green beans and red beans.  The reason? High fertilizer costs.

Taiwan

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Taiwan's KMT leader Lien Chan met in Beijing Tuesday, though the contents of the meeting were not disclosed. Their fourth since 2005, the meeting has added significance now that Taiwan's President-elect Ma Ying-jeou will be taking office on May 20.

Analysis

William F. Schultz, former head of Amnesty International USA, argues that pressuring Beijing over the Olympics will take more finesse than human rights groups are currently employing.

British politician Charles Tannock asks why the West embraces Kosovo and Tibet but is ignoring Taiwan in its struggle for nationhood in a piece for the Taipei Times.

A New York Times editorial looks at the contaminated Heparin case and asserts that U.S. companies need to ensure the safety of their products.

China's energy outlook for the summer may be grim as demand outstrips supply causing more brownouts, according to Emma Graham-Harrison of Reuters. The energy shortfall will also produce an increase in oil demand, she predicts.

This week's China moment

A vice-mayor of Tianjin ordered the removal of a 2 million yuan ($286,000) sculpture at a new airport terminal days before its official opening because he didn't like the color. Gag orders were issued to the media but went unheeded as CCTV gave the story "unusually frank coverage," according to Reuters.

Kevin Frayer-Pool/Getty Images

Professor Bernard Sabella of Bethlehem University came to Georgetown Wednesday to speak about the decline of the Palestinian Christian population in the Holy Land. It's a group whose unique role as bridge-builders, particularly between the West and the Palestinian Muslims, is increasingly at risk.

Palestinian Christians number somewhere near 50,000, making up less than 2 percent of the population. In Jerusalem alone, the population has gone from 30,000 in 1945 to at most 8,000 today.

As a sociologist, Sabella conducts surveys to discover why Palestinian Christians are emigrating. His results suggest economic and political rather than religious reasons, though 8 percent of respondents say religious fanaticism could be a contributing factor to seeking a life elsewhere. Jews and Muslims are leaving for the same reasons.

Sabella, who has served in the Palestinian legislature, also weighed in on the political situation. The way he sees it, the peace process has reached a critical juncture. If it doesn't succeed by the end of the year, he expects escalating confrontation on Palestinian streets and the election of hardliner Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli prime minister.

The implications of failure, he says, are serious:

If the political and economic situation doesn't improve, then we are going to lose our youngest and brightest brains."

MIKE CLARKE/AFP/Getty Images

Almost any American who has taken Chinese in the past decade should know the phrase "Meiguo ren hen xihuan da guansi" (Americans really like to sue people). It is usually presented as a point of difference between our two cultures, and McDonald's coffee inevitably comes up.

Well, the tables sure are turning. Reuters reports that a primary schoolteacher and a beautician have filed suit against CNN for the allegedly slanderous comments against the Chinese people made by Jack Cafferty. (The crotchety CNN anchor called Chinese products "junk" and the country's leaders "goons.")

The suit asks for $1.3 billion dollars -- $1 per person in China -- for "violat[ing]the dignity and reputation of the Chinese people." Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu called the suit "spontaneous action" on the part of the Chinese people.

It certainly brings new meaning to the title of Cafferty's book, It's Getting Ugly Out There.

ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images

Politics

Next stop for the Olympic torch? Canberra, Australia. Protests are already underway as two people were arrested for trying to unfurl a banner on the Sydney Harbour bridge. People also beamed a laser message on the bridge saying "Don't Torch Tibet." Needless to say, security will be high for the relay leg tomorrow.

French supermarket chain Carrefour's chairman Jose Luis Duran told Xinhua his company would support the Olympics and that protesters have ulterior motives. He also denied supporting the Dalai Lama. The Chinese government praised the chain the same day as the interview.

The Tibet crackdown is still having some aftershocks, as a prominent Tibetan broadcaster/performer was detained.

The Financial Times is launching a Chinese-language publication ahead of the Olympic Games geared at China's growing stock of professionals. Playboy is also expected to be granted circulation for a month "to meet the demand of overseas visitors during the Olympics," according to Reuters.

Economy

China will continue rice exports, which may help alleviate the global food crisis. China produces almost a third of the world's rice.

In China's continued economic efforts in Africa, China Railway Group will embark on a $2.9 billion joint venture with Sinohydro Corp in a copper and cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal, which is awaiting the DRC government's approval, includes a provision to limit Chinese workers to 20 percent of the total in an effort to curb local resentment.

Nationalistic fervor is hitting the racks as new T-shirts come out with slogans like "Go China!" and "Tibet WAS, IS, and ALWAYS will be a party of China!" Chinese officials say Olympic ticket sales have not been affected by the torch relay protests.

Although China claims "great progress" on intellectual property enforcement, the EU announced it will ask China to step up efforts ahead of the Olympics. According to the OECD, the global fake goods market is around $200 billion a year or 2 percent of the world's trade, with much of it originating in China.

Taiwan

President-elect Ma Ying-jeou wants to implement tax incentives to lure investment to Taiwan, especially in technology. He also plans to make it a priority to remove the 40 percent cap on mainland investment designed to make Taiwanese multinationals more competitive (though HSBC analysts predict the move won't help since production prices in China are soaring). Also, Chinese banks and insurance firms will be allowed to set up offices in Taiwan as soon as late May.

Taiwan is investing almost $1 billion in infrastructure to prepare for the influx of mainland tourists that Ma's reforms are expected to bring. According to Reuters, 50 million mainland Chinese have expressed interest in visiting the island.

The U.S. is requesting $170 million for a new American Institute in Taiwan compound (the unofficial embassy) that may include a Marine barracks.

Analysis

In a piece for the Financial Times, Coca-cola Chief Executive Neville Isdell talks about the company's role in politics relating to Darfur and the Olympics.

U.S. policy in the Pacific is weakening, according to Michael Auslin of the American Enterprise Institute. And Philip Levy has a new working paper that discusses the potential for democracy in China in the wake of changes in the economy, technology, and the rule of law.

For more on the controversy surrounding China's presence in Africa, check out Serge Michel's "When China Met Africa" in the new issue of FP (subscribers only).

PIERRE VERDY/AFP/Getty Images

You have probably already heard about protests in China over the weekend in several cities against French supermarket chain Carrefour and alleged Western media bias. But there were also demonstrations by the Chinese community on Saturday in five Western cities: Berlin, Vienna, Paris, London and Washington. Xinhua news agency reports thousands of participants in the European cities and hundreds here in Washington. With signs like "Love our China" and "You can't find this from BBC... Stop disrupting the Olympics" there is a clear, organized international effort to get the message out that many overseas Chinese also oppose the affronts to the Olympic games and the related media coverage. The silent protest in Britain attracted 3,000 participants and was the first public demonstration on the part of the Chinese community there.

Recent fervor has demonstrated a strong, unified voice on the part of the Chinese community. And said overtures are producing results: French President Nikolas Sarkozy sent a letter to "Wheelchair Angel" Jin Jing expressing sympathy and regret for her treatment in the Paris torch relay (but no apology).

But the strife continues as yesterday, the Paris city council went over Sarkozy's head and approved the Dalai Lama for honorary citizenship, in addition to recently jailed dissident Hu Jia. While many may call it misguided for its lack of respect for human rights, the Chinese position shows sophistication in political advocacy: Adopt a unified stance and get the widest possible coverage to spread your message. Though the synergy is the result of the people and the government touting the same line, it's an impressive campaign for a country with a state-run media. It's also worth pointing out that, unlike people within China itself, these expats have access to the gamut of information on their homeland, and yet they still feel strongly that the Western view is biased.

Grass-roots sentiment against the French is getting so heated in China that the government is now trying to cool things down. 

Last time Chinese nationalism got out of control, the government called for calm in the name of "social harmony."

This time, the rationale is economic development (the big dog on the national agenda and one of the best ways for citizens to serve the nation). Reminding the people of China's struggles is a great antidote to anger directed at foreign corporations, or so a commentary run by state news agency Xinhua appears to hope:

Thirty years of reform and opening up have created a China miracle... But we must be crystal clear that for China that has endured so much, the future road will not be all smooth-going."

The commentary also calls the anger "unadorned" and a "sincere demonstration of public opinion."

The government clearly has a lot of reigning in to do: A survey conducted in 10 Chinese cities found that two thirds of respondents support a boycott against French supermarket chain Carrefour.

Politics

NG HAN GUAN/AFP/Getty Images

Chinese President Hu Jintao publicly commented on events in Tibet for the first time Saturday, citing the unity of the nation as the issue at heart between Beijing and the "Dalai clique." Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama's aids have engaged in some talks with Beijing.

The European Commission doesn't support Olympic boycotts, but has "legitimate worries" about human rights in China ahead of Europe sending its largest trade delegation ever to Beijing.

The Chinese government has ordered a halt to construction projects and even outdoor spray-painting in the weeks leading up to the Olympics in order to improve the Beijing air. Smoking will still be permitted in bars and restaurants, however, due to pressure from businesses over potential revenue losses.

A historic 20-minute encounter between the Chinese President Hu Jintao and Taiwan's Vice President-elect Frank Siew Saturday has Beijing "thinking deeply" about improving cross-strait relations and agreeing to direct flights and increased tourism between the mainland and the island. A Taipei Times editorial downplays the meeting.

The Olympic torch relay continues to be a security concern as the Pakistan leg today was confined to a heavily guarded stadium with an invitation-only audience. India gears up for its segment today in New Delhi and has shortened the run from 6 to roughly 2 miles. The main spectators? The 15,000 policemen guarding the route. Some in the Australian-Chinese community have vowed to protect their portion of the run next week in Canberra by forming a "people's army" against pro-Tibet "scum."

Chinese netizens have started their own anti-CNN Web site. The site came under attack from hackers (translated) last week, and CNN Jack Cafferty dumped more fuel on the fire by calling the Chinese government a bunch of "goons" and "thugs." China is demanding an apology. Ironically, CNN ran an editorial the same day urging people not to demonize China ahead of the Olympics.

Economy

China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange fund bought an almost 1 percent stake in British Petroleum. Britain's Finance Minister Alistair Darling  welcomes Chinese investment.

The New York Stock Exchange may be the first foreign stock allowed to list on a Chinese market. Caijing magazine cites an anonymous official as saying NYSE is attractive for its "market value, performance, and compliance."

A series of lawsuits have placed mostly symbolic blame on Chinese companies for forgery. Gucci won a suit against Yaohan and Senda for trademark infringement over merchandise bearing the "GG" logo. Senda paid $26,000 USD in damages. Last week, Italian confectioner Ferrero also won a suit against Chinese firm Montresor for selling a copycat product and received about $79,000 USD in damages.

China Power Development International Ltd. plans to double power generation capacity by 2010. By the end of this year, it projects generation capacity of 10,000 MW or roughly five Hoover Dams.

Commentary

Brookings features an interview this week between Diane Rehm and a panel discussing the Olympics controversy. Brookings Senior Fellow Cheng Li says the Xinjiang Olympic terrorist plots are a real problem but are also inflected with government strategy to emphasize anti-terrorism. IOC member Dick Pound says an international torch relay is not a good idea. Whoops.

Kent Ewing with the Asia Times explains how Chinese nationalism is resisting a supposed onslaught of humiliation from the West, and the effect of the "wheelchair angel."

Matthew Forney of the International Herald Tribune talks about why the Chinese youth are so supportive of their government. George Vecsey weighs in on why we shouldn't boycott the Olympics, as all games have had their flaws. 

Marcelo Singer/AFP/Getty Images

Uruguay and its 3.4 million people entered the big leagues of culinary feats Sunday by organizing the world's largest barbecue. Snatching the title away from Mexico, Uruguay has triumphed -- at least for now -- in a global cookout war that has been raging for years.

Namibia tried but failed in 2006 to beat Australia for the world's largest sausage. The Philippines set up the world's longest barbecue in 2003, though I believe Uruguay just showed them up by about half a kilometer.

The small South American country pulled off the stunt to highlight its beef exports (at least $800 million worth in 2007). To give you an idea of the size and scope of the operation, army personnel set up the grills, firefighters lit 6 tons of charcoal, 1,250 people cooked up a storm, and roughly 20,000 people watched as 13.2 tons of beef were prepared.

When all was said and done, Uruguay had beaten Mexico's record by 4 tons. One of the grillers told Reuters: "I'm very proud to be Uruguayan. We have the best beef and now we have the world's biggest barbecue." National pride can be tied together by many things -- even apron strings.

TEH ENG KOON/AFP/Getty Images

This year's nationalism soup in China smacks of that served in 2005 but with some more eclectic ingredients. Then, it was anti-Japanese sentiment over WWII-era war crimes that stirred up popular unrest. The Chinese government stoked the public's anger, leading to diplomatic facilities getting smashed up and calls for a boycott of Japanese goods. Sensing that things had gotten out of control, the government eventually drew the line.

Now, it is global activism tied to the Beijing Olympics that is fueling national anger. Many Chinese feel that other countries are exploiting the games for political reasons. Howard French of the International Herald Tribune explains the anger is so deep because their government "sold them on the Olympics as a measure of their standing and stature in the world," and they feel the world isn't giving China its due.

The latest country to face Chinese wrath is France, which Chinese netizens singled out as the worst embarrassment in terms of the torch relay over the past week (frankly, things weren't pretty in London or San Francisco either). Citing a human rights banner at Paris city hall and a protestor trying to wrench the torch from a Chinese girl in a wheelchair, grassroots sentiment is again spiraling out of control, though only in cyberspace for now. Calls for boycotts of French companies -- including L'Oréal, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy -- have appeared on Web sites and chatrooms.  Meanwhile, Xinhua ran a story today biting back at the French media entitled "Paris slaps its own face."

The government will likely ride it out as long as is necessary for the people to vent. Then, as with Japan, they will call for a return to social harmony. Many people, including International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, believe the games will still be a success. But with so many potential provocations yet to unfold, it will be interesting to see how this PR mess gets cleaned up.

GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images

Israel will celebrate its 60th anniversary on May 8, but a few gray clouds are already gathering over an otherwise euphoric national holiday. The New York Times yesterday highlighted a noticeable strain of cynicism among Israeli citizens as the date approaches.

For example, a recent poll asking people who they want as next prime minister produced a majority response of "none of the above," and a petition against wasting money on anniversary "festivities whose primary purpose is to give a stage to the politicians" gained surprising popularity. The theme of the festivities is "Strengthening Israel's Children" but a recent study shows that one in three children lives in poverty. Coupled with school strikes and ongoing frustration over the security situation, Israelis are having a hard time mustering up much enthusiasm.

Recent polls show a majority of Israelis favor a modest celebration so that money can be used in other areas like health and education. The anniversary plans reflect this in part by focusing on more lasting investments: a cross-country bike trail, completion of a Sea of Galilee footpath, and maintenance of memorials that will involve the country's youth. There will still be typical national celebration staples like light shows, beach parties, and military displays.

Sever Plocker with Yediot Aharonot said:

Have we gone mad?...Has something gone wrong with our collective mind? The State of Israel is about to mark 60 years of independence in an atmosphere of bitterness, depression and public reluctance 'to waste the money on celebrations.'"

While I agree that politicians shouldn't hijack the occasion for their gain, it doesn't seem right for people to take the wind out of the national sails just because they want to gripe.  It's a national day -- why not act like it and show some pride?

GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images

Representative Howard Berman of California has proposed legislation to clear the name of the South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) in the United States government record books. Nelson Mandela, and other former members, need approval to enter the United States as the ANC was once labelled a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and South Africa during apartheid.  The ANC has evolved quite a bit over the years, but did carry out numerous attacks on institutions of South Africa's apartheid regime from the 1960s through the 1980s. The New York Times explains the U.S. stance:

Until recently, State Department officials preferred to grant ANC members waivers for travel to the United States on a case-by-case basis. They feared a more permanent exemption would open the floodgates to similar requests by other former terrorist groups. But that objection apparently now has been wisely dropped."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice found it an "embarrassing matter" to waive travel restrictions on her South African counterparts, let alone the "great leader" himself.  The bill would update entries on the ruling party's members in U.S. government databases. Just in case you missed the neon sign, Hamas and al Qaeda need not apply.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Politics

The Olympic torch relay was disrupted by protests in London on Sunday and Paris on Tuesday. French officials were unhappy with the way the Chinese security detail handled the relay, and one athlete became upset when the torch was extinguished before he could hand it off: "Given what happened yesterday, the athletes are asking themselves one question: how will they be treated in Beijing?"

Protests are underway in San Francisco as the torch relay passes through today, and the local Chinese community is divided in political sentiment. Public security was bolstered as police officers' vacations were cancelled, and a high-profile Golden Gate Bridge protest Monday turned the structure into an independence banner. (Pictured above.)

Sentiment is turning sour in the United States as a Zogby poll yesterday revealed that 70 percent of American voters think it was wrong to choose China as this year's Olympic host (up from 39 percent last May). As far as boycotting the games, 31 percent of respondents were in favor. 

The presidential candidates are weighing in on China. Hillary Clinton has been particularly strident and called for President George W. Bush to skip the opening ceremonies. Bush still plans to attend, though he won't see German Chancellor Angela Merkel or British Prime Minister Gordon Brown there. (French President Nicolas Sarkozy is still on the fence).

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu described (video) the Dalai Lama as "the head representative of the serf system which integrates religion with politics in old Tibet...the darkest slavery system in human history."

The communist party leader in Tibet said that order has been restored following violent protests, but warned there could be more trouble when the torch relay passes through next month.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticized China for sentencing activist Hu Jia to three and a half years in prison for criticizing the government online.

Economy

Bank card sales rose 58 percent last year to $428 billion. With 1.5 billion bank cards in China at the end of 2007, China Banking Regulatory Commission Vice Chairman Guo Ligen warned that IT systems need to be updated to accommodate the heavy traffic.

Hong Kong budget airline Oasis went bankrupt amid a 73 percent rise in fuel costs last year. It was the fourth budget airline worldwide to halt operations in less than two weeks.  

Disney announced yesterday it will purchase Chinese gaming company Gamestar. It also plans to launch Disney-themed games in the highly successful Chinese online gaming industry with Shanda Interactive Entertainment. Intel also announced a $500 million investment fund geared toward Chinese technology start-ups.

A draft food safety law has been submitted for approval requiring products to have a bar code by the end of the year. The policy is aimed at improving food safety nationwide. Critics argue the measures don't cover raw materials and small companies.

China and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement Monday, the first such deal between China and a developed nation. Trade between the two nations is currently around $6.1 billion per year.

Taiwan

Vice president-elect Vincent Siew may meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao at this week's Boao Forum for Asian development. Critics worry Siew could fall into a "unification trap."

Foreign funds have invested $1.2 billion in Taiwan stocks this year (the highest of any Asian market) in anticipation of improved ties with China. But, early gains may not be as high as was hoped because of political tensions.

Analysis

Yale economics professor Zhiwu Chen argued that China should decrease its state holdings to combat wealth inequality in a lecture on Tuesday.

There are plentiful op-eds about China and the Olympics -- the New York Times says China should demonstrate its worthiness, Philip Bowring calls China an angry young bull, and Christopher Bowe argues that China is playing with fire: "The run of relatively protest-free games dates only from Seoul and Barcelona. If the IOC did not see that the 2001 decision to award the games to Beijing was likely to end that run, it was extraordinarily naive."

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People are literally stealing the roofs off of churches in Britain, the New York Times reports today. Some call it "the most concerted assault on churches since the Reformation." But it's not religious zealotry that's driving the vandals, it's simple economics.

Rising resource demand from China and India coupled with supply disruptions from Australia (the holy trinity of skyrocketing prices) have caused lead prices to jump sevenfold in the past six years. Before 2005, instances of roof theft were few and far between. But last year, one church insurance company reported $18 million in claims, mostly from cases of disappearing lead.  Historical preservation laws mandate the use of original building materials, hence the metal installation and replacement in the event of theft. John Deave, a retired churchwarden, is feeling the pressure:

Whenever I get an early morning phone call these days, I think, 'Oh no, they’ve taken the roof again.'"

Institutions are mulling tough love tactics to prevent further vandalism including barbed wire, roof lights, and slippery drain pipe paint, but mere fences can't stop the forces of supply and demand. This highlights a broader trend in which the West feels a pinch from inflation and commodity price hikes in the developing world. The free ride is ending, folks.

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Egypt's economic and political pressure cooker gave a kick and a hiss yesterday as a crackdown to prevent a general strike resulted in over 200 arrests throughout the country. The unrest was provoked by rising prices and falling wages. As Blake has reported, Egypt is a big wheat importer with a corrupt bread subsidy program, and the country heads into local elections tomorrow.

Given that Egypt has virtually no organized political opposition, it's not entirely clear who called the strike but those who threatened to stay home included professionals, government workers, and factory laborers as riot police around the country were called out to put down any unrest. A scuffle between textile workers and riot police erupted into exchanges of tear gas and stone throwing in Mahalla al Kobra, north of Cairo.

The government has succeeded in stemming the tide for now.  The Muslim Brotherhood stayed out of the strike, state security agents conducted home visits to make sure government workers reported, and masses of state security forces intimidated a group of protesting workers back to duty.  Abdel Ahad El Meseery of the Kifaya opposition group told the International Herald Tribune:

I am not about to claim that the Egyptian people are finally rebelling...The element of fear is there.  The people are afraid of the government, but the government is afraid of the people."

With so many factions behind the mobilization, and the help of the internet and cell phones, it seems that more than a few officials' faces went pale this past weekend. At least seven of the arrests relating to the protests targeted people who used the internet to advertise the strike.  It's bad news for the Mubarak regime if Egypt's disorganized interest groups are starting to coalesce into something resembling civil society. 

Worse yet, the government may be powerless to control the underlying causes of the unrest.  As as Paul Krugman notes today in his op-ed for the New York Times, "Cheap food, like cheap oil, may be a thing of the past."