News of the Day (February 7)

Religion on the rise in China, no thanks to the Communists: According to a poll cited by the BBC, "The number of religious believers in China could be three times higher than official estimates." Lest anyone think the Communists are encouraging this development, see Between Heaven and Earth for the truth. Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI will "send a letter at Easter to Catholics in China that could have wide-ranging implications for the church's relationship with China's leadership" (Newsmax).

More on matters inside Communist China: The wife of imprisoned cyberdissident Zang Yili wants a new trial for her husband (BHaE). A reporter with Japan's Sankei Shimbun tries to interview Gao Zhisheng, but Communist police refuse to let it happen (Epoch Times). Worldwide Standard has the latest scuttlebutt from within the CCP.

Communist China charms Seychelles away from the United States: James R. Mancham (United Press Int'l via Washington Times) has the story.

Hu Jintao visits South Africa, signs "a raft of trade agreements": The Communist leader insisted his regime's ties to Africa were a "'"win-win' situation" (Washington Times).

Could Stalinist North Korea touch off a Sino-American war? A Communist "arms control expert" thinks so (Newsmax).

More on Communist China's Korean colony: The Stalinists are developing a new submarine-launched missile (Daily NK). One Free Korea ponders the effect of the mass escape from Camp 16, while Daily NK examines the Hoiryeong border guards' defection. The plight of South Korean abductees in SNK gets more attention (Daily NK).

Ignorant Comment of the Day: Harlan Ullman (Washington Times) calls for "strategic engagement" with the Iranian mullahcracy in a piece that gets Middle Eastern, American, and Soviet history wrong.

Speaking of Middle Eastern Proxy Number One: Michael Rubin has the collection of major news from the mullahcracy, including another protest against Mad Mouthpiece Mahmoud and military war games (National Review Online - The Corner).