Periscope.(Chinese dissidents)(Oji Paper Co. takeover bid)(California carbon-dioxide emissions rules)

Byline: Sarah Schafer (Akiko Kashiwagi Tony Skaggs and Tony Dokoupil Tony Dokoupil Karen Springen Lorraine Ali David Gates)

China: Summer of Silence

It may be the slow summer season in China's capital, but the courts sure have been busy. In the past two weeks, they've concluded three high-profile cases, two of which have been lingering for more than a year. The courts handed out convictions and prison terms in each case. The latest: on Friday, a Beijing court sentenced Hong Kong resident and Singapore Straits Times reporter Ching Cheong to five years on charges that he spied for Taiwan.

The guilty verdicts are part of a larger, long-term effort by Beijing to rein in journalists and activists, say analysts. And worryingly, they were handed out with little regard to legal niceties. Consider the case of rural activist Chen Guangcheng, whose lawyers were all arrested the day before he was to go to trial. On Aug. 24, he was sentenced to more than four years in prison for "disturbing public order."

Beijing lawyer Teng Biao says, "Nothing can prevent human-rights activities from developing because more and more Chinese want to fight for their legal rights." But China watchers expect those dissidents and activists to suffer the consequences. (One likely victim: controversial and outspoken Beijing lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who was recently detained for questioning.) Drowning out dissent will be crucial during China's next annual party plenum this fall, when the leadership will propose new policies and figure out the 2007-2012 slate for the Politburo. Then there's the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Starting as early as next month, when thousands of foreign journalists will come to Beijing for an early Olympic press event, China's leaders will be under the spotlight. The International Olympic Committee has warned them they must be on their best behavior for the Games. Beijing, it would seem, figures it's better to do its dirty work now, rather than wait for the rest of the world to tune in.

Sarah Schafer

Japan: Hold the Hostility