Report from Beijing ...

Mainland China successfully completed the first test launch in its ambitious manned space flight program Sunday (Nov. 21, 1999) as an space vehicle returned to earth after orbiting the planet 14 times.

Report from Washington ...

Incremental political and social changes are altering the face of mainland China, U.S.-based Chinese dissidents said at a conference here Saturday (Nov. 20, 1999) although they emphasized that true democracy is still a long way off.