Alexander BesantApril 12, 2012 02:30

China's economic growth to slow to a 13-year low in 2012, according to new figures released by the World Bank.

China posts unexpected trade surplus in March

Alexander BesantApril 10, 2012 01:32

According to new data, China posted an unexpected $5.35 billion trade surplus in March, a sign that Chinese exports are up despite slow demand during the financial crisis.

Belgian art dealer convicted of smuggling dies under house arrest in Beijing

Luke BrowneMarch 30, 2012 11:48

Kurt de Raedemaeker was arrested at Beijing airport in 2006 and convicted two years later of illegally exporting an ancient sarcophagus.

Michael GoldfarbMarch 27, 2012 04:32

Amnesty International capital punishment report: bad news and good news

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Amnesty International campaigns globally to bring an end to capital punishment. (LAURENT FIEVET/AFP/Getty Images)

Among the invaluable activities of Amnesty International is the compilation of an annual report on capital punishment. The 2011 edition was published today and it makes for interesting reading.

The bad news: there was a more than 10 percent increase in the number of judicial killings worldwide. In 2011, 676 executions took place as opposed to 527 in 2010.

Alexander BesantMarch 23, 2012 12:00

Panda poo makes the world's most expensive tea

An Yanshi, an entrepreneur in Sichuan province uses the excrement from panda bears living in nearby breeding centres to make specialty tea.

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An entrepreneur in Sichuan province uses the excrement from panda bears living in nearby breeding centres to make specialty tea. (Frank Prevel/Getty Images)

Panda dung tea is soon to be the world's most expensive infusion at over $200 per cup.

Japan, China and South Korea in investment deal

Luke BrowneMarch 23, 2012 08:33

Japan’s foreign ministry said the agreement – which has been discussed for almost a decade and under negotiation since 2007 – would “add momentum” to work towards a trade deal.

China and Australia sign $31BN currency swap deal

Luke BrowneMarch 22, 2012 08:27

The agreement will allow for US$31.2 billion worth of local currencies to be exchanged between both countries’ central banks over three years, lowering costs for businesses.

China surpasses US in number of smart phone activations

Alexander BesantMarch 21, 2012 16:44

China now leads the US in smart phone activations, according to a new market study.

Iva Roze SkochMarch 21, 2012 14:39

Chinese virginity promoter seeking a husband online

There's a catch. No sex before, or after, marriage. Good luck with that.

She has gotten tens of thousands of hits on her online ad for a husband.

But so far, no real takers.

I wonder why.

It’s probably not the commitment to pre-marital virginity that scared most potential candidates off.

It’s her commitment to post-marital virginity.

Tu Shiyou, 38, who runs Preserve Virginity, a website dedicated to promoting virginity before marriage, said she is running out of time to find a husband.

So she turned to the internet to find one, People Daily reports.

She posted the following list of requirements for a husband, among others:

--Priority to a Party member or civil servant

--No premarital sex

--No sex life in the first three years of marriage (This one is particularly interesting. In my neck of the woods, people usually only have sex in the first three years of marriage).

My question is, does this potential husband need to be alive?

Oil prices drop after Saudi supply statement

Alexander BesantMarch 20, 2012 17:59

Saudi Arabia aimed at calming oil markets Tuesday by saying that oil supplies are in excess of demand.