Taiwanese tycoon to pledge billions to charity: report (Jul 25)
(TAIPEI) The head of Taiwan's leading hi-tech company has lodged his own bid for Bill Gates-style tycoon philanthropy by pledging to donate billions of dollars to charity, according to reports yesterday.


Investment out of China doubles in H1 (Jul 25)
(BEIJING) China's overseas investment more than doubled in the first half of 2008, the government said yesterday, as the energy-hungry nation sought to secure resources globally to fuel its economic boom.


China’s economy slows in second quarter (Financial Times) (Jul 24)
China’s growth rate slowed again in the second quarter of the year due to weaker export markets and restrictions on lending, although the economy is still expanding at double-digit rates in the face of a global slowdown.


CWS emergency appeal update: 2008 China earthquake (Jul 24)
Source: Church World Service


Chinese hold positive despite many worries: U.S. survey (Jul 24)
Most people in China are concerned about rising prices, unemployment and labor conditions but have a positive view of the way things are going in their country, a U.S. poll showed Tuesday.


Beijing to set up protest zones during the Olympics near some venues (Jul 24)
Beijing will set up specially designated zones for protesters during next month's Olympics, a security official said Wednesday, in a sign China's authoritarian government may allow some demonstrations during the games.


GLOBAL ECONOMY-US, Europe and Japan all see further weakness (Jul 24)
* Biggest fall in German business confidence since 9/11


Business Visa Ban in 5 Chinese Cities: Just in Time for Christmas (Jul 24)
For those of you who were alseep last year, there was an issue related to quality control and product safety that rocked US consumers and gave everyone at CNN something to talk about. My position at the time was that it was firms like Mattel and FTS tire Import who were to blame for not investing [...]


Chinese sofas fight back (Jul 24)
When Chinese exports are discussed the issue of quality is never far behind.

Thousands injured by 'toxic gas from Chinese sofas' [Times]

Thousands of people who suffered severe allergic reactions after sitting on their sofas were victims of a toxic gas emitted by an anti-mould agent, a study has concluded.

Hospitals across northern Europe have treated thousands of patients with symptoms which appeared to range from skin cancer and chemical burns to severe eczema.

The British cases have been linked to an estimated 100,000 sofas sold by Argos, World of Leather and Walmsley Furnishing manufactured in China by a company called Linkwise.