After years of tense negotiations between China and France, two giant pandas landed in Paris on Sunday. The bears have been loaned to Beauval zoo in the Loire region for ten years as part of China's "panda diplomacy".
First, Beijing tells America and Europe to gets its fiscal houses in order and end their addiction to credit. Next, China's high-speed rail ambition grinds to a halt following a deadly accident. Finally, we visit one Chinese island that takes those with a taste for the high-life a step beyond paradise.
Kenyan Olympic marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru died after leaping off the balcony at his Rift Valley home in Nyahururu late Sunday. Wanjiru, 24, became the first Kenyan to win gold in the marathon after competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Chinese government has a new target in sight: luxury advertising. As of April 15th, no outdoor advertisements in Beijing will be allowed to portray either extravagant or opulent lifestyles, and companies breaking the law will have to pay a fine of €3,000. The government seems concerned that luxury advertising highlights the increasing gap between rich and poor.
North Korea's Parliament is set to convene on April 7th, and experts believe it will nominate Kim Jong-il's son, Kim Jong-un, as Vice-president of the Nation Defence Commission, the country's top political body. China is following proceedings closely, and is hoping for a seamless transition; any problems with its northern neighbour could have major economic and humanitarian consequences for Beijing.
China's capital Beijing opened five new subway lines Thursday, in a strategic move to use urban planning as a way to demonstrate the city's commitment to curbing its infamous problems with air pollution and gridlocked streets.
About a decade ago, China's leaders came up with a simple slogan to spur their companies' expansion abroad: "Go Out". As 2010 draws to a close, barely a day goes by without some headline about "China buying up this", or "China taking over that". So if 2010 was a banner year for China - will 2011 prove even brighter?
In today’s international press review, we look at the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The press wonders of the new construction system in New Orleans will hold future hurricanes.
In other news: Pakistan hit by a cricket scandal and the Beijing Opera under threat.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy begins a three-day state visit to China this Wednesday, which he hopes will reset the balance in his sometimes difficult relationship with Beijing.
Barack Obama had been criticized for putting realpolitik ahead of human rights in his dealings with Beijing. But now the US president says he'll meet the Dalai Lama - to China's evident anger. This is after the arms deal row and Google controversy. What is happening with US policy on China?
