Today's Links: Forced prostitution, Chinese pirates and Shanghai property

• China tipped to be main driver the global economy this year [The Times]
  China will become the biggest driver of global economic activity this year for the first time, the International Monetary Fund said yesterday as it raised its already bullish forecasts for growth.


• China 'rejects Vatican call on bishops' [The Age]
  China rejects the Vatican's demand that it stop appointing bishops without papal approval but is willing to talk, a state newspaper said on Thursday, adding to uncertainty over Beijing's next bishop.


• More forced into prostitution, labor [China Daily]
  Forced labor and sexual exploitation have increased as the trend in human trafficking in China has taken a turn for the worst.


• Bite cases up as hot days turn dogs nasty [Shanghai Daily]
  Even man's best friend can get a bit snappy in Shanghai's summer heat, judging by the number of people with dog bites attending local hospitals.


• Potter's magic can't beat Chinese pirates [Reuters]
  Bootleg English-language copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", have been appearing on the streets of Beijing - testimony to local pirates' ability to churn out copies of any in-demand entertainment in the blink of an eye.


• Mexico says pseudoephedrine case signals breakdown in port security in US, China [IHT]
  Chinese and U.S. authorities are investigating whether a breakdown in security at their ports allowed an illegal shipment reportedly carrying more than 19 tons of a chemical intended for methamphetamine cartels to reach Mexico, the Mexican attorney general said Thursday.


• Shanghai party chief's downfall held up as warning [CNN]
  China condemned the former Communist chief of Shanghai for "totally betraying" party principles, state media reported on Friday, promising to make a public example of him ahead of a key congress later this year. Chen has been accused of abusing power to give cronies access to city social welfare funds, helping them illegally buy state-owned businesses and "dallying with women and trading power for sex", Xinhua reported.


• Shanghai property back in vogue [Wall Street Journal]
  A government clampdown on construction of luxury apartments is combining with loose enforcement of limits on property investment by foreigners to send Shanghai property prices sharply higher after two years of stagnancy.


• Ordering food in Beijing makes me nervous [CNN]
  CNN's John Vause says he's lost 10 pounds in recent weeks as reports of tainted food have come out in China.

Photo from caffeineguy: Shanghai property is back in vogue, according to the Wall Street Journal.