Shanghaiist

38-year-old self-proclaimed virgin creates website to stop youngsters from having sex

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-13T08:00:42+07:00

A 38-year-old single woman has created a firestorm of controversy on the internet after setting up a "virginity website" to get young people to abstain from sex before marriage. Saladin Xu of Shanghai Daily writes:

The woman, Tu Shiyou, a Hubei Province freelancer who calls herself "Virgin Goddess" online, spent 1,000 yuan (US$158) to set up her "virginity website" because she believed that "some young people's sexual attitudes are distorted." [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Last Friday's Kim Jong-un assassination rumours

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-13T06:30:18+07:00

Last Friday, rumours that Kim Jong-un was assassinated at the Beijing embassy began on Weibo, hopped over to Twitter, then went around the world. The "Great Successor", as it turns out, is still alive and kicking, and the rumours were actually sparked by his daddy's 70th birthday celebrations (even though he's pickled kimchi now). [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Cold snap wreaks havoc in China

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-13T05:00:56+07:00

A severe cold snap in China caused more than 20 car accidents and at least six injuries. Meanwhile, many people in rural China are facing sub-zero temperatures as another cold snap gets ready to hit the country. [AP] [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Why Starbucks has succeeded in China where others have failed

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-13T03:00:27+07:00

Lots of people were sceptical when Starbucks announced its plan to enter the Chinese market years ago. Starbucks would flop because China is a nation of tea-, not coffee-drinkers, so the reasoning went. 14 years on, nobody is laughing. Shaun Rein writes on CNBC [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Today's Links: Teenage Tibetan self-immolation, Tehran nukes talk and a ‘trust deficit' with China

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-13T01:00:46+07:00

A few links to start off your day: Teenage Tibetan self-immolation, Tehran nukes talk and a ‘trust deficit' with China [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Singapore FM K. Shanmugam: Beijing appreciates Singapore's stance on US-China relations

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-11T23:50:11+07:00

In remarks made by Singapore's K Shanmugam on the conclusion of his back-to-back introductory visits as foreign minister to the United States and China, he noted that comments he made on the US-China relationship during his visit to Washington were warmly welcomed in Beijing. [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Canadian PM Stephen Harper meets Bo Xilai, concludes five-day China visit

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-11T22:23:20+07:00

Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper has ended his five-day visit to China with a one-hour meeting Saturday evening with Bo Xilai, the embattled Communist Party chief of Chongqing who is now facing a serious setback in his ascent to the Politburo with the disappearance of his erstwhile right-man, former police chief Wang Lijun. [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

US to launch new interview waiver pilot program

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-10T22:15:19+07:00

US ambassador to China Gary Locke has announced a new interview waiver pilot program that is expected to make it easier for Chinese nationals to visit the United States. Under the new program, consular officers will have the power to waive interviews for some qualified non-immigrant applicants who are renewing their visa within 48 months of expiration of their previously held visa. [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Australia's casinos betting big on Chinese gamblers

Shanghaiist — 2012-02-10T21:15:02+07:00

Chinese high rollers have transformed Macau and Singapore into two of the world's top gambling destinations. Now, Australia wants a slice of that market too. Peter Gotting of Australia Network News reports. [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

CPJ: Over half of imprisoned journalists in China ethnic Tibetan or Uyghur

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-10T19:15:31+07:00

More than half of the 27 journalists imprisoned in China are ethnic Tibetan or Uyghur, says the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) in a report posted on its website. [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Report: Chinese middle class to reach 40% of the population by 2020

Shanghaiist — 2012-02-10T18:15:49+07:00

China's middle class is projected to reach 40% of the population in 2020, twice the proportion at the turn of the century, according to the International City Development Report released jointly by the Social Sciences Academic Press and Shanghai Academy of Social Science [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Jubilation and relief! Shanghai to extend visas for expats

Fan Huang — 2012-02-10T17:15:50+07:00

Huzzah, more good news for expats working in Shanghai! The local authorities are currently working on new policies to grant longer valid visas for foreign nationals working for multinational corporations. [ more › ] ]]>

Chongqing media do an about-face on Bo Xilai

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-10T16:15:50+07:00

After featuring the political calligraphy of Bo Xilai prominently on its front page for two consecutive days on Feb 8 and Feb 9, Chongqing Daily appears to have done an about-face in its treatment of the municipal Communist Party chief. Today, it was Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan that occupied much of the paper's front page. [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist

Around Shanghai: Coin thieves, deadly scooters, more bouncing eggs, and 21.27 million kilowatts of power

Jessica Colwell — 2012-02-10T11:45:00+07:00

Yuyuan coin thieves, rubber egg yolks, Disneyland rides, endangered animal trackers, and peak power usage. Here's what happening around Shanghai: [ more › ]

Three jailed for criticising Jiang Zemin

Kenneth Tan — 2012-02-10T06:30:14+07:00

Three men were handed jail sentences for up to a decade in a secret trial last year for "inciting subversion of state power" through their criticisms of former president Jiang Zemin. The details of the trial have only now emerged through a Hong Kong-based rights organisation, writes Will Clem of the South China Morning Post: [ more › ] ]]> Follow @shanghaiist