That's right. It's now official. The ban on foreigners with HIV/AIDS from entering the country has now been lifted just in time for the Shanghai Expo, and the move has already been applauded by UNAIDS and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. Maybe we'll get to see Robert Dessaix for next year's Shanghai International Literary Festival? more ›

As reported on Monday, renowned Australian author Robert Dessaix was denied a Chinese Visa to enter the country on the alleged grounds that he is HIV-positive…and, consequently, people are pissed. more ›

Though I was more than happy to hear that Paul French would once again get a chance to talk about Shanghai's sordid past (and that, despite the amount of time he had to prepare for it, it was "very entertaining") , it was disheartening to learn why Robert Dessaix, the author French subbed for at the Shanghai International Literary Festival this weekend, couldn't come - because somebody in the visa office didn't like how Dessaix was HIV-positive. more ›