A 38-year-old South African woman by the name of Janice Bronwyn Linden (pictured right) has been executed more than three years after she was arrested for being found with 3kg of methamphetamine upon her arrival in the Guangzhou airport. Her death sentence was carried out by lethal injection (and witnessed by her own family members) just days after a Filipino was executed for a similar crime, sparking protests in the city of Manila. more ›

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The gumboot dancers from Kliptown, South Africa are back in Shanghai this weekend raising money for the Kliptown Youth Program. After an incredibly successful event last year, Cocktails for Kliptown is coming back to Cotton's tomorrow for an evening of dance, drinks, barbecue, and a dinner date auction! Come out and support a community program benefiting youth in one of South Africa's poorest townships. more ›

The Kliptown Youth Program gumboot dancers from South Africa are returning to China this year after an amazingly successful first tour last October. They've expanded their numbers and scope in anticipation of this year's schedule, and will be performing at multiple events in Shanghai and Bejing in the coming weeks. We absolutely insist you try to make it out in support of them wherever possible. Not only will you be supporting disadvantaged youth from a struggling township, but going by last year, you're guaranteed plenty of rhythm, dance, and fun. more ›

"We don't have a reaction. He's cancelled his trip and that's it. We have not said no. We've not refused him a visa; the visa was still being processed. It's only on 20 September that he submitted his full paperwork. In some countries a visa can take two months. I don't know why people are criticizing the government." more ›

In South Africa, where the HIV incidence rate is well over 10% of the population, condoms are such a weighty matter that the courts will step in if they think you're bringing in substandard condoms. more ›

Using one of the first info-gathering strategies taught in journalism schools, Graeme Smith of The Globe and Mail discovered documents hiding in a pile of street trash in the Bab Akkarah neighborhood of Tripoli, which allegedly detail China's recent offer to sell arms to Col. Gaddhafi, in violation of UN sanctions. more ›

If energetic dance, vibrant rhythms and supporting an organization that brings positive change to disadvantaged youth are your thing, then head to Cotton's Xinhua branch tomorrow night for a gumboot dance performance to be remembered. more ›

“领导，辛苦了！" more ›

Jonathan Watts, the China correspondent for The Guardian, has recently put in his year so far article about the internet here. It covers a lot of familiar ground and quotes Zonaeuropa and Danwei.org, among others, as sources. One of the most quoted facts in these kinds of articles is the world’s most read blog being “Lao Xu”. Lao Xu is the Sina.com blog of actress/writer/director Xu Jing Lei 徐静雷. more ›

A South China tiger has been born in a South African wildlife reserve in South Africa, the first to be born outside China, raising hopes that the species can be saved from extinction. Only about 90 South China tigers are left in the world today. More from Sydney Morning Herald. more ›

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China(ICBC), the world’s largest bank by market capitalization, is buying 20 percent of South Africa’s Standard Bank Group Ltd. Standard Bank is based in Johannesburg and has branches in 18 African nations. The USD $5.5 billion price tag marks the most expensive overseas investment by a Chinese firm to date. Earlier in the week, CITIC Securities, also a state owned company, swapped USD $1 billion worth of equities with Bear Stearns. Both tie-ups are just the latest examples of corporate China’s aggressive international merger and acquisition binge, started back in 2004 when Lenovo bought IBM’s PC business. more ›

Planning an October holiday escape? Need some fresh air? How does Norway sound? The European Arctic. That should be far enough from the pull of Shanghai's pollution, right? Wrong. These days, there's no escaping China's chief export: Crappy air. more ›

In light of this week's national holiday, here are some transportation stories for your enjoyment: Shanghai to host 4.4 million tourists during the May Day holidays: That is five percent more than last year. Yay. Avoid People's Square and other hot spots these week.China May Day spells nightmare: This AP story claims that the Chinese government is looking to develop "a new system of staggered holidays" to ease the burden on the nation's transportation systems.... more ›

My, my ... aren’t we a romantic bunch here in Shanghai. After much excitement about the auction of the most precious natural diamond in the city’s auction history, the 19.305-carat stone failed to attract a single bid during an auction on Monday. more ›

For those who think that The Bund is a one-trick pony of drinks and fine dining, it might be worth taking a quiet stroll inside the newly renovated Shanghai Municipal Archives for a taste of something different. more ›

When you think "China", what's the first word that comes into your head? "Surf," obviously. more ›