People swarm into Xinjiang to look for Khotan Jade_Society—China Economic Net

People swarm into Xinjiang to look for Khotan Jade_Society—China Economic Net: "Since Khotan jade was appraised as the national jade in 1999, its price has increased substantially. In Yulong Kashi River region, local people say that in the jade exploitation fever, hundreds of people earn a fortune of one million yuan a year and dozens of people even 10 million yuan a year."

BBC SPORT | Athletics | Peak performance

BBC SPORT | Athletics | Peak performance: "Ten minutes before the leader is due home in the world's toughest marathon, a small army of locals are chipping away with axes at the ice on the path metres from the finish. Once that potential hazard is removed, another more awkward obstacle presents itself. A herd of yaks is inching its way up the same narrow, uneven street in Namche Bazaar, the commercial capital of the Sherpa community in Nepal. The doughty creatures are unmoved by the kerfuffle surrounding them as they move slowly upwards with their supplies of rice, soybean oil and San Miguel beer. Welcome to the Everest Marathon, which was run this week (Wednesday) for the 12th time since its inception in 1987."

China supplies military trucks to Burma

China supplies military trucks to Burma: "December 6, 2007 - Several military trucks are believed to have been supplied to the Burmese junta by China. They were seen arriving on the Sino-Burmese border town of Ruili this morning, a local eyewitness said. The light weight medium FAW trucks, manufactured by Chinese owned Tongfeng Company, were seen lining up at Ruili town, a Burmese who works at the car servicing centre told Mizzima. ...A source close to the Chinese authorities told Mizzima that about 400 military trucks will be sent to Burma as the first batch and more are expected to be sent later. He also added that the Chinese authorities in early November sent six rocket carriers trucks through the Kyegaung-Muse Road."

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide: "Lenders must put aside 14.5 percent of deposits as reserves, starting Dec. 25, up from the previous 13.5 percent, the People's Bank of China said today on its Web site. The ratio is the highest since at least 1987 when the data began and the increase is twice as much as the nine others this year."