A year ago today China joined a small group of countries that ban or limit the use of plastic shopping bags. The law says shopkeepers must charge for such bags - or face a fine of up to $1,500.
The aim is to reduce so called “white-pollution” - an eyesore in many parts of the country.

And, in urban areas at least, the ban seems to have been successful. A survey carried out by the China Chain Store and Franchise Association found that supermarkets have used around 40 billion fewer bags since last June…

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China's known as 'the factory of the world', partly because its low wage economy is attractive to manufacturers.

But as the country's wealth grows, so do the demands of its workers.

Andrew Livingstone reports on one province attempting to placate its low wage earners by regulating wage agreements with workers and their companies.

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