Taiwan's Fluorescent Fish
Beached Worms
Snake On The Loose
Mao's Firework Portrait
Munch With Maradona
Drying Grain Poses Danger

Now the story of a young man whose gambling debts led to a spectacular crime.

Gambling is illegal in China; but underground betting - on everything soccer matches in Europe to the outcome of a game of cards or the traditional Chinese game, mahjong, is widespread.

And  for those who lose out, the pressure to repay debts can be intense, as BON's Andrew Livingstone reports.

Front Page
Bribery On The Rise
China's Middle Class
Taobao Threatens To Close
Crayfish Cleaner Worry
Radio Signals Blocked
New Words For Dictionary

Shortly after discovering a gas pedal problem which forced it to recall millions of vehicles for repairs, Japanese car giant, Toyota, is facing more trouble. The US government has opened a probe into brake problems with the Prius Hybrid - one of its most popular models. The beleaguered automaker said it was "too soon" to decide whether to add the hybrid to the millions of cars it has recalled.

To remedy the gas pedal problem engineers have developed and tested a solution that involves reinforcing the pedal assembly to eliminate the excess friction that caused the pedals to stick. In late January Toyota announced the recall of around 2.3 million vehicles equipped with a specific pedal assembly. It also suspended sales of the eight models involved.

Many in the West are critical of China's inroads into Africa, which they view with suspicion. But dissenting voices are emerging and foremost among them is Professor Deborah Brautigam, author of the book, The Dragon's Gift. BON's Tom Spender caught up with her in Beijing.