Commodity imports stall in February

China’s imports of many major commodities all but dried up in February as a national holiday, abundant stockpiles and rising prices combined to discourage shipments, data from China’s Customs office showed on Monday.

Man jailed for spreading radiation rumors

Police in eastern China have jailed a man for 10 days and fined him 500 yuan ($76.13) for spreading rumors online that a blast at a quake-damaged Japanese nuclear plant had contaminated Chinese waters, state media said.

Fans mourn Knut’s death at Berlin zoo

Hundreds of fans of Knut the polar bear flocked to his zoo enclosure Sunday to mourn the sudden death of the celebrity who burst into the limelight as a cuddly, fluffy cub hand-fed by his keeper.

US: High-tech apps help drivers evade police

Drivers looking to avoid pricey citations for traffic offenses such as red-light camera violations and speed-trap busts are turning to technology to level the playing field.

Obama Takes Hard Line With Libya After Shift by Clinton

In a Paris hotel room on Monday night, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton found herself juggling the inconsistencies of American foreign policy in a turbulent Middle East.

US claims Libya bombing success

The US has claimed initial success two days into an assault on Libya that included some of the heaviest firepower in the American arsenal – long-range bombers designed for the Cold War.

Why China is cutting exports crucial to Western technologies

The key to hundreds of modern technologies, from iPhones to smart-bombs, lies in the little-known rare earth metals, 95 per cent of which are mined by China. Its decision to slash exports has left the West scrabbling for alternative supplies.

Chinese nuke plant safer than Fukushima

Experts have said that China’s Daya Bay nuclear plant (built in the 1990s) is safer than the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan (1971), as it is newer and has been built considering the International Atomic Energy Agency’s new standard, in terms of location, reactor type and structure.

Chinese seek refunds as salt panic subsides

Chinese consumers caught up in panic salt buying in the mistaken belief it would protect against radiation from Japan’s nuclear crisis are finding stores are refusing to refund their hoards of salt.

Japan would accept U.S. help in nuclear crisis

Japan’s top government spokesman said Tokyo is willing to accept U.S. help in dealing with the country’s nuclear crisis, and is discussing the matter with Washington.