Hong Kong - A prominent retired businessman appeared in court Tuesday, accused of taking bribes of more than 50,000 US dollars for helping people join Hong Kong's prestigious Jockey Club.

John Hung, 70, a former executive director of Wharf Holdings and managing director of a property company, allegedly accepted the money in return for proposing applicants for full membership.

He is accused of soliciting a loan of more than 25,000 US dollars and accepting two other loans of 12,500 US dollars in return for helping would-be members.

Taipei- A Taiwan man set himself on fire Tuesday to protest President Ma Ying-jeou's moves to improve ties with China.

The man doused himself with petrol and set himself on fire at Liberty Square, where hundreds of students were staging a sit-in against a police crackdown on demonstrators during last week's visit by Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin.

Addiction of internet among youngsters has become a matter of concern for Chinese government. According to statistics, China has the world's largest online population at 253 million people. 

A top Chinese legislator said that about 10 percent of China's Web users under the age of 18, or four million people, were addicted to the Internet, mainly to "unhealthy" online games. 

Meerut (U. P.), Nov 10 : Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Monday asked the media to be honest, objective and impartial in their reporting.

Addressing a gathering in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh on today Dalai Lama said that media is the eye of the society and they should point out the mistakes in the society without being biased and unfair.

Shanghai - Roger Federer lived through a second opening-match loss in a shaky start on Monday at the Masters Cup as the top seed went down to Gilles Simon 4-6, 
6-4, 6-3.

The Red group upset was the second in three months for the unheralded Frenchman who only got into the elite field when Rafael Nadal withdrew with a knee injury.

Andy Murray joined his fellow year-end newcomer with a victory, taking down former number one Andy Roddick 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.

Berlin - China called Monday on the US to step up moves aimed at dealing with the consequences of the world financial crisis.

"We need help from everyone to cope with the financial crisis," said Chinese Trade Minister Chen Deming in Berlin following a meeting with German Economics and Technology Minister Michael Glos.

But Chen called on the US to take more action to deal with the crisis that was triggered by a meltdown in the US mortgage market with the Chinese Trade Minister saying every nation needed to implement its own measures.