News stories by Antonaeta Becker

When China designed the 2010 Universal Expo in Shanghai as a showcase for its new public diplomacy, it probably did not envision the exhibition will play a much bigger role as a magnet for recession-hit European businesses.

A massive barter deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo trumpeted by China as a showcase of its 'win-win' strategy in Africa has been hit by charges of corruption, a court case, and a barrage of western criticism. The surprise onslaught is causing Beijing to suspect a plot to undercut its expanding presence in the resource-rich continent.

The black, curvy London cab is so much more than a just taxi. It is an icon without which the picture of London can never be complete.