Video footage shows that entertainer Makiyo joined her Japanese friend in assaulting a taxi driver, local TV news reports alleged yesterday.

The former top cop of a major Chinese city has dropped from sight amid unconfirmed reports he is seeking U.S. asylum following a quarrel with one of China's most powerful local politicians.

Chongqing Deputy Mayor Wang Lijun's (王立軍) suspected effort to seek asylum in the United States consulate in Chengdu, Sichuan, and his apparent arrest by Beijing security is an embarrassment to Beijing and reveals a power struggle ahead of a decisive Communist Party of China (CPC) congress later this year, Chinese scholars said yesterday.

Independent labs found pesticides on 43 of 58 types of supermarket produce, according to a Greenpeace report released yesterday. Of these 43, eleven contained illegal pesticides.

A crucial meeting between Greece's Prime Minister and debt inspectors on averting default and a possible exit from the euro ended early Thursday with no definite results.

German exports topped 1 trillion euros for the first time in 2011, but fell at year-end as the eurozone debt crisis hit demand for goods made in Germany, official data showed on Wednesday.

For six days several police authorities ignored video footage offered by a key witness showing entertainer Makiyo joining her Japanese friend attacking a taxi driver, local media reported yesterday, calling the officers' inaction a serious mistake that has delayed investigations.

With Europe sliding toward recession, the region's two main central banks are preparing to redouble their emergency measures aimed at softening the downturn and blunting the effects of the government debt crisis.

The auction of portions of the 85 Building in Kaohsiung City and a land parcel in the region again ended in failure yesterday, as the sole bidder made offers that were lower than the properties' base prices.

Taiwan's biggest wholesale business Carrefour announced that it would remove all American beef products in its 63 branches across the island until the products are legally certified to be free of ractopamine, yesterday morning.