Windy Chicago beckons with its spring blossoms and sun

Ask any Midwesterner, and they will tell you to hurriedly pack your bags - the season to visit Chicago is nigh.

City of wonder

It was 5:30 am and pitch black, except for the small circles of light that danced along the floor. From the darkness came a cacophony of excited chatter. "Shhh," I heard someone say. And then it started.

What to know

Money: The riel is the official currency of Cambodia, but US dollars are more commonly used by businesses, even in the markets. Riel is generally used for only small purchases. ATMs accept most bankcards, including Union Pay. Check your change, though, as stores and restaurants will not accept notes that are even slightly ripped, nor can you use $2 notes.

Look at the tuk-tuks

For a tuk-tuk driver in Siem Reap, it's important to stand out. Competition can be fierce, particularly in the central Old Market area, where they line the streets day and night touting for business.

At a glance

The small circuit: Sunrise at Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom South Gate, Baylon, Baopuon, Royal Palace, Elephants Terrace, Leper King Terrace, Thommanon, Spean Thma, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm and Banteay Kdei.

Duties on rare earth exports to be ended

Move expected to stimulate shipments of minerals crucial to the technology sector

Mercedes-Benz fined $56.5m for price fixing

Mercedes-Benz, a division of the German automobile manufacturer Daimler AG has been fined 350 million yuan ($56.5 million) for price fixing, the Jiangsu Provincial Price Bureau announced on Wednesday.

Factory gauge drops to new low

A Chinese manufacturing gauge fell to a 12-month low in April, suggesting government efforts to cushion a slowdown are yet to revive the nation's factories.

China looks to top the bill in Hollywood productions

LA moguls are looking longingly East as the mainland becomes a hefty box-office market, reports Xie Yu in Hong Kong.

Tough nuts to crack

As US film producers and Chinese investors continue to snuggle up to each other, industry insiders said making money from these potential marriages is harder than many think.

What's news

Governments and policies

Quotes of the day