Strengthened ties to boost exchanges

Chengdu, the capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan province, expects more cultural and economic exchanges with Latin American countries amid the strengthening ties between China and the region.

'Why I want an arranged marriage'

"I'm engaged," she shouted down the phone. Here I was, first year at university, sitting on a dirty wall outside my apartment, being told by my best friend that at the age of 19, she was engaged. I was expecting this call because my friend was always considered more traditional than the rest of my group of three Muslim girlfriends - but it surprised me how soon it came.

Do we really need sex museums?

A popular erotic exhibition from New York's Museum of Sex is due to transfer to London. Dr Brooke Magnanti argues why such spaces, as 'fun' as they may be, are wholly unnecessary.

UK's vampire 'subculture' numbers nearly 15,000, says university lecturer

Dr Emyr Williams, who works at Glyndwr University, in Wrexham, calls real vampires a 'global phenomenon'.

Japanese carmakers still facing uphill task

The market share for Japanese carmakers in China has recovered slightly from the low point it hit two years ago in the wake of a diplomatic row.

New Benz 'menu' for transparent service pricing

Mercedes-Benz is putting heavy efforts to improve its customer satisfaction in China by introducing a program it calls the "Star Maintenance Menu" designed to reduce service costs on major models.

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Report: 'New' economies to boost global auto sales

Emerging economies, especially China, will be the largest market for light vehicles in the next five to 10 years, according to a report from IHS Automotive Consulting.

With new SUV delayed, Great Wall sales tumble

Great Wall Motors saw its sales in the first six months fall 6 percent year-on-year, but some believe its prospects will brighten later this year.

BMW plugs in comprehensive e-mobility plan

As it rolls out a solution to help Chinese customers get closer to green mobility, BMW says owning an electric car is not as difficult as people think.

Innovation to keep carmakers ticking

As China's economy enters an era of low growth, the backbone automobile industry will face the new challenges after several years of surging market demand.

BMW caravan in colorful Guizhou

The Chinese name BMW uses translates as "precious horse" while the province of Guizhou literally means "precious state".