• Movie star's $46,000 'muscles' spark heated debate online

  People & Stories |

  While female movie-goers are blown away by the muscular tough guy in a current big-screen hit, it turns out that the muscles and scars they saw are all fake latex make-up, reported thepaper.cn.

• Social taboo still a worrisome factor curbing sperm donation

  Issues to Talk About |

  Though sperm donation is gaining ground in China, fears about potential incest and other social taboos are keeping many potential donors away from the clinics, say experts.

• Gay men ask court for right to marry

  People & Stories |

  A court in Central China's Hunan province has accepted a case of two homosexuals who sued the government agency for not allowing them to register their marriage.

• City urged to promptly sound smog alerts

  Useful Info |

  Visitors play on an ice rink in Shichahai, Beijing, on Monday, when the city enjoyed blue skies and good air.

• More high-speed services to be added in 2016

  Issues to Talk About |

  A high-speed train arrives in Yantai, Shandong province. China Railway Corp has announced a new railway plan, promising to add 571 new services nationwide.

• Watchdog issues rare comment on execs' porn prosecution

  Issues to Talk About |

  China's Internet watchdog has taken the rare step of commenting on an ongoing court case by issuing a statement about a controversial online pornography trial.

• Air quality improves in 2015 despite smog: minister

  Issues to Talk About |

  BEIJING -- China's air quality improved in 2015, despite the frequent winter smog covering the country's north and east, Minister of Environmental Protection Chen Jining said on Monday.

• Top court upholds record penalty of $26m for water pollution

  Issues to Talk About |

  The Supreme People's Court holds a public hearing over the environmental public interest case

• Tibetan Mastiffs: From Guard Dogs to Status Symbols to Hot Pot

  Issues to Talk About |

  Foreign Media: Chinese Anti-Corruption Campaign Continues, Once High-Priced Tibetan Mastiffs Now Being Used for Hot Pot.

• Expats take advantage of loosened visa policy

  Useful Info |

  he Shanghai municipal government has handed out significantly more permanent residence permits to expats since loosening its visa policies in July.