This week, three executives belonging to the Shanghai Panda Dairy Co. are to go on trial for selling melamine tainted dairy products. Melamine, is an industrial chemical that can cause organ failure and was added to the watered-down milk with the intention of fooling inspectors testing for protein content, as well as, for increasing profits.

The milk formula was produced at the San Lu dairy factory in which Fonterra holds a 43% stake.

The American Lung Association (ALA) has given Illinois a tobacco related report card, which is a combination of some good and some bad grades, ranging from A to F in four categories.

The state has failed in Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending, with Illinois’ tobacco control programme funding allotted only $9 million dollars for Fiscal Year 2010, as opposed to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) recommending $157 million.

In what can be viewed as an official openness towards AIDS, China’s state media, Xinhua news agency reports a top state-run radio network is set to launch a weekly programme called ‘Positive Talks’ on AIDS, featuring a HIV positive host.

Beginning 16th January, the programme will air every Saturday on China National Radio. According to Yang Wenyan, Chief Editor of the radio station, the programme is exclusively for increasing public knowledge about HIV / AIDS, including how to prevent and control the disease.

Scientists in Singapore and China have identified 7-genes, namely CCDC122, C13orf31, NOD2, TNFSF15, HLA-DR, RIPK2 and LRRK2, associated with increased susceptibility to leprosy, after analyzing over 10,000-DNA samples of both leprosy patients and healthy people in China. They believe their discovery highlights the important role played by the innate immune response in the development of leprosy.

With the passing of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act in 2008, putting more protections in place, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says, holiday shoppers this year can purchase toys, confident in the safety of the products.

Entering into a partnership with China Life Insurance Co., AMP Ltd., Australia's biggest provider of pension plans, will cooperate with China's biggest insurer in areas like asset management and pensions.

The agreement offers AMP significant potential for expanding its business in what is considered to be the world's fastest-growing economy.

About a week before the arrival of President Barack Obama to China for the first time, the U.S. has forced preliminary duties on the oil pipes which are being imported from China.

After a day of that announcement, the Ministry of Commerce in China has announced that it was starting an anti - dumping investigation into American cars as the tension amidst the countries increase.

Rafael Nadal broke five times as he struggled before finally controlling James Blake in a battling 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 win into the quarter-finals of the China Open Thursday.

Nadal was tested by the American who was once a regular member of the Top 10 before a slide this season which has left him on 24th with only a pair of losing finals to show for his 2009 efforts.

Nadal levelled at three wins each in the series, having begun turning the tables after standing 0-3 in 2006.