Hot links - mega buildings, corporate renamings and dangerous kitchens!

Global Times China Publicly burns 5.2 million pirated DVD's and Books.

China's anti-piracy authorities organized public burnings of 5.2 million pirated books and compact discs Monday in several localities across China. The items were incinerated in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as Shanxi, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Sichuan provinces. As of December 31, 650,000 law enforcement personnel had been dispatched to examine producers and sellers of books, software and video products. Buy up, buy up fast!

Global Times 1 billion-euro 7 star hotel in Burj Dubai style for Beijing

Beijing's Mentougou district in the western part of the capital announced at a press conference Wednesday that it plans to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to build a seven-star hotel. Its design will reportedly be similar to that of the Burj Dubai tower, the world's tallest building, in the United Arab Emirates. Good luck seeing through the pollution.

Xinhua News A second airport for Beijing

Construction is to begin on a second airport in Beijing sometime this year. The Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) is currently the world's second largest airport by passenger traffic with 73 million people traveling in and out of it, nearing its maximum possible output of 76 million people. Curiously though, many people will have noticed an entire portion of Terminal 3 seemingly closed as they use the intra-terminal train.

Webwire.com Beijing's iconic Wukesong arena named Mastercard arena

Beijing's Wukesong arena, famous for hosting the basketball during the Olympics is to be renamed the Mastercard arena. It is the first 2008 Olympic Games venue to be re-branded commercially, the first arena in Beijing to be renamed in such a way. It's grand 'opening' will be held on January 21 with Cantonese singing sensation Jacky Cheung performing. The Eagles are slated to perform there later this year.

Shanghaiist Formaldehyde in China

It appears that Chinese kitchens are posing a small cancer concern amongst children. In a study of 30 children with leukemia, it was discovered that 15 came from homes with furniture or decor with excessive formaldehyde discharge. The suggested link between formaldehyde and cancer is nothing new. It has been proven to cause certain kinds of nasal cancer and has been found in multiple studies to be linked with leukemia. So think twice before you think about renovating your kitchen.

Global Times Subway drags passenger caught by sleeve

More compelling evidence to the nightmare of traveling on Line 1. A Beijing Subway Line 1 operator confirmed on Tuesday that a man was pulled by a train after his sleeve became caught in the door. The passenger, estimated to be around 40 years old, had to run backwards with his sleeve clamped in the door, while no one in the subway car remembered to press the emergency stop button located beside the door. Fantastic support from fellow Beijingers.