BEIJING – The widespread tendency in China for ugly, rich, old men to marry young, money-grubbing pretty women – called the “Viagra effect” – is undermining the country’s pension system.

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HOHHOT, Inner Mongolia – The tap water supply fully resumed service Monday night in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia with the addition of organic, herbal-infused flavoring, local officials said.

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HONG KONG – With casino mogul Stanley Ho, the father of Macau’s gambling industry, hospitalized in Hong Kong, some gamblers are betting 7-1in favor his recovery.

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With Shanghai host to China’s first-ever gay pride festival last week, gay rights activists celebrated 100 years of progress.

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Taipei – Taiwanese tourists who become infected with the H1N1 influenza while traveling in South Korea will receive NTD 100,000 (USD 3,050) each this summer.

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SINGAPORE - Several sources independently confirmed Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s heterosexuality Friday, putting an end to longstanding speculation that he is a closeted homosexual.

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TOKYO – Following complaints about invasion of privacy. Internet search engine Google said it would reshoot all Japanese pictures for its online photo map service, Street View, using lower camera angles.

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BEIJING – A rural Chinese county announced Monday it had reversed a rule urging its officials to smoke a certain number of local cigarettes to boost tax income. Instead, officials will be asked to purchase zentai suits from a local manufacturer.

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SHANGHAI – Clicking your fingers at a waiter has been voted the most egregious first date faux pas. The rude, attention-grabbing gesture beat drowning a dish in soya sauce before even tasting it and getting drunk at the table.

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SHANGHAI – The local sanitation watchdog said yesterday that it will start inspecting public bathhouses over 400 square meters and unrated hotels with private bathhouses more than 350 square meters late this month to rate their cleanliness.

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