midweek: our football-mad premier

Premier Wen Jiabao meets Angela Merkel and they hit it off solidly: we mentioned the morning walk in these pages yesterday, now China Daily has pictures of the two taking in some exercise at the Beijing Changpu Park. The hot topic of discussion between the two is not the maglev rail line, but the upcoming football World Cup; Wen claims he will stay up to watch the matches. Also note the really cute picture that the China Daily carries.

Meanwhile the Liaoning Province government promises help to unemployed families, possibly to try and stop them from making a living out of selling human bodies.

The Times in London carries the story of a copper trader who vanishes after losing the government US$300 million. Well, at least he won't be escaping to Hong Kong via our heavenly city of Shenzhen.

And a Reuters article describes how religion and politics mix awkwardly for China's Muslims.

In more important news, actress Gong Li tops a Chinese beauty list compiled by the Beijing News. The obvious transsexual Li Yuchun comes in second, shockingly.

Finally: where in China can you see a giant pink penis?