A World Bank study shows that up to 100,000 people form Vietnam and China are playing online games in order to collect gold and other items for sale to Western players.

Hong Kong’s Minmetals Resources is planning to purchase Equinox Minerals Limited, already having offered 6.5 billion dollars for the deal, in an attempt to gain control of its copper assets in Zambia and Saudi Arabia as it plans to expand its business in this specific metal. Minmetals Resources is a subsidiary of China Minmetals Corporation, the largest Chinese metals and mineral trading company.

Amidst concerns and pain caused by the earthquake-tsunami disaster and the radioactive leaks, Japan has officially entered the season of the blooming cherry trees, a period of the year when the country organizes related festivals that have annually attracted thousands of visitors. However, being given the circumstances, the state’s tourist industry is facing a severe challenge, with travellers being reluctant to visit a country coping with death, destruction and now the dangers of radiation.

Many consider that becoming a writer is a way of fulfilling one’s wish to become famous. British thriller author John Le Carre proves this is not the case for everybody by having asked judges to eliminate his name from the Man Booker International Prize shortlist. The reason behind his gesture was that he didn’t want to take part and, although admitting he felt “enormously flattered”, he said: “I do not compete for literary prizes.”

Just as any of the previous recessions have affected world economies at several levels, the present one is not making an exception. Therefore, it started with the food industry, where negative circumstances such as heat in Russia and floods in China and Australia have led to an increase of prices. Then oil-based products like fuel have follow suit with prices going higher because of factors like the uprisings in Libya.

Oil industry registered a new drop in crude prices after Libyan rebels have regained control over chief oil towns in the east of the country, including Brega, the main oil-export terminal and the refinery at Ras Lanuf.

A poll conducted for BBC World Service reveals that, amidst these tribulations, China is emerging as an increasingly economic power. The ascension has taken place swiftly, becoming undeniably evident and, what is alarming for some financial leaders, hard to equal.

The radiation crisis started by Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant is now affecting the country’s exports, as importers fear they might be buying irradiated products, especially when it comes to vegetables and fruit.

China is very confident in its economic growth, according to Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s address to the annual parliamentary session on Saturday. The Premier believes that the country’s economy will grow consistently over the next five years, but inflation threatens social stability and must be tamed, while this year’s priority remains curbing price rises that are hurting ordinary people.

WeatherBill is a weather insurance start-up founded by ex-Google employees David Friedberg and Siraj Khaliq and consists of a team of software engineers and climatologists who collate weather data from various sources.