We knew Xiaomi's keen to bring its phones out of China and into the European market, but before taking that long-haul flight, the Chinese company is going to make a couple of stops in Asia.

ENGADGET: Xiaomi Phone 2 preps Hong Kong and Taiwan launch, seeks early local testers on Facebook

The taikonauts will remain in orbit for a few more days before returning to Earth, but the Chinese space program has not stated a definitive date as of this writing.

FORBES: China Completes First Manual Space Dock

The rise came to a halt in 2008 when the Chinese authorities sought to cushion exporters from the turbulence of global recession but resumed in 2010 just weeks before the House passed a bill (see chart).

ECONOMIST: Free trade and the yuan

"China-U.S. relations are much more mature than they were before, but the atmosphere is still strained, " said Jin, who frequently consults with leading Chinese diplomats.

NPR: Lew Visit Marks US-China Re-Engagement

The Chinese teenager made breaks of 111, 100 and 92 before the interval but the Welshman kept himself in touch by compiling runs of 82, 74 and 66 after the break.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Snooker | Big names book last-eight places

But Fortescue, which is part-owned by Chinese state mining firms, said the tax would hit profits before financing costs, leaving it less room to repay debts.

BBC: Australian miner Fortescue in tax plan threat