There's a lot going on around Shanghai right now, so we've rounded up a few of the more interesting news highlights. Check out what's happening in your city.

Around Shanghai...

Statistics show synthetic drugs like Ecstasy are easily obtainable in Shanghai:
The average age of synthetic drug users (synthetic drugs are those drugs that are produced entirely in laboratories, such as methamphetamine) is lower than ever, according to arrest statistics from the Shanghai Municipal Anti-drug Office. These figures have led officials to conclude that synthetic drugs are much easier to get than those manufactured from naturally occurring substances like cocaine and opium. Methamphetamine, often called "ice," is one of the most expensive drugs on Shanghai's black market, but accounted for 83.8 percent of drug seizures this year.

A Cali pizza chain to open in Shanghai:
Though we remain cautiously optimistic when we hear of international eateries making the big move to China, this one seems like the real deal. Apparently, Amici's Pizza, a popular chain of California-based "East Coast Pizzarias" is set to open a location on Huai Hai Lu called "Ello Amici's". We hope this one is for real!

More than 20,000 People Sneak on to Shanghai Subway Every Day:
Ever run out of money on your metro card and simply duck under the turnstile rather than shelling out the extra kuai? Well apparently you (and I) are not alone. According to a report released by CCTV, more than 20,000 people sneak on to the Shanghai subway system without a ticket every day. Accordingly, officials are planning to fine passengers caught sneaking under turnstiles or using fake cards five times the ticket value.

Around China...

China overtakes World Bank as largest lender to developing world:
As the lender to go to for credit-poor governments, China's yuan is replacing World Bank dollars as the cash behind new roads, power stations, hospitals and other infrastructure. In 2010, the World Bank approved $11.4 billion in loans to some 36 African countries. China, meanwhile gave a single sum of reportedly almost $13 billion to a loan facility to Ghana.

Mysterious fluorescent meat found in Beijing:
Not that anyone is surprised by questionable meat in China at this point, but glow-in-the-dark pork is still pretty alarming. A man living in the Tongzhou District of Beijing reported earlier this week that a chunk of meat he’d purchased from his local vegetable market started glowing in the dark after he hung it up in his bedroom to keep it safe from the cat. (That’s right, folks. This is the kind of news you can only find here.)

Missing hospital patient found mummified in basement a year later:
In January 2010, an old man mysteriously disappeared from a Beijing hospital. Nearly one year later a hospital worker suddenly discovered the man's mummified remains hidden in the hospital's sub-basement. The husband had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, but was otherwise in okay health when he went missing. His wife is now seeking RMB228,000 in compensation from the hospital.