China curries Muslim favor with Mecca-Medina rail link;

Chinese snap up real estate on U.S. "

buying tours"

Russia's military capabilities on the decline, notes state-run paper;

China warns against trade protectionism in U.S.

Special Issue: China’

s Military Defense –

Strategic Missiles

Chinese, Indian navies in Indian Ocean standoff;

Severe drought reaches crisis levels

China blames "

high consumption"

West for financial crisis...;

...as the crisis pushes Taiwan closer to the mainland