Take that, capitalist
The week's news at a glance.
Shenyang, China
China has arrested the business tycoon whom North Korea just picked to run a free-trade zone on the Chinese border. Two weeks ago, the eccentric North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il announced he was opening the capitalist trade area with China. Even more surprising—at least to the Chinese, who were not consulted—was the appointment of Yang Bin, one of China’s richest men, to run the zone for the North Koreans. Chinese officials said Yang, who made his fortune selling orchids, is being held on charges of “various illegal activities.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Africa's largest dam is making diplomatic waves
Under the Radar Ethiopians view using the Nile as a 'sovereign right' but the vast hydroelectric project has 'fuelled nationalist fervour' in Egypt and Sudan
-
Jessica Francis Kane's 6 favorite books that prove less is more
Feature The author recommends works by Penelope Fitzgerald, Marie-Helene Bertino, and more
-
Trump's drug war is now a real shooting war
Talking Points The Venezuela boat strike was 'not a mere law enforcement action'