Bloomberg reports that China fined eight shipping lines 407 million yuan ($63 million) in total after finding them responsible for price collusion in the transportation of vehicles and heavy machinery. Japan's Nippon Yusen KK, Mitsui OSK lines, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha and Eastern Car Liner Ltd., Korea's Eukor Car Carriers Inc., Norway's Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics AS, Chile's Cia. Sud Americana de Vapores SA and its shipping line were the eightindicted after a year-long investigation, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement on its website Monday. The companies acknowledge wrongdoing, the top Chinese economic planning agency said.

The Australian reports that activists have largely welcomed China's first national anti-domestic violence law, although some criticised the apparent omission of sexual violence and its failure to cover gay couples. The law approved Sunday by China's legislature will take effect in March, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Women's federations and civil organisations have been pushing for a law to protect victims of domestic violence for more than 10 years. In that time, almost all the country's provinces have instituted regulations against domestic violence. Part of the battle was a traditional belief that family conflicts are private, which an official alluded to at a news conference on Sunday when announcing the law.