Over 5,000 YouTube videos of the herb salvia divinorum on the apparent negative effects after it is ingested is placing in peril its approval for medicinal purposes. Up to half a million hits had been logged by some of the YouTube broadcasts of salvia use, helping make the once unknown hallucinogen popular among the youth.

Auction house Sotheby's said Wednesday that rare and precious gemstones are generating a strong following in the Asian region. This as Sotheby's unveiled a 72-carat, flawless white diamond set to be hammered off for $10 million to $12 million in the upcoming Asian sale. Quek Chin announced that this D-color, white stone will be the third largest "pear-shaped" stone ever auctioned globally and the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction in Asia.

India's lucrative outsourcing sector is not limited to back office jobs. It is now emerging as a major supplier of "back bedroom jobs" as an infant outsourcing hub as well. According to the International Herald Tribune, reproduction is the newest addition to the Asian tiger's outsourcing industry. Couples from the United States and Europe are asking Indian women to serve as surrogate mothers, leading to a boom in the number of clinics offering the procedure.

The latest look at shopping comes from Shermans Travel, which has put together its list of the top spots for "shopaholics. " The Thai capital Bangkok topped the list for its reputation as one of the best shopping destinations in Asia. Good finds in the city are high-quality silk, jewelry, and traditional crafts for a reasonable amount of money. Buenos Aires in Argentina is cited for its low cost leather products. Denmark's Copenhagen is among the top five for its wide-range of merchandise especially home accessories and glassware such as Holmegaard and Royal Copenhagen Porcelain.

Motorcycles could be banned on many Philippines roads. Despite being the most common means of transportation in the Philippines, lawmakers have filed a bill seeking to ban motorcycles on main roads, thoroughfares and national highways in the country. House Bill No. 3080 filed by Reps. Narciso D. Santiago III (Party-list, ARC) and Marcelino R. Teodoro (1st Dist. , Marikina City, Lakas-CMD) establishes guidelines designed to prevent road accidents, particularly those involving motorcycles.