Red miniskirts eclipse need for reality check

Just don’t let the show distract you from the daunting list of things China must pull off in order to thrive. It includes finding a new growth model, raising hundreds of millions more out of poverty, getting the state out of the economy, attacking corruption, saving the environment and figuring out what to do with more than US$2 trillion of currency reserves.

Offshore private banking will thrive, say wealth managers

Services such as estate planning will always be needed

The challenges facing post-crisis China

MASSACHUSETTS Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Huang Yasheng talks to BT associate editor VIKRAM KHANNA about China’s economy after the global financial crisis.

China in 2049 - enhancing quality

As the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 60th anniversary, it is tempting to ponder what the future holds for its centenary celebration some 40 years from now.

Trendy Shenzhen teenagers spearhead Cantonese revival

A new craze is sweeping through the ranks of Shenzhen’s teenagers. Whether it is in school, at the shopping mall or the KTV club, there’s only one way to prove you are a real “Shenzhener” - by speaking Cantonese.

Cantonese almost became the official language

Putonghua is the official language on the mainland, but if history had played out differently the vast majority could have been speaking Cantonese.

Ex-Ernst & Young auditor accused of siphoning assets

Christopher Ho Wing-on is a rich man, allegedly worth more than US$500 million. But he was accused in court of partially building his fortune by siphoning assets from disgraced tycoon James Ting’s failed electronics empire Akai Holdings in the late 1990s.

Hard work pays off for ‘vicious’ Akai liquidator

Cosimo Borrelli’s pursuit of truth unravels corporate collapse

Akai saga ends with ‘US$100m payout’

Almost a decade after the spectacular collapse of Hong Kong electronics conglomerate Akai, the saga has ended with the failed firm’s liquidators securing a major moral and financial victory for its creditors.

Darkest Before The Dawn - BNP

Last week’s disappointing non-farm payrolls report rounded off a week of relatively tepid US macro-data that has challenged the bullish foundations on which US equities continue to precariously reside.

Real lesson behind the Ris Low affair

To excuse her behaviour on account of her youth is an insult to all the young people who still believe in honesty and integrity

Party monitors untangle Web of disharmony

Mirky world of ‘commentators’ keeps forces of dissent quiet

Let’s level the playing field for listed firms

Investors in Bermuda-registered firms listed here now get less protection

Faith groups use English to draw devotees

Changing times have forced religious leaders in traditionally non-English-speaking faith groups to reconsider how best to reach new devotees, many of whom are young and English-speaking.

Contradiction in terms

Few could have foreseen the paradox presented by capitalism with Chinese characteristics

Changes in portraits yield a telling story

Displaying and carrying huge portraits of the great and the noble has long been an integral tradition of the elaborate celebrations of National Day holidays in communist countries.

Budding tycoon sets sights on big league

Former hairstylist has goals for Birmingham City

Chongqing on the mend after crackdown on criminal gangs

Chongqing has long been known for three characteristics - its mountainous landscape, attractive women and spicy cuisine. Unfortunately, in recent years, a fourth item could be added to the list - organised crime.

Analysts need to get real

While analysts have to rely on numbers, they also have an obligation to peer beyond their spreadsheets to take in the real operating circumstances of each company. As one wit put it, if you torture numbers long enough, they will give you the answers that you are looking for. And sometimes these answers can cause unnecessary alarm.

Australia singer asked Singapore Christians to step up evangelism

Well-known Australian Christian singer Roma Waterman urged Singapore Christians to step up evangelism during a performance at The City Church last Saturday.

She quoted in the Christian Post as saying:

“It is important that believers live with the perspective of eternity and share the Good News at the risk of offending some people rather than being polite to everyone and letting them go to hell.”

Those fucking self centred, self righteous and selfish christians go to hell.

Qingdao strives to boost economy beyond tourism

Qingdao is one of the mainland’s tourist Meccas, with tens of millions of visitors crammed on to the Shandong city’s sandy white beaches every year. But the city government believes its future is about much more than tourism.

Hong Kong's luxury living draws mainland Chinese

Mainland Chinese once fled to the slums of Hong Kong’s Kowloon to escape poverty, war and communism but many mainlanders in the district these days are seeking swimming pools and harbour views.

Why the pain lingers for China and Japan

Young Chinese "comfort women", or sex slaves, with Japanese soldiers.

The atrocities of war, including the sufferings of ‘comfort women’, are not forgotten

Is your financial adviser really up to the job?

And that is the moral of the past year: when you find an adviser you think you can trust, check and check again.

Will SingTel keep its word on not charging consumers more?

Clearly, SingTel is now putting all its eggs in one basket and banking on sports to win over a still-sceptical public. All eyes will now be on whether it remains true to its word that consumers won’t have to pay more to watch sports than what they are currently forking out now.

Tycoon’s kids lose appeal in dispute over fortune

The children of the first wife of Singapore Crocodile Farm founder Tan Gna Chua failed yesterday in their final appeal to declare their father’s second marriage invalid.

Hengyang to be first Chinese firm to list on Catalist

Hengyang Petrochemical Logistics is on its way to become the first Chinese firm to list on the Catalist board.

It is offering 18 million new invitation shares at 38 cents apiece, and will be sponsored by CIMB Bank Berhad, Singapore Branch.

Feisty exchange at insider trading court case

The court hearing on the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s case against a former employee of WBL Corp resumed yesterday, starting with the cross-examination of an expert witness for MAS.

Consortium bids to snap up Sincere for $112.7m

Singapore’s largest watch retailer Sincere Watch has received a $112.7 million cash offer from a consortium largely made up of a unit of luxury group LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a private equity arm of Standard Chartered, and former owner Tay Liam Wee.

Companies lacking in cash management

Most still focused on managing inventory rather than ways to release cash: survey

Oei Hong Leong settles suit with Citi

Business tycoon Oei Hong Leong has settled his multi-million-dollar lawsuit with Citigroup ‘amicably’ and says he will continue to work with the bank again.

Luxury brands doing brisk business in China

But wealth boom widens income gap further

Chinese Economic Juggernaut Is Gaining on Japan

For years, Japan has been readying itself for the day that it is eclipsed economically by China. But as a result of the global slowdown, Japan’s difficulty in managing its economy and China’s rise — on vivid display Thursday as Beijing celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic — that day may come sooner than anyone predicted.

Hu may be wanting to maintain military hold

However, there is no such convention for the chairman of the military commission, and both Mao and Deng continued to serve in that post into their 80s; Jiang was in his late 70s before stepping down.

The wonder that is modern China

How it changed within one generation from being poverty stricken to a global force

While China will continue to learn from the West for its own benefit, it may be time now for the West, to use Deng’s famous phrase, to ‘emancipate the mind’ and learn a bit more about or even from China’s big ideas, however extraneous they may appear, for its own benefit.

One family, three different perspectives

Generation gap apparent as Beijingers recall dark days of the Cultural Revolution

Excited viewers filled with pride after tuning in

“I’ve got to say ‘very’ three times to describe how I feel at the moment,” he said. “China is very strong, we Chinese are very proud of our country, and we lead a very good life.”

Celebration that stopped the nation

China celebrated 60 years of communist rule yesterday with a spectacular parade and extravagant pageantry to display the country’s growing military and economic might and national pride.

Singapore PR took part in parade

Ms. Zhang Yuanyuan (above), a Singapore PR who returned to Beijing last year, underwent 10 months of hard training to take part in the parade.

赵娜 - 中国女民兵方队

张晓菲 - 中国女民兵方队

China’s iron roses

The 500 women of the militia formation were the most talked-about contingent at the parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of China. They stole the show just like their predecessors did at the last parade in 1999.

中国女民兵方队

Video

Militia in miniskirts steals show at parade

With impeccable make-up and eye-catching miniskirts, the phalanxes of female soldiers are the talk of the town after the massive military parade strode through Tiananmen Square on Thursday, impressing the world.

Pick winners, not whiners

Insights on how to improve one’s odds as a recruiter.

Guangzhou’s glittering financial centre turns into a ‘Lost City’

David Webb, an independent market researcher based in Hong Kong, categorically rejected Guangzhou’s chances of becoming a financial hub. “You can’t just build offices and put up a sign,” he said.

Gold tells you bubble hasn’t popped yet

Right now, the American economy is worth less than the value implied by the market value of its obligations and gold bugs will tell you, privately, that this is why they are buyers. Might as well stock up, they say, before gold becomes a controlled substance.

Curse of October? Let’s not be hasty

Further stock price falls may present buying opportunities for traders

Forged cheques: Should banks be liable for losses?

The president of the Law Society has pointed to a disparity between the law and how banks treat cases of forged cheques.

Tiger Airways ‘let us down’

Flight cancelled: Tourists fend for themselves

Six blocks in opposition-held Hougang selected for lift upgrading

Six blocks in opposition-held Hougang constituency have been selected for lift upgrading. This follows the announcement on Friday that Potong Pasir, another opposition ward, would also receive lift upgrading.

Wanted: Non-Singaporean

An electronics firm that advertised last week for a ‘preferably non-Singaporean’ engineer has added fuel to a worsening controversy in this migrant city.

Car market in for lean times

Supply shrinkage will have a profound impact on buyers and sellers

Mainland rally seen extending into 2010

Mainland stocks should extend their rally into next year as the economy got a boost from a pick-up in exports and consumer demand, but a bumpy ride was expected this quarter, partly because of a glut of initial public offerings, an HSBC fund manager said.

Glorious Property falls on debut

Mainland property developer Glorious Property Holdings fell 20 per cent in its debut on Friday, dented by a Wall Street sell-off and a dwindling appetite for newly-listed stocks amid a flurry of new offerings.

Glorious Is Fifth Flop in Hong Kong IPO ‘Massacre’

Glorious Property Holdings Ltd., a real estate developer in nine Chinese cities, is the fifth consecutive Hong Kong initial public offering company whose shares fell on debut on the city’s exchange.

Firms list abroad to quench thirst for China stocks

A small mainland-focused firm floated shares in Germany yesterday and another filed for a listing in the United States as they sought to cash in on international investors’ appetite for a link to China’s economic growth.

China’s Deng Xiaoping survived at least 7 assassination attempts

Deng had led an eventful life. His rocky political career was well documented, having survived three ousters from the centre of power. But even more fascinating is his record for surviving more assassination attempts than any other Chinese leaders.

China Property Stock Index Points to Slump: Technical Analysis

The Se Shang Property index’s 200-day moving average is at 4,214.70, 4.5 percent below the index’s close of 4,413.23 on Sept. 30. The index, which is down 28 percent from its July high, is an “exceptional” predictor of global markets, Michael Hartnett, New York-based chief global equity strategist at Bank of America, wrote in a report.

Why 60 is so important

The number “60” holds a unique significance in Chinese society, which explains the military fanfare and civilian pomp to be displayed at today’s celebration in Beijing.

National Day Parade gives clues to military capability

The National Day military parade did not hold any big surprises but there were tantalising clues for experts to mull in assessing the modernisation of the world’s biggest army.

Labour crunch for Xmas orders

After a crisis that sparked mass layoffs in China’s export hubs, factories in manufacturing heartlands such as the Pearl River Delta are on the hunt for migrant workers again as orders revive for Christmas.

Wynn Is Said to Raise $1.63 Billion for Macao Unit

The Las Vegas casino company Wynn Resorts raised $1.63 billion after pricing its Asian initial public offering at the top of its indicated range Wednesday, a sign that demand was still strong for certain offerings despite a glut of stock deals.

Straits Times deleted Ris Low’s photo, but “sg-stupid.jpg” remains

Following our revelation that the Straits Times had named a photo of ex-Miss Singapore World Ris Low as “sg-stupid.jpg”, the photo has been deleted though the link remains.

Investors find cheaper way to ‘own’ blue chips

CFDs or Contracts for Difference an increasingly popular derivative product

Brothers lose bid to block sister’s inheritance

Duo claimed father would not have given her the $2.9 million as they were on bad terms

A journey of success forged in steel

For a company that split into two just 10 years after it was formed, Nam Leong has recovered remarkably.

Hongkongers invited to share Chiang Mai retirement dream

When British antique dealer John Maas chose Chiang Mai in northern Thailand as a retirement destination 11 years ago, he never thought he would end up sharing his dream lifestyle and a sizeable small property portfolio with other expatriates.

We gave wrong name for informant, lawyers admit

Lawyers for fung shui master Tony Chan Chun-chuen admitted yesterday they had mistakenly given the wrong name for an informant about a controversial land deal quoted during the court battle over the will of late tycoon Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum.

Tough choices loom for China

Sustaining growth will become harder as it can no longer rely on its exports

Reunification with Taiwan remains a pressing issue

New Hubei law bans parents from checking minors’ text messages

Parents who check their under-age children’s mobile phone text messages without permission may be breaking the law in Hubei.

Hail the next global leader

While crystal-ball gazing towards 2049 yields only murky visions, scholars agree China will soon be acknowledged as the dominant world power

Firms warned against transfer pricing ruse

Companies that do business in Asia need to pay more attention to transfer pricing given that governments are introducing stricter rules in a bid to stem the flow of profits leaving their economies.

Delisting in the offing for Li Heng?

Plans are afoot to take Li Heng Chemical Fibre Technologies private at 41 cents per share, pricing the company at some $690 million, say sources. The stock has been halted from trading since yesterday morning pending an announcement.

CIMB woos retail clients with more products, services

Describing Singapore as the ‘missing link’ in its regionalisation drive, CIMB Bank is boosting its retail presence here with a host of new products and services ranging from credit cards to home loans.

Banks refuse to dilute exclusive clients’ club

Singapore’s private banks retain high entry barriers as business booms

A journey into the economic leap forward

The factory of the world will give way to a more mature economy with its 1.3 billion people, says Stephen Roach, as he predicts China’s future

Raids, arrest as fraud police probe Akai files

Police raided offices of accounting giant Ernst & Young and arrested one of its Hong Kong partners yesterday as part of a fraud investigation linked to a court case over the collapse of electronics firm Akai Holdings.

Ernst & Young’s regional chairman steps down

David Sun Tak-kei, the Hong Kong and China chairman of Ernst & Young has stepped down. It comes a day after the offices of the accounting firm were raided by police on Tuesday in connection with a long-running investigation into the collapse of former client Akai Holdings.

Surging prices keep buyers away

‘Golden September’ loses its sheen as home hunters wait for mainland market to cool

Volatile market forces Wilmar rethink Hong Kong IPO

Singapore’s Wilmar, the world’s biggest listed palm oil producer, is likely to delay the US$3 billion listing of its mainland unit in Hong Kong as concerns about frothy markets hurt investor sentiment.

Experts say China's one-child policy will undermine country's economic rise

But under the one-child policy, the country is likely to grow old before it grows rich.

China’s Economy: 60 Years of Progress

China has paid a high price for economic transformation since 1949. It’s reaping dividends, but the reform process must continue.

Baltic index tipped to surge more than 80pc

The Baltic Dry Index, the main measure of shipping costs for commodities, may surge more than 80 per cent by the end of the year on increased demand for shipments to China, according to China Ocean Shipping (Group).

China orders crackdown on industrial overcapacity

China announced sweeping curbs on surging investment in steelmaking, cement and other industries, warning that chaotic overexpansion was raising the danger of job losses and trouble for banks.