Kidnap fears spark tough love for ‘little emperors’

After a spate of kidnappings, wealthy parents in Shenzhen have decided some tough love is necessary to ensure their “little emperors” are equipped to survive.

Australia to proceed with controversial Internet filter

Australia said yesterday it would push ahead with a mandatory China-style plan to filter the Internet, despite widespread criticism that it will strangle free speech and is doomed to fail.

I Ching and 2012

I Ching and 2012

妻子, 情人, 紅顏知己

No more 3-year telco contracts, fixed penalties

IDA’s new rules are meant to safeguard the interests of consumers

Few can muster the political courage to pop an asset bubble

The mainland authorities are nervous, too. Yesterday, the State Council pledged to crack down on overheating property markets, declaring “some cities are seeing excessively fast housing price rises, and we should pay high attention to this”.

Despite the fighting talk, however, it is doubtful whether officials either in Hong Kong or on the mainland will muster the courage needed to pop any developing bubbles, at least in the near term.

Asian Stocks to Extend Bull Market, JPMorgan Says

Asian stocks outside of Japan may extend a bull market into 2010, helped by declining risk premiums, a recovery in economic and earnings growth, and low interest rates, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

China Developers Fall as Government Targets Housing

China Vanke Co. led declines by the nation’s developers after the official Xinhua News Agency said the government will target “excessive” growth in property prices in some cities.

50 Ways to Cut 500 Calories a Day

Here's the simplest (no-diet!) way to slim down.

NTU opens centre for China’s officials

Growing demand prompts university to offer more customised programmes

Dr. Wu wants the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration, housed at the historic Chinese Heritage Centre, to become a full-fledged school of public affairs that also offers undergraduate degrees.

Cleaners ‘beat bankers in worth’

Hospital cleaners are worth more to society than bankers, a study suggests.

And tax accountants damage the country by devising schemes to cut the amount of money available to the government, the research suggests.

Bubble muddle

The International Monetary Fund is worried about Hong Kong.

$40m in coffers? Sino-Env EDs have no quick answer

Sino-Environment executive directors (EDs) appear to have backtracked on the claim made by the group chairman about having $40 million in the company’s coffers after the Singapore Exchange (SGX) asked them to substantiate the claim.

Sons ordered to pay dad’s $15m debt

The two sons of Indonesia-born businessman Agus Anwar have been ordered by the High Court to cough up the $15 million he owes to a private bank here.

Who’s going to blow next?

Dubai’s travails have some economists wondering if another debt bomb may be lurking dangerously

China’s public holidays for 2010

1. New Year: January 1-3; 3 days;
2. Spring Festival: February 13-19; 7 days;
3. Qingming Festival: April 3-5; 3 days;
4. Labor Day: May 1-3; 3 days;
5. Duanwu Festival: June 14-16; 3 days;
6. Mid-Autumn Festival: September 22-24; 3 days;
7. National Day: October 1-7; 7 days;

China’s young Net addicts don’t grow up

Problem from youth continues into adulthood leading to divorces, money and health woes

A year into office, no unity under Thai PM Abhisit

In the year since he became Thai premier with no popular mandate, Abhisit Vejjajiva has underperformed on the domestic and regional stage and failed to reconcile a deeply divided nation, analysts say.

Young Chinese groan at skyrocketing property costs

Computer engineer Jenny Jin and her husband have been hunting for a home for a year, but like many young would-be property owners in China, they have struggled to enter the market due to soaring prices.