Apple Maps glitch could be deadly: Australian police

Australian police Monday warned motorists about using the map system on new Apple iPhones after rescuing several people left stranded in the wilderness, saying the errors could prove deadly.

Robert Parker’s newsletter moving to Singapore

Influential US wine critic Robert Parker is moving the headquarters of his newsletter to Singapore after selling a major stake to investors based in the city-state, a report said yesterday.

Exposé reveals ascent to riches by ‘Immortals’ heirs

Study shows how descendants of eight party founding fathers are multibillion-dollar players at the forefront of country’s ‘red aristocracy’

Exodus of China’s rich and skilled for better lives

Politics, pollution and education among factors that saw 150,000 leave last year, report says

Mysteries surrounding Heywood murder begin to unfold

An investigative report about China’s most infamous former police officer Wang Lijun by China’s Southern Metropolis Weekly magazine has answered some unanswered questions relating to the murder of British businessmen Neil Heywood, whose death precipitated the downfall of China’s once powerful and ambitious politician Bo Xilai.

Heirs of Mao’s Comrades Rise as New Capitalist Nobility

Lying in a Beijing military hospital in 1990, General Wang Zhen told a visitor he felt betrayed. Decades after he risked his life fighting for an egalitarian utopia, the ideals he held as one of Communist China’s founding fathers were being undermined by the capitalist ways of his children -- business leaders in finance, aviation and computers.

“Turtle eggs,” he said to the visiting well-wisher, using a slang term for bastards. “I don’t acknowledge them as my sons.”

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Billionaire Princelings Ruin a Chinese Vision

This week’s Bloomberg News expose on the so-called Eight Immortals is a case in point. Building on a June article tracing the accumulated wealth of the family of Xi Jinping, China’s next president, it described the vast fortunes being amassed by the offspring of the founding fathers who were instrumental in Mao Zedong’s rise to power in 1949. Mao changed the world by meeting U.S. President Richard Nixon, and Immortals such as Deng Xiaoping engineered the economic boom that has unfolded since then.

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China’s anti-corruption drive triggers frantic property dump among officials

Real estate agents in provinces such as Guangdong and Jiangsu have been frantically trying to push deals for a torrent of second-hand flats suddenly released on the market – many of which belong to government officials, the Oriental Morning Post reported on Monday.

Agony endures 75 years after Nanking Massacre

Three quarters of a century after Japanese soldiers butchered her family and left her for dead, Xia Shuqin says she relives her terror with every denial that the Nanking Massacre ever happened.

Microsoft ditches Windows Live Messenger for Skype

Microsoft said Windows Live Messenger (WLM) would be turned off by March 2013 worldwide, with the exception of China.

Neil Heywood Killed in China Had MI6 Spy Links

Cruising around Beijing in a silver Jaguar with "007" in the license plate, Neil Heywood seemed to relish the air of intrigue that surrounded him.

Chinese Messaging App Gains Ground Elsewhere

WeChat, a mobile messaging application created by Tencent Holdings, China’s largest Internet company, is aggressively trying to buck the trend and establish itself in the expanding global market for smartphone apps. Based on some analysts’ predictions, the company may actually have a shot.

China’s new leaders face tough economic choices

model that delivered three decades of double-digit growth is running out of steam and the country’s next leaders face tough choices to keep incomes rising. But they don’t seem to have ambitious solutions. Even if they do, they will need to tackle entrenched interests with backing high in the Communist Party.

China’s former Japan envoy accuses US of exploiting territorial rows

Former Chinese ambassador to Japan says Washington should distance itself from Tokyo

Xi Jinping sharpened his political skills in Fujian

Leader-in-waiting had setbacks in early years in Fujian, but learned fast. In the second of a three-part series, we look at his 17 years in the province

Xi Jinping began career as cadre in rural Hebei

Why did the well-connected son of a revolutionary leader swap a job in the capital for life as a party cadre in on obscure rural community?

Communist Party journal suggests it could learn from Singapore's PAP

Article says party could learn much from island's brand of authoritarianism

Two women injured in playboy Ling Gu Ferrari crash are named by magazine

The 25-year-olds were pulled half-naked from car smash in March

Ex-diplomat says Sino-Japanese rift part of US agenda

A former Japanese diplomat has accused the United States of manipulating Japan since the Second World War in order to “eliminate” prime ministers who sought to develop better relations with Beijing.

America embraces English English

Crikey - aided by the telly, fashion and the internet, a flood of Britishisms makes itself heard in the home of the Americanism

Long Reliant on China, Myanmar Now Turns to Japan

Is the PLA's modernisation a sign of power, or a repeat of a tragic mistake?

Ignoring the need for social reform while modernising the military risks repeating the mistakes of the Qing dynasty

Experts call for scrapping of mainland ‘golden weeks’

Holiday chaos leads to appeals for changes to the arrangements for allocating paid leave

Big changes due at the top of the PLA after party congress

With seven of 10 PLA officers on the Central Military Commission too old to go on, big changes are certain after the party congress

Hong Kong's Victor Li, son of "Superman", has hard act to follow

Back in the days before e-mail, Victor Li, the heir to Asia's largest family fortune, used to sleep with a fax machine by his bed, ready for his famously restless father, Li Ka-shing, to send through instructions at any time of night.

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Adele - Live at Brit Awards 2011

Adele - Someone Like You

Where Do the Wealthiest Expatriates Live?

A small island state in Southeast Asia has come out tops in a listing of countries that boast of the richest expatriates.

MAS imposes cap on housing loan tenures

Absolute limit of 35 years set for new, refinance mortgages, loan-to-value ratios for certain new loans also tightened

So, where have all the mainland spenders gone?

Apparently, the shopping sentiment in Hong Kong has changed a lot since the last holiday season.

Elite and Deft, Xi Aimed High Early in China

Thirty years ago,a young government official with a plum job in Beijing made an odd request: reassignment to a poor rural area.

 

Boom city Dongguan faces bankruptcy as village debts soar

Dongguan’s derelict factories and huge deficits send chilling warning to a China in slowdown

Seven rising stars tipped to lead sixth generation of China’s leaders

They were born in the 1960s, grew up in a time of economic change and could finally deliver on reform

Hu Chunhua is the party secretary of Inner Mongolia

Sun Zhengcai is the party boss in Jilin province
 

Zhang Qingwei is the governor of Hebei province

Zhou Qiang is the party secretary of Hunan province

Party veteran Li Rui, still pushing for reform in China at age 95

Li Rui joined the Communist Party in the 1930s, and is still actively campaigning for democracy and the rule of law

Indonesia’s booming coal capital flourishes with Chinese help

The global economic slowdown that has battered the resource sector this year has spared Indonesia’s coal capital Balikpapan, which is forging ahead with a recession-defying infrastructure upgrade, partly funded by China.

Big money bets on China growing old, and rich

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Secrets of China’s economic future revealed; International Bag City

But the US$236 million trading centre Shi is building in this coastal town about 100 kilometres from Shanghai is more than a place for foreign fashionistas to find the perfect purse.

It aims to help local firms develop their own domestic brands and markets and start scaling the global value chain.

South Korea: Japan must educate its people about WWII

South Korea’s foreign minister said Thursday that Japan’s wartime past will overshadow relations between the two staunch U.S. allies until Japan educates its people about crimes committed during colonial rule.

China’s Corruption Crackdown Takes Shine Off Luxury Boom

Luxury brands banking on a China rebound to boost sales may be in for an unpleasant surprise: weak demand in the world’s second largest luxury market may last longer than the economic slowdown as Beijing cracks down on conspicuous consumption.

Taiwanese war criminal sees himself as victim

But nearly 70 years ago, he worked for the Japanese army in what is now Malaysia, guarding Australian prisoners in one of the numerous prisoner-of-war (POW) camps that were scattered across occupied Southeast Asia.

Iconic clock design stolen by Apple?

In this segment of today’s news, we find that Apple is being accused of copying an iconic clock design of Hans Hilfiker—a well-known Swiss engineer and designer.  The picture below depicts the recently added clock design update in the iPad, and right next to it is the clock design which the Swiss Federal Railway owns the trademark to.

“SBB is the sole owner of the trademark and copyright of the railway clock. The railway company will now get in touch with Apple. The aim is a legal, as well as a financial solution. It is not right that one [Apple] simply copies the design.”

Why you should buy iphone 5?

When you are late for appointment, blame it on iphone 5 for giving you wrong direction. Your only fault is you bought an iphone 5.

Mukden incident trigger for Japanese invasion

The “Mukden incident” of 1931 – commemorated in China every year as an act of Japanese aggression – saw Japanese troops blow up a railway in northeast China as an excuse to take over Manchuria.

Time’s up for Chinese official with penchant for watches

It was his watches. A Montblanc TimeWalker he bought for US$5,500. What looked to be two Swiss-manufactured Omegas, a gold-toned Rolex Oyster Perpetual and a tasteful yet understated jet-black Rado.

Myanmar poised for mobile revolution

For decades, its telecoms industry has been a shambles.

GuocoLand sells 40 Leedon Residence units

Group said to have achieved $2,000 psf average price for freehold project

Due West, online novel about sex tourism in Dongguan, now a movie

The book went viral and the movie could be a hit: ‘Due West’ lifts the lid on Hong Kong men seeking sex and solace in a Guangdong factory town

Beijing has to reform its loss-making state-owned firms

Analysts say Beijing has to take its loss-making state giants in hand before their declining productivity threatens growth in the next decade

They need passports to go to school

Iskandar Educity has 100 students from S’pore who cross Second Link each day

 

画心 - 张靓颖

A Watershed Election: Paradoxes, Perils, Promises

Read the scathing remarks about Lee Kuan Yew

Where are China's Rich Sending their Children to Study

German economic strength: The secrets of success

Imagine a country whose inhabitants work fewer hours than almost any others, whose workforce is not particularly productive and whose children spend less time at school than most of its neighbours.

Read on...

Murder lifts lid on triad links

Shenzhen ‘officer’killed on duty initially portrayed as a hero - yet he was part of a triad extortion gang to which local cadres had outsourced ‘urban management’

Natural born swimmer

Ye Shiwen stunned the world at the London Olympics, causing some to question how she did it. But from an early age, she was picked out as a potential champion

Obscure rule may trip up condo developers

Deadline looms to sell unsold units, or face paying ‘extension charges’

The Battle over Real Estate

The central government is brawling with local officials and developers in the property arena, and reforms are needed to address the root of the conflict

Surprises as six appointed generals

Top officers in the PAP and PLA have been promoted to the highest rank possible, with watchers surprised by names among those included and those left out

Listen to protesters, authorities told

After weekend riots, People’s Daily says awareness of environmental rights is increasing rapidly and calls for transparent decision-making mechanism

In Singapore, Vitriol Against Chinese Newcomers

It was bad enough that Ma Chi was driving well above the speed limit on a downtown boulevard when he blew through a red light and struck a taxi, killing its two occupants and himself. It didn’t help, either, that he was at the wheel of a $1.4 million Ferrari that early morning in May, or that the woman in the passenger seat was not his wife.

Coffee craze in China’s tea city

Pu’er city, named after legendary dark tea, sees boom in more lucrative coffee trade

Chinese politician’s wife charmed and threatened

Gu Kailai has been many things to many people: Devoted wife, ambitious lawyer, gracious host, menacing businesswoman and, now, China’s most famous murder suspect.

China’s downturn-proof booze makers hit government wall

The makers of China’s fiery liquor baijiu, a pricey, potent drink that is a staple at state dinners, say it inspires poets and can even ward off dementia.

StanChart held to high ransom from low moral ground

New York regulators have yet to spell out the case against the bank over allegedly illegal transactions as they try the claims in the court of public opinion

As clubs close, the lights are fading on a racy tradition

Last month the final curtain fell at Club BBoss, the city’s biggest nightclub. That was followed by the sudden closure of its rival Club Paris.

The upside of a good rubdown

Evidence is mounting that there’s good medicine in getting a massage.

Race on to build polar research vessel

New ice-breaker will be sent to Antarctic within three years to join Xuelong, and scientists have high hopes

Lack of combat an issue, helicopter pilot says

Elite aviation regiment has sophisticated arsenal, technology, and offensive tactics based on those of major countries’, except actual wartime experience

Briton Patrick Cormak Cusack charged with molestation

More white trash imported by PAP

Ming-style luxury on sale for a humble “¥500m

A luxury Chinese-style garden villa project in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, has been launched in Hong Kong, with the biggest unit going for a whopping 500 million yuan (HK$608 million).

Zhang Yimou admits making promo

Zhang Yimou says he was paid 2.5 million yuan for a five-minute video for the Railways Ministry

Asian Americas still locked out of top jobs

Vishakha Desai says report on group’s ascent overlooks lack of representation in leadership

Australian leaders should show China more respect

Greg Barns says Canberra must think through its confused approach to ties with top trade partner

Grand slam

The Grandstand is set to bring the buzz back to the old Turf City at Bukit Timah.

Does data centre operational efficiency really matter?

Investing in data centre technology can reap benefits for a business

Western fast food tied to heart risks in Asia

Even relatively clean-living Singaporeans who regularly eat burgers, fries and other staples of U.S.-style fast food are at a raised risk of diabetes and more likely than their peers to die of heart disease, according to an international study.

Elite English school in Malaysia’s Iskandar region to take in students next month

A little piece of England will open its doors next month in Johor. The Malaysian branch of the English public school Marlborough College takes in its first batch of students on Aug 27.

Europe developers turn to feng shui for better sales

Homes designed according to 4,000-year-old Chinese system a move to draw cash-rich Far East buyers

Property investors rush to cash in on China’s new ‘mini-Hong Kong’

Investors are snapping up property near a proposed US$45 billion business zone in the Chinese boom town of Shenzhen, betting that the government’s plans to further open its capital markets with a “mini-Hong Kong” will spur real estate values.

Property investors rush to cash in on China’s new ‘mini-Hong Kong’

Investors are snapping up property near a proposed US$45 billion business zone in the Chinese boom town of Shenzhen, betting that the government’s plans to further open its capital markets with a “mini-Hong Kong” will spur real estate values.

Trapped to ‘get rich’

Mainlanders are flooding into Hong Kong to sign up for a multilevel marketing scheme that is banned in several countries. To many critics, it looks like pyramid selling

Scrapping the one-child policy won’t boost China’s birth rate

Mainland families started having fewer children even before the draconian restriction was imposed, and they won’t have more if Beijing removes it

China railroaded into fast-train technology trap

Fast-train firms paying heavily for technology transfer decisions

Bar raised for foreigners’ families keen to stay here

MOM’s move is the latest in a series of moves by various ministries to sharpen the privileges of being Singaporean and restrict the influx of foreigners which has strained the city’s infrastructure and caused locals considerable angst in the last few years

George Carlin - Religion is bullshit

Raymond Chapman 4 weeks’ jail for kicking cop

A Briton who reeked of alcohol kicked a police officer on the leg after being arrested for allegedly molesting a woman.

Alarm at poor quality of tap water

Experts cast doubt on claims by officials that things have improved markedly in the past three years

Game theory and the South China Sea conflict

Sometimes it is not to any player’s advantage to be in a dominant position, as Beijing’s competing maritime claims with its neighbours demonstrate

Chinese scientists create snowfall in a lab

Team in Shanghai were able to manipulate air using lasers; technique could be used to fight climate change

Japanese envoy to China recalled

As tensions over Diaoyu Islands mount, ‘temporary’ return of ambassador is seen by some as sign Tokyo is under pressure over his Beijing-friendly stance

Japan Recalls Ambassador to China Amid Rising Tensions

Japan temporarily recalled its ambassador to China on Sunday in response to renewed friction over a disputed island group, at a time when it faces fresh discord with its allies South Korea and the United States over women forced to work in Japanese brothels during World War II.

Anti-graft brochure has much to say

Written advice to judges on how to turn down bribes notable for what it tells us about culture of corruption

Tougher for PRs to sublet flats

New rules cap duration of lease and limit who can rent out HDB homes

Tourism officials forced to pull racy ad from buses

City of Lichuan in Hubei set out to attract visitors with a campaign in neighbouring Chongqing, but the words could be read as insulting and obscene

Asians return to roots in their living spaces

The Eastern look has always been popular in the West, but now young Asians want their homes to reflect their culture. Top designers are ready to help

Jiun Ho says that balance and harmony are the key when he designs spaces.

Muriel Brandolini used hand-made lamps in different sizes for a unique look in one project.

For a New York dining room Muriel Brandolini designed, she wanted a three-dimensional look that still had traditional Asian elements.

Chinese look to buy ‘a slice of heaven’

French vineyards and chateaux are drawing a lot of interest from well-heeled buyers in China, but they shouldn’t try to drive too hard a bargain

Beijing firm in talks for Hawker rescue

Two-year-old Chinese start-up partly owned by Beijing city government in discussions to take over beleaguered 80-year-old US aircraft manufacturer

Macau’s gambling junkets risk losing their game

The shadowy companies that bring China’s millionaires to the gambling tables of Macau are facing their toughest time since the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, and some of the smaller players may soon drop out of the game for good.

The vertical movement

China's economic future will increasingly be shaped by high-rise factories that will produce knowledge-based products, says SHAHID JAVED BURKI

The ageing of China: A growing challenge

The story is set about 100 years ago. It took place in a rural mountainous area in northern Japan, in a village beset with bad harvest and facing chronic starvation. Local custom mandated that the elderly, upon reaching 70 years of age, must retreat to the summit of Mount Narayama to die.

Making sense of the property market

Demographics, as well as a shift in policy on how China provides housing to its citizens, will have an impact on prices, says TIGER TONG

China plans huge tourism project in Tibet capital

China on Sunday started work on a 30-billion-yuan ($4.8-billion) tourism project in Lhasa city, state media said, as it seeks to draw more travellers to the restive Tibet region.

After orbiting space lab, China wants an undersea one

Plan for manned facility on ocean floor faces major technical hurdles, and questions about real motive

New breed of provincial leaders

The days of Soviet-educated engineers-turned-bureaucrats are over, with the new line-up holding more postgraduate degrees and less ideological baggage

Shanghainese welcome bid to revive dialect

Critics say maiden news show must be bolstered by broader campaign to rescue city’s dying language

SMRT told to be mindful of its core business

The committee of inquiry (COI) pointedly noted in its series of recommendations yesterday that SMRT needed to focus on its core business of train operations.

Train disruption inquiry doesn’t pull any punches

COI report faults SMRT’s inadequate maintenance for the debacle

China starts stockpiling rare earths

China has started stockpiling rare earths for strategic reserves, a state-backed newspaper said Thursday, in a move which may raise more worries over Beijing's control of the coveted resources.

Taiwan stops Japan bid to board boat

Coastguard reports Japanese patrol tried to intercept vessel carrying protesters near disputed Diaoyu Islands, but exchange of signals defused incident

Pledge to raise food standards

State Council vows big improvements in the next three years after a spate of scandals that has shattered public confidence in the food industry

Rule of law’s shocking absence laid bare

After seven trials and three judgments, a man is still locked up after 10 years without a formal conviction, a murder is unsolved and families keep petitioning

Unacceptable nearly 40% of population is made up of foreigners

Since the release of the first part of the video recording on the forum on xenophobia, some have questioned why the bloggers involved did not outright condemn xenophobic expression online and offline. The forum, called “Online|Offline”, is an initiative by several bloggers to discuss the hot issues of the day. Xenophobia was the topic chosen for the inaugural forum.

So near, yet so far away for P.L.A. garrison

The 6,000 elite PLA troops stationed in Hong Kong lead cloistered lives cut off almost completely from the city that they train so rigorously to defend

Official banquets may ban shark fin

Prohibition would give a big push to efforts to end the trade, environmentalists say - but three-year time frame seen as needless by some members of the public

Mayor elected Beijing party secretary

Promotion for Guo Jinlong, a close ally of President Hu, paves way for him to become a Politburo member this autumn at national party congress

China Develops a Taste for Napa Wine

With wines such as its 2002 Cabernet that received an eye-popping 99 points from Wine Spectator, Sloan Estate wines typically sold its wines for hundreds of dollars a bottle.

Bitter row over Macau hotel still not resolved

Bookings resume as representatives of the two main shareholders reveal more details on ownership row

Singapore government policies are the root cause, xenophobia is merely the symptom

At a recent forum on xenophobia attended by Zaqy Mohamad, Member of Parliament (MP) for Choa Chu Kang GRC, panelists expressed concern that Singapore might be turning into a xenophobic society.

Manila accused of South China Sea ‘plot’

China’s top newspaper accused the Philippines of orchestrating a plot to deliberately stir up tensions over the disputed South China Sea, and warned that Beijing’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness.

Hotel closes doors amid dispute

Ownership wrangle sees Macau New Century stop accepting new guests after attack on shareholder

Attack Raises Fears of a New Gang War in Macau

A senior figure in Macau’s gambling industry was severely beaten by six men in a restaurant at his own casino, the highest-profile case of violence in the city’s booming gambling business since Portugal handed control of the former colony back to China in 1999.

Grandparents Oral Sex

Aussie gets jail for squeezing woman’s breast

Yesterday, the 55-year-old was sentenced to 18 weeks’ jail after he was found guilty of molesting her at the farewell party.

New Zealand teacher throws 5-year-old girl into pool

Another day, another laowai douchebag causing a commotion. A Kiwi teacher working at the Shandong University of Finance and Economics has caused outrage for throwing a 5-year-old girl into the swimming pool when he thought nobody was watching (!!!). The full name of the teacher is unknown, but his surname has been given in Chinese media reports as Phillips.

Kunming Taxi Booking Service

Now can call to book taxi in Kunming at 331-2533.

Himalayan Viagra taking its toll on Nepal

Ram Bahadur Jafra and his two brothers crouch on a field, picking through blades of grass and staring at the soil. They have traveled five days by foot to a Himalayan meadow at a 4,300 meter elevation deep inside Nepal's Dolpa district. They came, as tens of thousands do each year, to harvest a highly valuable commodity from the high-altitude soil: the Himalayan caterpillar fungus -- also known as Himalayan Viagra.

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At Office, cubicles go out the Windows

Singapore asks: what do the rich like?

What’s the connection between racing car driver Lewis Hamilton, Michelin-starred chef Joel Robuchon and New York gallery owner Sundaram Tagore? The answer is Singapore.

That’s a sheep shot

Mainlanders are developing a taste for medical tourism and top of their shopping list is anti-ageing placenta injections

H.K.’s SCMP editor under fire as press freedom ‘shrinks’

The first China-born editor of Hong Kong’s flagship English-language paper admits he made a “bad call” in cutting coverage of a mainland dissident’s death, but denies he is a stooge for Beijing.

罗慧娟 Jacqueline Law passed away

Former Hong Kong actress Jacqueline Law has succumbed to pancreatic cancer. She was 45.

Visa rules tighten for foreigners

Top legislature approves new set of regulations aimed at people who come for short-term projects but remain after their employment contract ends

Uygurs arrested after hijack attempt

Six Uygurs, some disguised as disabled passengers, tried to hijack a plane yesterday shortly after it took off from Hotan in Xinjiang on a flight to the autonomous region’s capital.

Shenzhou IX back from orbital lab

Despite landing in rough terrain away from target zone, crew of spacecraft healthy and happy after mission that featured China’s first manual docking

Political goals may be behind Zhu Jun’s big-money signings

Contracts of ex-Chelsea stars Anelka and Drogba, reportedly worth a combined US$70m, could be aimed at gaining credit for revitalising local soccer

Church’s remarks raise questions

It could be seen as interfering with judicial process, say some lawyers

Church members say they back their leaders

Giving an example, Associate Professor Mak Yuen Teen of the National University of Singapore Business School, said: ‘If I man a till, and I decided to take the money in the till to spend on myself, and the next day I put back the money, it is still criminal breach of trust.’

Bloomberg site blocked over Xi family report

Website can’t be accessed on mainland after US$376m assets of vice-president’s relatives are disclosed

Xi Jinping Millionaire Relations Reveal Fortunes of Elite

Xi Jinping, the man in line to be China’s next president, warned officials on a 2004 anti-graft conference call: “Rein in your spouses, children, relatives, friends and staff, and vow not to use power for personal gain.”

Bankers Fleeing Europe Crisis Head to Singapore

A 37-year-old Paris-based French investment banker, who’s worked in London and New York, has been looking for a job in one of Asia’s financial hubs, Singapore, for the past six months.

‘Counterfeit’ painting sells for 90m yuan

A controversial painting said to be by early 20th century master Xu Beihong has sold for nearly 90 million yuan (HK$110.48 million), despite suspicions in the art community that it is a counterfeit.

Sichuan tower block the height of controversy

Plaza built after school funded by Hong Kong was pulled down is told to knock off floors after causing mayhem at airport

A model for China if promises are kept

Fifteen years ago, Hong Kong was making the final preparations for a journey into the unknown. Our city’s return to China on July 1, 1997, was a source of pride, hope and celebration. It brought to an end more than a century and a half of colonial rule.

Auditor’s report details litany of financial abuse

300 central government officials from 50 agencies misused funds totalling 4.4 billion yuan, NPC told

Donor also received funds from church

Mr. Wahju Hanafi, the Indonesian businessman who allegedly played the roles of both donor and recipient of City Harvest Church funds, had once been described by Pastor Kong Hee as a ‘true friend’.

Ex-finance chief in spotlight

One name has cropped up in the investigations into alleged wrongdoing by some leaders of City Harvest Church - that of Serina Wee.

Documents throw light on web of transactions

Millions allegedly used to cover up series of 'sham' bond investments

He dared to ask about use of church funds

Almost 10 years ago, Mr. Roland Poon dared to ask whether City Harvest Church was using church funds to fund Ho Yeow Sun’s music career.

Apple factory conditions ‘deplorable’

A labour rights group said on Thursday it had found “deplorable” conditions at Apple suppliers in China, following a probe of several firms that make the US technology giant’s hugely popular products.

Crackdown nets 146 officials in Shenzhen

150m yuan in graft is uncovered, 36 high-ranking cadres are among those arrested

Cambodia says Frenchman kept money for Bo’s wife

French architect is suspected of financial links, and China may send judge to interrogate him

Attack Raises Fears of a New Gang War in Macau

A senior figure in Macau’s gambling industry was severely beaten by six men in a restaurant at his own casino, the highest-profile case of violence in the city’s booming gambling business since Portugal handed control of the former colony back to China in 1999.

Fake princeling ‘scammed stars out of millions’

Girlfriend of Olympic champion, who claimed her parents are party elites, is accused of targeting athletes and showbiz figures with bogus deals

Shanghai publishing more air quality readings

Shanghai began publishing readings of fine, inhalable particulate matter, known as PM2.5, from eight more monitoring stations yesterday, taking the total in the city to 10.

New York Times launches Chinese language news website

The New York Times said on Wednesday it was launching a Chinese-language news website to deliver “high-quality coverage of world affairs, business and culture” to readers in China.

No obligation to verify girl’s age: Shaw’s lawyer

Howard Shaw pleads guilty, but his lawyer argues against jail term

Who is City Harvest's Wahju Hanafi?

Indonesian businessman Wahju Hanafi, the other beneficiary of funds allegedly diverted from City Harvest Church (CHC) to further Sun Ho's music career, is a man with multiple links to the church, its founder Kong Hee and affiliated companies.

To cover tracks, funds sent ‘round-tripping’

After $24m was siphoned from church, $26.6m diverted to cover tracks: prosecution

Woman driver strips naked to hinder rescuers after hitting two victims

A woman driver has provoked mass outrage online and been referred to as “female version” of Yao Jiaxin, after she fatally hit a mother and four-year-old daughter in a scooter and then even attempted to stop the medical staff from rescuing the victims by stripping herself naked and lying down in front of the ambulance.

Video Link

Chinese paper slams U.S. candidates for playing “China card”

China’s top newspaper slammed both U.S. presidential candidates on Thursday for playing the “China card” in their election campaigns, saying the real economic problems confronting the United States were being ignored in the process.

China dairy recalls hundreds of cartons of tainted milk

In the latest incident, the Bright Dairy & Food Co., called Guangming in Chinese, posted a recall notice on its website after customers complained online of bad smelling and discolored liquid in the company’s 950 ml cartons (about a quarter gallon) of Ubest milk, state media reported on Thursday.

Overseas internships gaining favour among students

They cite training, experience and exposure that such placements give

Myanmar faces major hurdles in its quest for change

The most formidable pressure comes from a long-oppressed people impatient to see results

Layoffs After New Indonesian Mine Rules Could Hit 3 Million

Mining companies in Indonesia have laid off more than 200,000 workers since a government ruling in May halted exports of some minerals, and total dismissals could swell to more than 3 million, a leading union said on Tuesday, providing fresh evidence of disruption in the major metals supplier.

Feeling Stomped all over

This Stomp fiasco brings back so many bad memories. Many moons ago, TNP (The New Paper) had to apologise to ex-DPM Toh Chin Chye for saying that he had been charged with drunk driving. The whole stable of SPH newspapers had to get on its knees and apologise on page one, not on one day, but on several. The reporter was sacked and a couple of his superiors were removed from decision-making positions. A disciplinary inquiry took place which looked at the system of checks would should have prevented something like this from happening.

Graduates like ‘security’ of state jobs

Survey finds nearly half prefer to join state-owned companies or civil service

Think tank calls for property tax hike

China should raise taxes on home ownership to target speculators who had recently driven property prices to record highs, the State Information Centre, a government think tank, said in comments published on Monday.

Foreigners face stricter visa rules amid review

Authorities are evaluating duration of stay, which could be cut to 90 days as part of crackdown on illegal expatriates and rise in anti-foreigner sentiment

Expats Grapple With Surging Costs in China

James Carney, a 27-year-old New Yorker, who’s been living in southern Chinese city Shenzhen for the past 16 months, says he’s feeling the pinch from rising living costs.

China to drink more white wine

White wine consumption in mainland China is set to rise significantly over the next five years, according to a study undertaken by analysts Wine Intelligence.

Beijing wants to keep its people in state of ignorance

Five months ago, Beijing’s Environmental Protection Bureau, spurred on by data released by the American embassy, adopted tightened standards and began disseminating information on extremely fine particles in the air capable of penetrating deeply into the lungs - particles that have been linked to respiratory diseases and lung cancer.

Challenges as China’s firms eye investments offshore

Chinese companies are cashed up and looking for prospects overseas but cultures can pose a problem

Luxury Shanghai hotels dump dodgy dim sum

Several luxury hotels in Shanghai scrambled to throw out dim sum made by a local supplier after finding out it did not have a licence.

A look at how Hong Kong has changed since 1997

Pretty much the entire fabric of society in Hong Kong has changed since the city and its surrounds returned to Chinese sovereignty 15 years ago, as the following figures show.

City Harvest Church founder faces the music

$23m financial irregularities alleged; church funds used to support wife’s music career

Home Electricity Audit

Link

California winemakers tap into growing Chinese market

The global downturn hit Doug Hill's family-run Napa Valley winery hard. But the third-generation California farmer's hopes for recovery are strong -- fuelled by heady growth in China.

Living with a toxic time bomb

Underneath many new office blocks and luxury apartments in cities on the mainland lies a hidden menace - the land they stand on is heavily tainted

Bo’s top aide left out of leadership

Xu Ming, who oversees Chongqing’s emerging hi-tech development zone, and propaganda chief He Shizhong have been dropped from the standing committee

Chinese Data Mask Depth of Slowdown, Executives Say

As the Chinese economy continues to sputter, prominent corporate executives in China and Western economists say there is evidence that local and provincial officials are falsifying economic statistics to disguise the true depth of the troubles.

At US hotels, Chinese treated to comforts of home

Major hotel brands are bending over backward to cater to the needs of the world’s most sought-after traveller: the Chinese tourist.

Top PLA officers must report assets

Move was initiated by Hu Jintao and is consistent with his efforts to expose and combat corruption

Aung San Suu Kyi's Speech at the British Parliament

Preparing for the main event

Manila is considering special legal action to pursue its territorial claims against Beijing over Scarborough Shoal, but the risky, complex strategy may backfire

Is the Rush Into Myanmar Creating a Bubble Economy?

In a country where reportedly a quarter of the population lives in poverty and 70 percent live without electricity, a bubble sounds like an odd way to describe what is happening in a part of Myanmar. If the ultimate trophies for international investors are the nation’s rich resources, such as natural gas, tungsten and gems, let’s just call it a gold rush.

China tests troubled waters with $1 billion rig for South China Sea

China has spent nearly $1 billion on an ultra-deepwater rig that appears intended to explore disputed areas of the South China Sea, one of Asia’s most volatile hotspots and where the United States is strengthening ties with Beijing’s rival claimants.

PLA should shift its allegiance to the state rather than the party

The Chinese Communist Party’s control of the People’s Liberation Army is so sensitive that discussion about whether the military should instead put the state first is rarely heard. But with the tussle for senior positions within the party in its final stages, the matter is being aired in the official army newspaper and is sneaking onto microblogs. For the nation to prosper and move confidently forward, the generals and their troops have to be politically neutral. It is a process that must be gradual and will take time to evolve, so open debate is necessary and important.

China suffering from oversupply of luxury homes

China’s luxury property market faces a large oversupply, with significant unsold inventory in the market, according to John R Carter, Managing Editor, Asia & Managing Director, China at Market News International (MNI).

France warns over extradition

French Foreign Ministry asks Cambodia for ‘clarifications on the motives’ for arrest of architect

Why fume now at U.S. over air data?

Beijing has publicly demanded the American embassy stop publishing pollution figures, saying it is a sovereign matter of China’s internal affairs

Petitioner ‘poisoned’ for land complaints

Friends say Mao Qiping was injected with toxic chemical and killed by thugs for leading grievance campaign against local officials over confiscation

Female University Student with 13 Knife Wounds Ruled a Suicide

As if the Chinese police hasn't spun enough unbelievable stories.

Read more...

Jim Rogers sues dentist

An American billionaire, a permanent resident here, is suing his dentist over a treatment that has left little for either party to smile about.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi speaks of family’s ‘sacrifice’

Aung San Suu Kyi made an emotional return to Britain on her 67th birthday Tuesday, visiting her former home of Oxford and speaking of the “sacrifice” her family were forced to make.

China advisers urge govt to relax property curbs

China’s top advisory body called on the government to relax property market restrictions to keep the economy growing, a newspaper said on Wednesday, the first such proposal by advisers to steady a weakening house market.

African fury over death in custody

100 block busy Guangzhou street and throw bricks during angry protest after Nigerian dies in police station after fighting with a taxi driver over fare

Police put the squeeze on massage spas

Workers must wear approved uniforms, under tightened regulations

Space City in the desert not so secret

The birthplace of the nation’s missile and space programmes - and still one of the most active launch pads - has become a lot more transparent

Taiwan tycoon quips he will buy Diaoyu islands

Terry Gou says he plans to purchase disputed atolls; develop them with three parties in ownership row

Vessel plumbs new depths

Manned submersible successfully tested its ability to dive to, and stay, around 7,000 metres. While at the Mariana Trench, the craft conducted sea research.

China property rebound may spell danger

A pickup in residential real-estate sales should actually be seen as a negative indicator that could force an about face on the part of Chinese policy makers, analysts said Tuesday.

Morality campaign ‘doomed to fail’

New books to educate cadres on values are useless without rule of law and democracy, critics say

Cambodia arrests Frenchman linked to Bo Xilai scandal

A French architect with ties to disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been arrested in Cambodia, the French embassy said Tuesday, in a new twist to China’s biggest political scandal in decades.

US House ‘regrets’ Chinese Exclusion

The House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution Monday decrying a law -- more than a century old -- that prevented Chinese people from immigrating to the United States.

Could Burma be the next emerging market miracle?

In Rangoon's hotel lobbies anticipation is high. Brash Australian miners rub shoulders with hard-nosed American private equity investors. Indonesian infrastructure specialists and Japanese salesmen scout out the terrain.

One-third of accused have no lawyers

With limited funds and manpower, legal groups cannot help all

How did T.T. Durai clear $4m debt to NKF?

A businessman, an architect and younger brother rallied to ex-charity chief’s aid

AGC releases statement on Woffles Wu case

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) released a statement on Sunday morning outlining the reasons behind the charges pursued against Dr. Woffles Wu.

The physics behind Bruce Lee’s one-inch punch

Late star’s famous move, a display of lethal power and lightning speed derived from wing chun, shows velocity can generate greater kinetic energy than mass

Saturation coverage in nation’s media

Lift-off with first woman astronaut is biggest event since 2008 Olympics for TV and newspapers

Astronauts get stellar send-off

Thousands of well-wishers cheer on three crew members of Shenzhou-IX, who headed to orbit in high spirits despite the tough tasks ahead of them

Two big steps for China in space

Shenzhou-IX rocket not only carries nation’s first woman astronaut, but crew will embark on tricky manual docking with orbiting module

Bordeaux Firsts of 2003

The last time I reviewed Bordeaux 2003, it was the non-Firsts in March last year. A host of the 2003s (non-Firsts) were tasted, and my conclusion then was that most of them were not ready unless you could not contain yourself.

As Singapore Loosens Its Grip, Residents Lose Fear to Challenge Authority

Those accustomed to thinking of this booming city-state as a bastion of apolitical strivers and shopaholics might be stunned by the burst of civic activism sweeping this crowded flyspeck of an island.

Arrested spy compromised China’s U.S. espionage network

A Chinese state-security official arrested this year on allegations of spying for Washington is suspected to have compromised some of China’s U.S. agents in a major setback that angered President Hu Jintao, sources said.

Submersible sets new China dive record

A manned Chinese submersible on Friday set a new record for the country’s deepest ever sea dive at 6,000 metres (19,685 feet), state media said.

Mercury found in China baby formula

Chinese dairy maker Yili said it had started recalling batches of baby formula after authorities found they contained high levels of mercury, in the latest food safety scare to hit the country.

Luxury property market has 'practically collapsed'

Given present market conditions, it is less likely that the government will roll out new property cooling measures, said economist Chua Hak Bin from Bank of America Merrill Lynch (Singapore).

Women has Virgina Operations to Revivie Sex Life

About 10 years ago, she caught sight of her nether regions in a mirror and began obsessing about how "dark" it was.
It bothered the management consultant so much that she began losing interest in sex.
She eventually decided to go for labiaplasty to reduce the size and lighten the colour of her labia.

Read more...
Different types of procedures for women
Like a virgin again

China poised for most ambitious space mission yet

China will launch three astronauts, including a mother of one who flies transport planes, to live and work on a space station for about a week, a major step in its goal of becoming only the third nation with a permanent base orbiting Earth.

Yangon looking prepared for flood of investment, tourism

Singapore presence strongly visible from umbrella shelters to publications

The art of keeping land idle in China

Beijing revises rules but enforcing them against developers is another issue

Mainland media must clean up its act

Hu Shuli says the practice of a pay-off in return for good press hurts journalists’ credibility and undermines their role as a public watchdog, to society’s detriment

China’s banks in no position to launch fresh lending stimulus

2012 is not 2009, and a below-the-surface shift in the financial landscape means the way the country responded to the last crisis cannot be repeated this time

China Property Bounces Back, but Analysts Are Worried

China’s property sector, which has suffered from seven consecutive months of price declines after a slew of government tightening measures, is staging a surprising turnaround, boosted by the central bank’s recent monetary policy easing.

Billions needed to keep market fresh

If Beijing is to meet its target of halving food waste, it will have to invest in cold chain facilities, say experts

16 medical officials investigated for graft

Hospital chiefs and department heads at centre of corruption inquiry in Shenzhen

Late-term abortion forced on woman

Shaanxi family planning officials are alleged to have abducted and later forced a seven-month pregnant female to abort her foetus against her will this month

Shortcut to a home-grown Ferrari

Chinese car makers are hiring foreign designers in an attempt to build globally recognised brands

Kunming Changshui Airport

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Broken pole repaired by China Telecom with adhesive tapes

‘Bo prostitute’ lies made public hate me, says Zhang

Film star Zhang Ziyi says defamatory reports claiming she had sex with disgraced former Chongqing party secretary Bo Xilai for money, made her the object of hatred, contempt and ridicule, according to a writ filed in the High Court.

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi sues paper over sex claims

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has sued Hong Kong's leading newspaper the Apple Daily and its sister weekly Next Magazine over reports that she prostituted herself with senior Chinese officials.

Strong demand from Singapore buyers for Nusajaya projects

Read more...

Veteran China graft lawyer to work for ousted Bo's wife

The family of Gu Kailai, the Chinese leader's wife suspected of murdering a British man and igniting a political firestorm, has hired a Beijing lawyer experienced in defending officials accused of corruption to work for her, two sources have said.

 Read more...

Reforms open Myanmar tourist floodgates

The hotels are full or eye-wateringly expensive, creased dollar bills are worthless and credit cards are widely refused -- welcome to Myanmar, Asia's next big tourist destination.

Read more...

In Chinese Murder Mystery, Take 2 for Big Scene

In the chill of late January, around the time Chinese were celebrating the Lunar New Year, the police chief of this foggy south-western metropolis pressed Bo Xilai, the ambitious Communist Party official who ruled the area, with evidence that Mr. Bo’s wife had been involved in a murder.

Consensus on two fewer seats at the top table

There has long been debate about what is the right number of seats on the Politburo Standing Committee, and some sources say the leadership has recently reached a consensus on reducing this from nine to seven.

Battle for power

The downfall of Bo Xilai has opened up the competition in the most important leadership change in decades - and maybe even cleared the way for a dark horse

Nation’s auction houses take on the big players

For centuries the art world was dominated by establishment auction firms such as Sotheby’s and Christie’s, but now the mainland has five in the top 10 by revenue

Louis Vuitton passe for China’s super chic

Daisy Liu epitomises China’s obsession with luxury brands: her shoes are Guiseppe Zanotti, her brooch Chanel, a floral Hermes scarf is stylishly knotted over one shoulder. She won’t, however, tote a monogrammed Louis Vuitton handbag ever again.

Crunch time for rule of law in China

Jerome A. Cohen says the outcome of one of China’s key challenges in the next stage of its development - the moulding of a society ruled by law - may well hinge on the selection of security chief Zhou Yongkang’s successor

Calls for June 4 rethink grow in party ranks

Some mainland scholars see signs of support, possibly at a high level, for a vindication of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protesters; others not so sure

Bubble alert: Watch this (industrial) space

Investors rush in, seeking huge rentals, but big supply in pipeline may hit yields

Beijing anti-graft team on trail of casino losses

Beijing has major Macau casinos in its sights as it seeks hard evidence of bribery and money laundering amid a snowballing investigation into a senior banker and a secretive businessman on the mainland.

Aussies red-faced over secret war plan against China

On the eve of his first visit to China as Australia’s Defence Minister yesterday, Mr. Stephen Smith was forced to deal with the embarrassing revelation that his country’s 30-year security blueprint included a secret plan for war with China.

No Arguments - Ajahn Brahm

Chinese Drivers Pose Fresh Risks for Foreign Insurers

"People like us who buy Ferraris don't care too much about insurance because we buy cars for speeding," said Li, in his twenties and the son of a Pearl River Delta factory owner, as he took delivery of a new 5 million yuan ($787,500) 458 Spider, his fourth red Ferrari. "If we crash, we just throw them away."

Read more...

Odd twist in China stock index evokes crackdown

In an unlikely coincidence certainly unwelcome to China’s communist rulers, the stock benchmark fell 64.89 points Monday, matching the numbers of the June 4, 1989 crackdown in the heart of Beijing.

Robots lift China's factories to new heights

The giant orange robotic arms that swiftly weld together car frames at the Great Wall Motors factory in Baoding might seem like the perfect answer to China's fast-rising labour costs - they don't ask for a raise, get injured or go on strike.

Nick Bartman’s investigation of fake wine, other IPR issues in China

In March of 2010, I met Nick Bartman twice in Beijing to talk about wine and intellectual property rights (IPR) in China. At that time, Bartman was investigating the scale of IPR infringements, including fake wines, in China and had started The Wine Protection Group in an effort to get major industry players to pool their resources.

Retired SPH Editor: The problem with Singapore’s media

I am publishing this post, dear reader, because I believe that Singaporeans place too much trust in our mainstream media to deliver “the truth”. It really irks me that Singapore’s media keeps patting itself on the back, when it suffers from several problems, not least a pro-government bias. So, I have decided to show six very clear examples of poor journalism. Each one is different, but together they highlight everything that is wrong with our media. Please scroll to the middle of this post to see them. Or, if you permit some preliminary yakking, then read on here….

Exploration ambitions reach new depths

Manned deep-sea submersible heads off in attempt to set a Chinese record for the deepest dive - 7,000 metres down in the West Pacific’s Mariana Trench

Hints of a Rift Between Myanmar’s Political Reformers

The first trip abroad in more than two decades by Myanmar’s opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, appears to have strained her crucial relationship with President U Thein Sein, who is leading the country’s transformation from military dictatorship to embryonic democracy.

911 In Plane Site - ALL MEDIA LIED ON 9/11!

Dark chocolate cuts heart deaths

Australian researchers have found that eating a block of dark chocolate daily over 10 years has "significant" benefits for high-risk cardiac patients and could prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Beijing Exhibiting New Assertiveness in South China Sea

In tropical waters off the coast of the Philippines, a standoff between half a dozen Chinese fishing boats, two Chinese law enforcement vessels and an aging Philippine Navy ship recently attracted a lot of attention in Washington, Beijing and other capitals across Asia.

China's wine industry: the numbers

Part of his role as a lecturer at the Beijing University of Agriculture has Li Demei casting his eye over how the wine industry in China is developing, and he said Thursday he thought that, in the forseeable future at least, the country would continue to rise as an importer of wines rather than an exporter.

Experts say Chinese wine industry still needs time to mature

The wine industry itself would have us believe that China will soon be the "largest vineyard" in the world but a group of wine experts told a seminar Thursday they remained unconvinced by the claim.

Which way now for China?

Brahma Chellaney says the Communist Party’s sudden about-face on Bo Xilai and rising popular discontent are signs that China is at a political crossroads, with five potential scenarios

Is China’s culture holding back its scientists?

The nation produces research faster than Western nations, but little of it is top-quality, and it loses some of its best minds to freer countries

Hong Kong wine traders try to offset export drop

A dramatic slowdown in the growth of wine exports to the mainland is forcing traders to come up with new business strategies to maintain Hong Kong’s position at the centre of the trade in Asia.

Another mainland owned supercar crash

   It's one of the rarest and most expensive cars in the world and the favourite marque of British superspy 007 James Bond.
   The top-of-the-range racer has a massive 750 horsepower and a top speed of more than 320km/h.
   It is thought to be owned by a mainlander, and has a list price in the UK of £1.4 million (HK$16.7 million).
   Only 77 of the One-77 model have been built and they have all been sold, making the car one of the most sought-after on the planet.
   A spokesman at Aston Martin's headquarters in Britain confirmed that an Aston Martin One-77 crashed in Hong Kong.
   "This type of supercar is made for the track, not for normal road use," he said. "Many drivers who buy them can't handle the car, as it has too much horsepower for them.
   "They don't have the skills or experience to control them. It's more than likely this was the reason behind this crash."