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.

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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

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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