Uncertainty as deadline to pay for bronzes passes

Uncertainty over the fate of two bronze animal heads, looted from Beijing in the 19th century and recently offered for auction in Paris, heightened after the deadline passed for payment by the winning bidder.

When private schools fail

Students get short end of the stick; oversight isn’t keeping pace with growth

Messages are mixed on China’s economy

Chinese exports plunged by a record 25.7 percent last month, but investment spending surged as the country’s economic stimulus program took hold, the Beijing authorities said Wednesday, providing conflicting signals about the health of the Chinese economy.

How do you say goodbye?

The technology has gotten ahead of the etiquette when it comes to the farewell e-mail

Drug mules: Surge in Singapore women nabbed

12 arrested in 4 months; CNB warns against being fooled by foreign gangs

Delegates to call for renminbi to be made legal tender in HK

Forty 40 members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference are issuing a joint call to make renminbi legal tender in Hong Kong.

Congress chairman rejects calls for reform based on western models

Beijing flatly rejected calls for political reform yesterday, with its parliamentary chief insisting that China would not copy western models of democracy.

Collapsing asset values hit Asia hard

ADB finds open economies suffer more now, but they gain in the long run

Co-accused ‘unaware’ of tracts’ content

A woman who mass-mailed evangelical tracts that the authorities have found objectionable claimed in her defence yesterday that she did not know what was in them.
Fucking Liar!

Chongqing’s party boss dazzles with forthright maverick charm

Chongqing has long been famous for its spicy hotpots and beautiful girls - so perhaps it was only fitting that the municipality’s party secretary, Bo Xilai, appeared to publicly endorse this image on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress at the weekend.

Changes ruled out to Labour Contract Law

Top lawmaker denies legislation is placing a significant cost burden on businesses

Call to prevent officials fleeing

Mainland political advisers have joined hands to call for action over a growing exodus of bureaucrats allegedly fleeing overseas with tens of millions of yuan in embezzled public money every year.

Top 10 Red Wine under RMB100 in China

1. Cedar Creek (Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon) 2008, Australia / Top Cellar, RMB92
2. Callia Alta (Shiraz, Malbec) 2007, Argentina / Torres, RMB72
3. Santa Carolina (Cabernet Sauvignon) 2007, Chile / Aussino, RMB98
4. Las Condes (Cabernet Sauvignon) 2008, Chile / EMW, RMB86
5. (tie) Leopard’s Leap: The Lookout (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cinsault) 2006, South Africa
/ Aussino, RMB95 AND Concha y Toro Frontera (Cabernet Sauvignon) 2008, Chile /
Summergate, RMB79
7. Michel Torino (Malbec) 2007, Argentina / Palette, RMB98
8. Domaine du Landeyran AOC St. Chinian (Grenache, Syrah) 2005, France / BJ Winestore,
RMB85
9. Foot of Africa (Pinotage) 2006, South Africa / Torres, RMB99
10. Catena “Retamo” (Bonarda, Malbec) 2007, Argentina / Summergate, RMB8

Soros Says Commercial Property Values Will Fall 30%

Billionaire investor George Soros said U.S. commercial real estate will probably drop at least 30 percent in value, causing further strains on banks.

‘Sex surrogates’ put personal touch on therapy

Despite dubious legality, some counsellors still prescribe practice to patients

Sentencing can’t be led by public opinion: CJ

He also stresses need to explain sentencing policies to the public

World financial reform needed: China minister

Global crisis has exposed some pitfalls of the present system

Tighter checks, please: SM to Chinese

The Chinese authorities should maintain ‘stringent supervision’ over their companies that list in Singapore, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said yesterday.

Hold ‘experts’ accountable for their predictions

Ever wonder how financial experts could lead the world over the economic cliff? One explanation is that so-called experts turn out to be, in many situations, a stunningly poor source of expertise. There’s evidence that what matters in making a sound forecast or decision isn’t so much knowledge or experience as good judgment - or, to be more precise, the way a person’s mind works.

Opportunities from forced sales

Such sales by distressed owners will help to establish pricing benchmarks for potential investors and their lenders