Page1

Top News

Food crisis threatens 100m: UN
LONDON: A "silent tsunami" unleashed by costlier food threatens 100 million people, the United Nations said yesterday, but views differed as to how to stop it.

Badminton stars share relay glory

Netizens root for overseas relay, donate flags

Paris move a severe provocation

Non-financial investment rises 6%

OPEC set to boost oil production

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Top News

Rural residents to get more say
The country's rural population is poised to have a larger say in its political, economic and social issues, with the coming amendment of the Election Law giving equal representation to residents in the countryside and urban areas.

Rebuilding from winter storms 'nearly complete'

Disabled set for tax breaks, fee exemption

Page3

Nation

Dereliction of duty in spotlight
Procuratorial departments will next month launch a nationwide campaign to combat dereliction of duty, specifically in areas concerned with energy and resources, and the environment, a top judge said yesterday.

Forbidden City facelift to finish in June

Boost for English language students

Better rights for Taiwan people

Marine security tightened

Page4

Nation

Power shortages unlikely: Official
The country will be free from major power shortages this year, but some regions may suffer temporary blackouts in the summer, a senior figure from the national electricity regulator said yesterday.

New look for Hainan villages

Court hears drinks boss' appeal

Flame attendants just doing their job

Across China: Beijing

Across China: Shanghai

Across China: Yunnan

Page5

China Scene

Guangdong couples struggle to find useable sperm
About 5,000 infertile couples in Guangdong province are looking for sperm donors, but as many as 80 percent of them have failed due to limited supply, the provincial sperm bank said on Monday.

China Scene: West

China Scene: East

China Scene: North

China Scene: Central

China Scene: South

Page6

Nation

Culture comes first for 'lucky' scholar
Shesrab Nyima considers himself a lucky man; not just because he escaped the fate of being a serf - he was born after the liberation - but also because he is able to dedicate his time to the preservation of his ethnic culture, which was neglected prior to the 1950s.

School getting back to normal

Sad memories of feudal past gradually fading

Protesters take to streets of New York, demand apology from CNN

Page7

Insight

Service to mankind or medicine for profit
Are multinational pharmaceutical companies doing mankind a favor by conducting clinical trials (on humans) or are they using Chinese people as guinea pigs to make more money? The question came to the fore again with a court hearing on a medical dispute in Beijing last week.

Page8

Comment

True Buddhists can't be proud of Dalai's record
An ancient Chinese saying has it that few people live to their 70s (in those times). If I remember correctly, the Dalai Lama is 73 this year, which means he is an old man now.

Cartoon

For better food safety

Earth Day pledge

Hot Words

When actions belie words

How they helped fire young hearts

Page9

Opinion

More plain truths from new Tibet
Mohan Guruswamy

China, Europe together in Kyoto action

Letters and Blogs

Mixing politics with Games is foul for both

From our archives

Page10

International

Hillary on edge as key state votes in primary
Democrats in Pennsylvania made their choice yesterday in the presidential nominating race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, with Clinton aiming for a big win to keep her flickering White House hopes alive.

Hamas agrees to deal on Israel truce: Paper

Chinese investors eye Chicago Spire

Sarkozy's first year in office a failure: Survey

Shipment of arms normal trade: FM

Around the World: Somalia

Around the World: Egypt

Around the World: Iraq

IN BRIEF (Page 10)

Page11

International

Disney launches new nature film label
The entertainment giant on Monday announced the launch of a new film label, Disneynature, dedicated to producing wildlife and environmental documentaries for the big screen, starting with a 2009 US release titled Earth.

Elvis' secret UK visit revealed

Aviation chiefs pledge to tackle climate change, but set no targets

World Scene: Australia

World Scene: India

World Scene: United States

Page12

Torch Relay

Holy flame lights up S. East Asian faces

Page13

Business

Operating easier, says IFC report
Local governments throughout China are actively reforming the business regulatory environment to make it easier for the private sector to grow, said a report released yesterday by World Bank Group member IFC and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Companies urged to go green

Bosch to invest more

Page14

Business China

Firm kicks off restructuring
Global services firm Ernst & Young kicked off its largest restructuring yesterday, merging its Asia operations in 15 countries including China into a "Far East" region in a move to enhance cooperation, integration and borderless business development.

Delta vows to coordinate region's financial services

EXFO launches Shenzhen plant

Mutual funds bleed

Rhodia starts R&D project

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

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Business Roundup

Zipping ahead in the China market
With its sales volume crossing the 100,000-unit mark last year, a 25 percent increase over 2006, German premier car producer Audi AG has strengthened its leading position in China's luxury sedan segment. The strong sales have also made China Audi's second biggest market, climbing up from the fourth position in 2006.

Shanghai stock index on the rebound

Biz scene

Page16

Business International

'I am truly sorry', says Samsung's Lee
Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee will step down after being charged with tax evasion and breach of duty, ending his two-decade reign over South Korea's largest industrial group.

'Hermit manager' changed company

Immelt resists calls to shrink GE

Biocon Q4 profit rises 7.6%

News Corp turns toxic as investors shun Murdoch

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Page17

Business International

RBS stock slumps on writedown
Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, the United Kingdom's second-biggest lender, will sell 12 billion pounds of new shares to investors to boost capital depleted by writedowns.

AT&T rings up $3.5b profit

Will Kurer become whipping boy?

Lockheed cashes in on govt orders

IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Page18

Life

Birdman of Dongtan
One late-March morning, Jin Weiguo put on his rubber fishing suit and climbed on to a boat lying anchored on the broad mudflats of Chongming Island, Shanghai, with a bamboo basket, a mist net, a rope and a black umbrella.

Why wary Tse prefers pandas to paramours

What's new

Page19

Life Health

Are vitamins killing us?
LONDON: Every vitamin devotee everywhere will be outraged. Anyone who has ever pondered the life-enhancing claims on the seductive tubs of supplements lining the shelves of the pharmacists must be doing a double take. According to a group of scientists, some should come with a health warning: These supplements could shorten your life.

This taste enhancer is also good for health

Birds too take power naps to alert

IN BRIEF (Page 19)

Page20

Life Pulse

Life imitating art
At the end of 2007, Soldier Sortie (Shibing Tuji), a TV drama dubbed the Chinese-version of Forest Gump, attracted millions of Chinese viewers, old and young.

Mom's searing saga draws charity's funds

What's in a name? Everything - emperor, commoner, soldier

Reviews

Page22

Sports

LeBron leads Cavs over Wizards
CLEVELAND, Ohio: LeBron James scored 30 points and passed out 12 assists - both game highs - to power the Cleveland Cavaliers past Washington 116-86 Monday in a NBA playoff game.

Canadiens crush Bruins, Capitals force decider

Time catches up with old masters Kuerten and Moya

IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Page23

Sports China

Critics change their tune
Chinese media have hailed its women's basketball team after it won three consecutive games at the "Good Luck Beijing" International Invitational this week.

'Super Mom' Leslie returns, going for fourth gold in Beijing

Aoki tipped to play at Pine Valley Beijing Open

Norman out to show old bite at BMW Asian Open

Score board

IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Page24

Special Supplement

Qingdao Port plans further moves in climb to top
Already the world's largest dock for iron ore, Qingdao Port has ambitious plans to become the shipping hub of northeast Asia as it transforms itself into a hi-tech, third-generation facility.

Volunteers to share enthusiasm and skill

Strong shipping demand forges links

Rising tide for port industries