Page1

Top News

Magical moments
Dujiangyan and Beichuan have become synonymous with death and destruction after being ravaged by the earthquake which struck Sichuan province on Monday.

Soldiers begin daunting task at epicenter

Page2

Wenchuan Quake

Premier's hands-on approach an inspiration
Since the deadly 7.8-magnitude quake struck Sichuan province on Monday, Premier Wen Jiabao has been visiting disaster areas to inspect and oversee rescue operations.

Concern over safety of dams

Page3

Wenchuan Quake

Hard-hit Hanwang picks up the pieces
HANWANG, Sichuan: The clock tower, one of the tallest buildings in town, still showed the time when Monday's deadly quake struck - 2:28 pm.

Narrow escape from death

Farmer takes up grim task in town

Page4

Wenchuan Quake

Heroic tales from the rubble
BEICHUAN, Sichuan: Swarms of soldiers and civilians continued to scour through rubble in search of survivors in Beichuan yesterday, a mountainous county in northern Sichuan province that was devastated by Monday's earthquake.

Stadium of refuge, comfort and hope

Insurance payout sad confirmation

Page5

Wenchuan Quake

Troops fight against time to save lives
According to the book Art of War by Sun Tzu, "speed is the soul of warfare".

Communication links to some counties restored

Power supply slowly returning

Tourists, reporters 'safe' in Wolong

Hospitals set up to help treat injured

Quake Snippets

Page6

Wenchuan Quake

People join in display of generosity
Individuals, companies and organizations have been giving what they can to help the victims of China's worst earthquake for more than 30 years.

Evangelist sends best wishes, donation

Farmer launches own mercy mission

Beijingers weather downpour to donate blood

Man determined to make it home

Text message provides relief

Page7

Nation/China Scene

Relay in historical city tinged with sadness
The torch relay in Ruijin, Jiangxi province, began with a minute's silence in memory of the Sichuan earthquake victims and ended with donations toward disaster relief efforts.

'Cradle' ready for torch

Food prices down for fifth straight week

Across China: Tibet

Across China: Inner Mongolia

Across China: Beijing

China Scene: Central

China Scene: South

China Scene: East

China Scene: North

China Scene: West

Page8

Comment

Slowdown no reason to spell gloom for growth
An official from the National Bureau of Statistics predicted in a recent article that the gross domestic product (GDP) of 2008 would grow by less than 11.9 percent, the annual growth achieved in 2007.

Facing quake impact

Transparency works

Violent ways hurt harmony

Where lives and loves lie in ruins

Cartoon

Hot Words

Page9

Opinion

Why China is crucial to world food security
The United Nations in China would like to express its sympathy for the thousands of people who have lost lives and been affected by the earthquake which struck Southwest China on Monday.

Outside View

Making museums a mirror of the times

From our archives

Page10

International

World's fattest man eyes slimming record
Mexico's Manuel Uribe, once the world's most obese man, is now vying for a different record: the human who has lost the most weight.

Lung cancer culprit identified

No bread for birds, says British charity

News Makers

World Scene: Austria

World Scene: United States

Page11

International

GPS grows as crime-fighting tool
It was just after 10 pm when William Cotter burst into the home of his estranged wife, Dorothy, shooting her in the back with a sawed-off shot gun before taking his own life.

Shanghai hosts women's forum

Peru creates environment ministry as glaciers melt

Across Asia: Bangladesh

Across Asia: Lebanon

Across Asia: Dprk

Page12

International

New Myanmar storm fear discounted
The 1.5 million people left destitute by Myanmar's devastating cyclone were increasingly desperate yesterday, as foreign aid trickled in and overstretched aid workers struggled to reach hard-hit areas.

Curfew imposed after blasts kill 80

Clinton vows to continue uphill bid

Cannes opens with mix of serious films and antics

Judge asks Berlusconi to testify in CIA case

Around the World: Austria

Around the World: European Union

Around the World: Russia

Around the World: Spain

Around the World: Ukraine

Page13

Business

Market up in wake of earthquake
SHANGHAI: The mainland stock market increased 2.73 percent yesterday, as investors' concerns about Monday's earthquake's impact on individual companies' performances eased after nearly half of the companies in Sichuan and Chongqing reported they were unscathed by the natural disaster.

Focus on fighting inflation

US woes 'will not hurt ties'

Special supplement: Remote Heilongjiang promotes cultural industries to melt isolation

Special supplement: Distant cousins linked by closer investment ties

Page14

Business China

Beijing to host AMD research center
US microprocessor maker AMD will set up a joint research center in Beijing, as part of its commitment to the world's fastest growing PC market.

China Eastern to raise over 15b yuan

Malaysian fund looks to China

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

Page15

Business Roundup

Hong Kong stock market holds steady
Hong Kong stocks held steady yesterday as fears eased over the economic impact of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province, offsetting concerns over record high oil prices and pessimistic comments by the US Federal Reserve.

Biz scene

Page16

Business International

Mortgage firm posts $151m loss
Freddie Mac, the second-largest US mortgage-finance company, posted a $151 million first-quarter loss as tumbling home prices and record foreclosures drove up credit costs. The company will raise $5.5 billion in capital.

IMF chief expects no global recovery before 2009

Deere harvests quarterly profit

Steel giants report earnings boost

Biz people

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Page17

Business International

Planemaker returns to the black
European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co posted a first-quarter profit as its Airbus SAS unit, the world's largest commercial-aircraft maker, delivered more planes.

Sony profit rises on asset, stock sell-off

Euro's glass remains half-empty

IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Page18

Life

New life, new hope

Page20

Life Pulse

The morning after
A young man invites a girl to his home: "Lily, would you like to come to my home to study?" and throws in a bait, "My parents are there." But when the girl arrives, she finds the boy's parents are not at home.

Online roses are the thorn in my side

Reviews

Page22

Sports

Henin announces retirement
LIMELETTE, Belgium: Women's world No 1 Justine Henin rocked the tennis world yesterday by announcing her retirement from competitive tennis.

D'Antoni introduced as new NY Knicks coach

Sorenstam calling it quits at end of the year

'A real Dakar' promised in South America

NFL commish plans no new punishments for 'Spygate'

IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Page23

Sports China

China powers into Thomas Cup semis
JAKARTA: Defending champion China crushed Thailand as it powered into the Thomas Cup semifinals yesterday, temporarily putting aside concern for victims of the devastating earthquake back home.

All thoughts on quake victims as World Cup begins

Boxers meet US, Brazil in punch-up for diplomacy

Score board

Page24

Sports

Pistons reach semis for 6th straight year
DETROIT, Michigan: Richard Hamilton scored 31 points and the Detroit Pistons advanced to the National Basketball Association semifinals for the sixth year in a row by defeating Orlando 91-86 Tuesday.

Davydenko, Ferrer progress as Frenchman blows a Gasquet

Penguins on brink of NHL finals