Hu urges restart of Straits talks Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, yesterday pledged to resume cross-Straits dialogue at the earliest date.
Quake 'will not affect nation's growth' The massive earthquake in Sichuan province will have a serious impact on local economy but barely weigh on national growth or the overall consumer price index (CPI), senior officials said yesterday.
Home is where the heart and hope are MAOXIAN, Sichuan: Before walking into the mountainous Keke village in Maoxian county, I feared I'd see destruction and hear heart-wrenching cries only.
Injured start to arrive in Beijing Jing Daihui, 23, was thrown out the window of a three-story court building in Beichun county during the earthquake. Thirty-one others died when the building eventually collapsed.
Final call for paper air tickets From Sunday, all domestic air-ticket agents will stop issuing paper tickets, to meet a deadline set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for its members around the world.
Plenty of rooms left for Olympics More than half of Beijing's four-star hotel rooms and an even bigger percentage of lower-rating accommodation are still available during the Olympic Games, a tourism official said yesterday.
Quake no big hurdle to economic growth The May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province has caused big losses in both human lives and properties. In the affected areas, millions of houses collapsed, the transportation, electricity, telecommunication, water supply and gas supply facilities were destroyed. In Sichuan Province alone, 14,207 enterprises were hit by the quake, causing a loss of 67 billion yuan.
Regional games could cloud free trade horizon British newspaper Financial Times published an article not long ago saying the fast-growing Asian economy and the advancing regional cooperation there are ushering in the "Asian Century".
Giant skyscraper planned for Paris French star architect Jean Nouvel was chosen on Tuesday over four world-class peers to build a landmark skyscraper on the edge of Paris, set to rival the Eiffel Tower for domination of the city skyline.
Obama, McCain both need abortion issue Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain has one ace up his sleeve in his bid to woo disgruntled conservative Christians: his unflinching opposition to abortion rights.
Nepal set to become a republic Nepal's lawmakers have opened the first session of a newly elected assembly and are discussing a resolution to abolish the monarchy and declare the Himalayan nation a republic, ending 239 years of royal rule.
Quake destroys liquor reserves Xiao Lou felt drunk when the earthquake jolted Sichuan province on May 12, not only because the world was wobbling but also because the air reeked of liquor.
Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, greets Wu Poh-hsiung, Kuomintang chairman, in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. Reuters
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Business China
New WB lending for energy sector The World Bank said yesterday it has approved a plan to provide $440 million in loans to finance China's energy sector projects, accounting for about one-third of its budgeted 2008 lending to the country.
Expectation of index futures launch ups stocks Shanghai stocks rose sharply yesterday, led by a late surge in brokerages and banks, on speculation that authorities might soon announce the long-delayed launch of stock index futures.
Indonesia withdraws from OPEC Indonesia, the only OPEC member in Southeast Asia, will pull out of the group after aging fields and declining production force the region's biggest economy to boost imports as crude oil prices reached records.
Rescuers earn time off Zhang Qingshan and the China International Rescue Team had not had a proper dinner since their rescue work for the May 12 quake victims began - until last Wednesday.
Real tones down Ronaldo rhetoric to appease United LONDON: Real Madrid sought to appease Manchester United on Tuesday after the European champion threatened to report it to world soccer's governing body FIFA over its interest in Cristiano Ronaldo.
Top seed Sharapova in great escape PARIS: Maria Sharapova narrowly avoided becoming the first women's top seed in French Open history to lose in the opening round yestrday.
Greater opportunities are yet to come The world should increase its understanding of China and watch for further opportunities brought by the nation's economic development, a Chinese leader said yesterday.
