Collapse of schools to be probed The national quality watchdog yesterday warned of "severe punishment" to anyone found responsible for the collapsed school buildings in the May 12 quake.
Cross-Straits talks begin next month The mainland and Taiwan will hold talks next month, paving the way for regular weekend charter flights and tourism.
Race against time to save relics PINGWU, Sichuan: Captain Wu Hongyu's mission yesterday was to move thousands of historical relics out of the "Forbidden City Deep In The Mountains" - another appellation for the 600-year-old Bao'en Temple, which was devastated by the earthquake on May 12.
Language no barrier for caring doctors CHENGDU: As well as jet lag, Jose Jorge Rodrigvez worried language barriers might hamper his disaster relief efforts.
Venues to meet standards Access facilities at all Beijing Paralympic Games venues will all meet international standards, organizers said yesterday, when the 100-day countdown to the opening of the Paralympics began.
'I'd have become son-in-law of China' Visiting Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Myung-bak spoke not only of geopolitics yesterday during his speech at Peking University, but also of a brief romance he once had with a Chinese girl.
New strategies needed to battle future shocks The losses from the quake in Sichuan keep mounting. Nearly 70,000 are confirmed dead, nearly 20,000 remain missing and more than 360,000 were hurt by now. The losses in financial terms are hard to estimate at this moment.
A neighbor and a friend in need Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: "A friend in need is a real friend. Please do not hesitate to approach us for any assistance that you may require."
Mexican resort hit by shark attacks No one could even remember a shark attack along this resort-studded stretch of Mexican coast popular with surfers and Hollywood's elite. Many of the large predators had been pulled from the ocean by fishermen. So when sharks attacked three surfers in less than a month, two fatally, it was unthinkable.
Canada reopens 'disgraceful chapter' After decades of foot-dragging, Canada is finally about to take a close look at what one aboriginal leader calls "the single most disgraceful, harmful and racist act in our history".
Nepalese celebrate republic Hundreds of Nepali protesters demanding that dethroned King Gyanendra immediately leave his palace clashed with police yesterday, injuring more than 25 people only a day after the abolition of the monarchy.
Changhong hit hard by quake The earthquake that devastated Sichuan province on May 12 has caused losses totaling 149 million yuan for major domestic home appliance maker Sichuan Changhong Electric Co, a company announcement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange said.
Medical workers wash themselves yesterday after disinfecting a tent camp for quake survivors who lost their houses in Leigu town near Beichuan, Sichuan province. AP
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Business China
Call to wake up to REACH rules Zhou Xin finds the picture of a giant test tube outside the European Commission building in Brussels a little unsettling.
Hiring expectations decline in 2nd quarter Multinational companies' (MNC)'s hiring expectations have largely declined in the second quarter, after sustaining a high level for a long period, but are rising in some sectors, a recently released human resources (HR) report said.
Sears posts unexpected Q1 net loss Sears Holdings Corp, the largest US department-store chain, unexpectedly reported a first-quarter net loss as consumers reduced spending on household items and clothing.
Seeds tumble at French Open before rain falls PARIS: Roland Garros seeds David Nalbandian and James Blake were sent crashing out of the French Open at the second-round stage yesterday.
Tianjin pioneers new model of green growth Tianjin and its Binhai New Area carry high expectations not only as the next growth engine for China, but also as a model of sustainable development.
