Page1

Top News

Move to drain lake water out deferred
Rescue workers are not likely to start draining out water from a major quake lake near Beichuan county in Sichuan province till Thursday, two days later than originally planned, Xinhua reported yesterday.

No trace of relief copter yet

Foreigners get Games' guide to dos and don'ts

Yesterday once more, 35 music years later

Page2

Top News

Overseas Chinese donate $163m
Overseas Chinese had donated about 1.13 billion yuan ($163.4 million) worth of funds and relief supplies for victims of the May 12 Sichuan quake as of Sunday, an official of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council (OCAO) has said.

Health of victims get priority in relief work

Page3

Wenchuan Quake

More villagers moved to temporary shelters
MIANYANG, Sichuan: Zhang Jianfu has never spent a night with nine family members in a crowded tent, but he now has to do so for a least a week.

Party to thank for many lives

People keen to regain lost identity cards

Systems 'needed' to combat disasters

Quake Snippets

Page4

Nation

Mainland to promote links with Taiwan
Beijing will push forward with the three direct links across the Taiwan Straits and expand its policies benefiting Taiwan businessmen investing on the mainland, the country's top political advisor said yesterday.

Enter the Dragon Boat Festival flights

Samples of lethal drugs contained irregularities, govt agency says

Six countries in joint bid to get on cultural heritage list

Across China: Beijing

Across China: Shanghai

Across China: Shanxi

Page5

Nation

Universities keen to lure top students
Universities are competing aggressively for top students as the annual national college entrance examination approaches.

Accidents top killer of kids

Walled city hosts final leg

Mighty river no obstacle to ingenious people of Hubei

Torch relay moves to Hunan province

Page6

Insight/China Scene

'Clear skies' seen over Taiwan Straits
Given the tension in cross-Straits relations over the past eight years with the Democratic Progress Party's (DPP) control of Taiwan, many have been relieved to see warmer ties between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan with the Kuomintang's (KMT) return to power on the island.

China Scene: Central

China Scene: North

China Scene: West

China Scene: East

China Scene: South

Page8

Comment

Tax cut not a good idea in changed scenario
Recently, the State Administration of Taxation announced that it would waive taxes worth 20.2 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) to support the reconstruction in the regions affected by the earthquake in Sichuan on May 12.

Heart of Stone

Right side of law

Plan disaster insurance

There isn't enough food to waste

Cartoon

Hot Words

Page9

Opinion

Chinese in top job at World Bank
In June Justin Lin Yifu, a Beijing professor, will take up the post of chief economist at the World Bank. Nothing could be a clearer sign of the times. This is the number two job in one of the two major international economic institutions, the other being the International Monetary Fund.

Letters and Blogs

10 years of the Euro: the currency is a triumph

'Lhasa Convention' proves nothing

From our archives

Page10

International

Global fashion pioneer Yves Saint Laurent dies at age 71
French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent has died at the age of 71, hailed as a 20th century cultural innovator who revolutionized the way women dressed.

Young adults suffering from 'news fatigue' Study

News Makers

World Scene: Indonesia

World Scene: Germany

World Scene: United Kingdom

Page11

International

Ex-king eager to live as commoner
Nepal's deposed King Gyanendra is eager to live as a common citizen, the government said yesterday, after their first meeting since the monarchy was abolished last week.

Bin Laden firm plans Red Sea bridge, cities

Rising ocean acidity poses threat

Bitter memories, slim hopes for refugees

Across Asia: Iran

Across Asia: Thailand

Across Asia: Israel

Page12

International

Fire ruins Universal Studios lot
Firefighters patrolled fire-damaged Universal Studios early yesterday for flare-ups while authorities considered whether the blaze that gutted some of Hollywood's most famous backdrops was made worse by low water pressure.

IAEA to probe atomic claim in Syria

Suicide blast kills 6 at Danish mission

Kennedy undergoes brain tumor surgery

Shuttle nears space station

Pedophile suspect denies charges

Around the World: Macedonia

Around the World: Russia

Around the World: France

Around the World: Liberia

Page13

Business

Telecom mergers afoot
Fixed-line operator China Telecom yesterday said it will buy China Unicom's code division multiple access (CDMA) business and network for 110 billion yuan as part of the country's plan to revamp the telecom industry.

China Merchants Bank acquires HK's Wing Lung

Page14

Business China

Retailers go green, bag makers red
Retailers in China are now fighting a battle for the "green" high ground in a bid to turn fashion-conscious customers into eco-aware shoppers, as plastic bags face the ban.

Job losses stalk bag belt of Guangdong

Special supplement: Aux meets quake force with power of compassion

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

Page15

Business Roundup

Electricity and oil firms spark recovery
Oil and electric power companies led the mainland stock market to a slight recovery yesterday, as investors expect the government to loosen price controls on the public utility sector.

Solar power looks into a brighter future

Biz scene

Page16

Business International

Firms tell US govt to foot pollution bill
Rio Tinto Group and utilities are urging the US government to spend $20 billion on a technology they say has the best chance for eliminating pollution linked to global warming.

Hedge funds cut bets on oil price

Airlines to suffer big losses in 2008

Crude falls after storm misses Mexican field

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Page17

Business International

Asia-Pacific growth to slow down
Economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region will slow to 3.7 percent year-on-year this year from 4.9 percent last year, while inflation will become a bigger concern, a major regional think-tank has forecast.

UK bank plummets on share sale plan

Paulson says more market 'turmoil' ahead

IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Page18

Life

Spicy mix of culture & cuisine
Hailed as the "best writer in the West on Chinese food", Fuschia Dunlop has previously written two critically-acclaimed cookbooks, Sichuan Cookery and Revolutionary Chinese Cooking, a cookbook of Hunan dishes combined with the history of the province.

Wenchuan's tragedy on film

What's new

Page19

Life Culture

Super-duper Super Girl
Though wildly popular, the Idol singing competitions in the West are viewed with much skepticism. Despite showing talent and having a large fan base, participants often find themselves pigeonholed. Critics claim that the competition offers an easy shortcut to stardom, and calls for neither talent nor hard work.

X-Factor's Leona Lewis charms China, rocks Japan and sets the stage for future 'Idols'

China sports films make the cut

Page20

Life Pulse

New chapter begins
I was invited to a hospital caring for children saved from the Sichuan earthquake. They have had amputations and needed aid both physically and emotionally.

The write stuff

Sea of love helps heal deep wounds

Reviews

Page22

Sports

Celtics, Lakers set to revisit history
LOS ANGELES: It may be 2008, but the National Basketball Association Finals have a decided 1980's feel this time around.

Abdul-Jabbar cheered for Celtics before becoming Lakers star

Stanley Cup team captains poised for milestones

Top shot

Page23

Sports China

Favorable draw lifts hopes for golden repeat
A favorable draw allowed China's women's volleyball team to avoid powerhouses like Brazil, Italy and Russia in the group stage, giving its chances of defending its Olympic title a boost.

Nation's latest fairway star Yang Taoli sets sights on LPGA tour

China rules second World Cup with five gold medals

Score board

Page24

Sports

Serbs hit hat trick, Nadal grinds on
PARIS: Serbia hogged the French Open limelight on Sunday when first Ana Ivanovic raced and then Jelena Jankovic hobbled into the quarterfinals before Novak Djokovic hammered another nail in the coffin of home hopes.

Mayhem reigns as player arrested during game in Brazil

Kenyan teen clocks fastest 800 in 11 yrs

Rossi takes seventh straight Italian victory

IN BRIEF (Page 24)