Job losses stalk bag belt of Guangdong

GUANGZHOU: Middle-aged migrant Zhao Bing has been looking for a job in Guangzhou for the past month, but to no avail.

Special supplement: Aux meets quake force with power of compassion

Earthquakes are merciless, but people have abundant compassion. The sudden earthquake on May 12 took the lives of tens of thousands of people - but tens of millions have responded.

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

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.

Steel major eyes stake in Australian firm

SHANGHAI: China's largest steelmaker Baosteel Group may buy a stake in Australian iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd to ensure stable raw materials supply.

Hopes pinned on OTC

Tianjin Binhai New Area is working on the detailed regulations for the country's first OTC (over-the-counter) market, with the threshold for companies seeking trade in the market set to be even lower than that for the Growth Enterprise Board, experts said at a financial forum in Tianjin yesterday.

Fund planned for Caofeidian

An industrial investment fund will be established before the year's end to finance Caofeidian industrial area, Tangshan city government's secretary said.

CNOOC's focus not international

CNOOC Ltd, China's biggest offshore oil producer, said overseas acquisitions won't be the main driver of future growth.

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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.