Sinopec reveals social aspect of Fuling project

Sinopec Group, Asia's largest oil and gas refiner, has released an environ-mental, social and governance report on its shale gas development, the first of its kind in China.

Suning centers lend a helping hand to rural farmers

Wu Zhuang, a 49-year-old farmer from Jiangsu province, has proved what many previously thought impossible.

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Service sector offsets weak factory output

Steady growth in China's service industry looks to have helped counter the weakening in manufacturing activity during 2014, increasing policy makers' confidence to accelerate structural reforms this year, analysts said.

Iron ore inventories drop as steel mills replenish holdings

Iron ore inventories at ports in China, the largest importer of the steel-making raw material, fell to their lowest level in almost 11 months on Tuesday, as mills replenished holdings after prices fell and local output slowed during the winter.

Kaisa bonds fall on payment fears

Bonds of Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd fell to record lows on Tuesday amid speculation the Chinese developer will miss more debt obligations this week as Standard & Poor's cut its credit rating to selective default.

Economists warn against lending to nation's less-developed provinces

Bloomberg economists are warning banks and finance organizations against lending to customers from less-developed provinces in China as they carry higher risks of debt default.

US lifts ban on Ireland's beef

The United States, the world's biggest beef consumer, is lifting a ban on imports from Ireland more than 15 years after mad cow disease spurred restrictions of supplies from Europe.

Revamped oil hedges may test OPEC's patience

As a war of nerves between US shale producers and Gulf powerhouses intensifies, OPEC's biggest members are counting down the months until their upstart rivals lose the one thing shielding them from crashing oil prices - hedges.

Economists urge caution in debate over stagnation

Secular stagnation hung over the annual meeting of more than 5,000 economists from around the world this past weekend--as a description of the economy and not as comment on the liveliness of the cocktail parties.

Samsung tries to cash in on TV-based skills

Samsung Electronics Co's challenger to Google Inc software is moving from phones to big-screen TVs as the South Korean company tries to capitalize on the burgeoning interest in smart homes.

Export quota system for rare earths abolished

China has ended a quota system previously aimed at restricting exports of rare earths, a move in line with a World Trade Organization panel ruling last March.