'Big Four' banks sweep the Forbes list

The slowing economy is not affecting Chinese companies' growing global prominence, with the nation's four biggest banks sweeping the top slots on the Forbes Global 2000 list of public companies.

New Third Board to face tighter scrutiny

The securities regulator has vowed to crack down on the illegal practices on China's New Third Board, the pilot national share transfer system for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Hershey sweetens China lineup with Brookside candies

Undaunted by the sluggish sales during the first three months of the year, confectionery giant The Hershey Co remains confident of ending the year on a solid note with a slew of new product launches.

IN BRIEF (Page 6)

Car sales growing at the slowest pace in 5 months

Passenger vehicle sales in China rose at the slowest pace in five months as weaker economic expansion hurt demand for big-ticket purchases.

Firms cash in on e-commerce with S. Korea

Businessman Lin Xuguang is predicting his company sales will double this year as a result of the free trade agreement between China and South Korea.

Funds pour in as Yao Ming turns to crowdfunding for winery

Former National Basketball Association star Yao Ming is within reach of his goal to get $3 million from crowdfunding to expand his wine business.

Customs slashes red tape along the Silk Road

Not long ago, Liu Jinjuan, a manager at China Master Logistics Co Ltd in Qingdao, Shandong province, had to cross-check customs clearance data with colleagues in Zhengzhou, Henan province.

Iran says it has released Maersk ship

The Iranian government released a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship on Thursday, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

Country asks UN for quick ground force intervention

Yemen's ambassador to the United Nations is asking the international community to quickly intervene with ground forces to save the country from Houthi rebels who have been targeted by Saudi-led airstrikes for weeks.

Netanyahu beats deadline, forms hard-line government

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu completed the formation of a new coalition late on Wednesday, putting him at the helm of a hard-line government that appears to be set on a collision course with the US and other key allies.

Japan's fake 'Beethoven' to star in documentary

A fraudulent composer once dubbed "Japan's Beethoven", but who was neither deaf nor especially musical, is set to star in a documentary film about his charade, a report said on Thursday.