Nation under strain from immigrants

As a surge in immigrants from North Africa puts the country under strain, Italy's central government is struggling to make local authorities accept an arrangement for equal distribution of the new arrivals across the territory.

President changes tack amid crisis

In shaking up her entire Cabinet, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is trying to salvage an ambitious reform package amid growing scandals, and contain a political crisis.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Regulatory measures put stocks into a spin

Efforts by the Chinese regulatory authorities to clamp down on alleged stock trading irregularities have dealt a serious blow to investor sentiment, triggering a sell-off that has sent the leading indicator down more than 8 percent over the past three days.

Debt cloud looms over mainland bourses

Forecasters say capital market has gone 'too far, too fast' and warn of risks, reports Bloomberg.

Waning prospects dull appetite for Alibaba's investors

E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd will probably never have another year like 2014, when it drew global attention with its record $25 billion initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

Revenues soar on Lunar New Year sales

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd reported a 45 percent increase in fiscal fourth-quarter revenue as China's biggest e-commerce company capitalized on the Lunar New Year holiday shopping season.

BRICS cements its solid future in Shanghai

Work on the new office of the BRICS New Development Bank, set up by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is fast nearing completion in Lujiazui, the financial district of Shanghai and is expected to start operations this month.

What's news

Governments and policies

Quotes of the day

More natural gas stocks to guarantee energy security

China's proven reserves of natural gas are a much better choice than its oil reserves for ensuring adequate energy supplies in the long term, the Ministry of Land and Resources said on Wednesday.

Policy flexibility key to sustained growth

As China adjusts its economic structure, there is a risk that the nation's GDP growth will fall below 6.5 percent at times during 2015, a report by the International Monetary Fund has said.