4 nabbed for kidnapping businessman

Police in Yibin, Sichuan province, arrested four suspects who they say demanded a ransom of 100 million yuan ($15.7 million) in the abduction of a businessman.

McDonald's opens in historic home, with Starbucks in annex

A McDonald's cafe opened in the old home of former Taiwan leader Chiang Ching-kuo in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, last week.

Director in row over drug comment

Chinese film director Zhang Yimou is at the center of a controversy after making comments on celebrities using drugs during an interview backfired.

Government on target for reduced pollution in 2017

China's major cities should reach their targets in reducing major air pollutants by 2017 as planned, experts said, though ozone poses a more stubborn problem.

Survey says tougher for northeast to clean its air

Northeastern China, where heavy haze lingered for days, faces a tougher situation in curbing air pollution due to greater pressure on economic growth and a lack of scientific guidance, a survey said on Monday.

Markets relocated to reduce traffic jams

Beijing has moved thousands of wholesale booths and shut down 315 polluting factories in the first three quarters of this year.

Two-child policy puts pressure on sperm banks

China's sperm banks are already facing a shortage of donors, and a government proposal to end the country's decades-old family planning policy may put more pressure on the institutions.

Microsurgery offers hope to 50% of infertile men

Fifty percent of infertility problems are related to the husband, according to a senior specialist.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Tougher rules proposed for delivery companies

The central government is coming up with stricter rules to regulate the booming delivery industry, which has been largely buoyed by the growth in Chinese e-commerce.

Number of mainland college students in US exceeds 300,000 for first time

The number of Chinese mainland students studying in colleges and universities in the United States exceeded 300,000 for the first time this academic year, according to a report released in the US on Monday.

Buddha statue dispute to be taken to Netherlands court

One of the lawyers representing a village in Fujian province in its quest to win custody of a 1,000-year-old Buddha statue they say was stolen in 1995 said an appeal would be submitted to a Dutch court later this month.