IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Oil group lends hand in battle against major illnesses

Eight-month-old Cui Mingxi, who was born with heart disease, had a physical examination before undergoing free heart surgery in mid October.

Newborn deaths plummet in China

In 2004, one newborn out of 400 on the Chinese mainland died of birth asphyxia, a condition in which a newborn infant lacks oxygen, but the figure in 2014 declined by more than 80 percent compared with 10 years before, statistics from the country's top health authority show.

Starbucks brews up big expansion plans

CEO believes the company's business in China will someday exceed that in US

Schultz's huge vision: something more than selling coffee

Among the 2,500 or so new Starbucks stores to be mushrooming all over China within the next five years, there is one particular outlet that the world's largest coffee brand is pinning hopes on to sell something more than coffee.

Zhouheiya fast food chain to list in HK

The initial public offering of Zhouheiya, a Hubei province-based fast food chain known for its spicy-braised duck neck and other ready-to-eat snacks, opened for subscription in Hong Kong on Tuesday, looking to raise up to HK$3.3 billion ($425.7 million).

Convergence Ventures attracts Chinese investors to Indonesia

Convergence Ventures just closed its first fund, raising $30 million from investors, including well-known Chinese entrepreneurs, to place bets on Indonesia's burgeoning technology sector.

China H shares advance due to factory data

Chinese stocks in Hong Kong gained the most since Oct 24 after two manufacturing readings jumped to two-year highs, boosting the outlook for the world's second-biggest economy.

Jiamei plans major growth in smaller cities, rural areas

Jiamei Dental Group, the biggest privately owned chain of dental clinics in China, said it plans to expand in smaller cities and rural areas, and increase its efforts in growing online medical services, because it is bullish on the significant growth potential of the Chinese oral care market.

P&G's Whisper quietly goes for premium quality

Global household and consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co said it is making a drive to introduce into the Chinese market more high-tech and premium hygiene products for Whisper, its female-care range, to speed up the brand's focus on more lucrative premium products.

Shenhua's profit rises 46% in the first three quarters

China's largest coal producer saw profit jump 46 percent in the third quarter amid a price surge following the government's efforts to curb the oversupply.

Rail-sea cargo service to slash costs

The new Taiwan-Pingtan-Europe rail-sea transport route will slash cargo costs between China's Taiwan province and Europe, an official from Pingtan in Fujian province said.