Europe turns on tech giants for tax revamp

BRUSSELS - They have revolutionized the way we live, but are United States tech giants the new robber barons of the 21st century, banking billions in profit while shortchanging the public by paying only a pittance in tax?

'Selling death': Lease of life for Australia graves

ADELAIDE, Australia - From the graveside to the dinner plate, olive oil is being harvested from centuries-old trees at an Australian cemetery in a bid to shake up people's attitudes toward death and burial sites.

Museum rolls out toilet tutorials

NEW DELHI - A throne with a built-in commode for a French monarch takes pride of place at a New Delhi museum trying to break taboos surrounding toilets in a country where such convenience remains a sensitive issue.

German firms bullish on China

German companies doing business in China are more optimistic than last year on their economic prospects in the country, according to a survey published by the German Chamber of Commerce in China on Friday.

Safety a key concern for self-driving cars

Self-driving vehicles still have a long way to go before they can reach the mass production stage or be used commercially on a large-scale due to safety concerns, although such cars have become the development trend, experts said.

CBRC tightens rules for commercial banks

China's top banking regulator has drafted a regulation on equity management for commercial banks to tighten controls on financial risk and combat illegal activities.

Nation to further boost digital economy

China is committed to developing a digital economy with openness and shared benefits and the rapid development of the country's internet is visible proof of its success, said Ren Xianliang, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Guangzhou rental housing scheme gets fresh impetus

State-owned Yuexiu Group and Pearl River Enterprise Group unveiled their subsidiaries for the rental housing business in Guangzhou on Thursday, with local branches of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Construction Bank pledging at least 1 trillion yuan ($151 billion) in financial support during the coming five years.

IN BRIEF (Page 9)

Chinese heroes get Belgium statue

On the night of Nov 15, one hundred years ago, German troops violently bombed Poperinge, a city not far away from the Great War front-line. Thirteen Chinese, among 20,000 laborers working in Belgium, were killed in the attack.

Homeless man realizes dream of Cambridge

A homeless man who has spent most of his life on the streets has achieved his dream of becoming an English literature student at Cambridge University.

Nepal's musicians retune to tradition with modern note

KATHMANDU - Nepal's musical heritage is enjoying a revival as young musicians fuse the sounds of traditional instruments once at risk of disappearing with lyrics that examine the modern challenges facing the country.