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Top News

Tax reform aims to plug loopholes
Taxation authorities are mulling reform of the personal income tax system by clubbing total income under one head and lowering the top rate to check evasion and simplify computation.

Fuel oil tax in sight

Tsunami swallows up villages

Skeleton find casts doubt on Out-of-Africa dispersal theory

Oil firms told to go offshore

In breakthrough, human heart valve grown from stem cells

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Top News

China makes first visit to SAARC
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing today attends the 14th Summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in New Delhi.

Anti-terrorism tops summit agenda

IN BRIEF (Page 2)

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Nation

Crackdown on illegal grave trade
The Ministry of Civil Affairs is expected to issue new rules to curb the rampant speculative trade in public cemetery land.

Premier appoints Tsang for 2nd term

More subsidies for sea burials

Students come to victims' aid

Thousands attend funeral service for Mao Anqing

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Nation

House may be 'forcibly dismantled'
The defiant owners of the reputed Chongqing "nail house" have been given a new ultimatum: move, or be moved.

Beijing's criminals could face higher fines

Polluted water puts residents at risk

Legislator calls for performance-based pension fund

New tax rate will not take the shine off Shenzhen: experts

Across China: Beijing

Across China: Yunnan

Across China: Chongqing

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Nation

HK short of breath from 'wall effect'
HONG KONG: World famous for its skyscrapers, Hong Kong's bustling urban landscape now faces a shortage of good air ventilation.

Girl's research offers insight into beggars

Water-level drop prompts volcano fear

New post aimed at building job skills

Height-increasing surgery could be dangerous: Experts

Expat Corner: When everybody is onside, footballers find it's great fun

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China Scene

Happiness is a cuddly dog, thief chaser and wallet finder
A two-year-old puppy has become a household name in a residential neighborhood in North China's Hebei Province.

China Scene: Central

China Scene: East

China Scene: North

China Scene: South

China Scene: West

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International

Teheran hails UK 'shift' in sailor row
Iranian television said yesterday it had detected a shift in British policy that could help to resolve a crisis over 15 sailors and marines Iran is holding.

Death penalty sought for 'Chemical Ali'

Argentina slams British 'arrogance' on war anniversary

Around the world: United States

Around the world: United Kingdom

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International

Taliban: Suicide bombers are ready
Thousands of Taliban suicide bombers have been deployed across Afghanistan to attack Western troops and the government, the group's military chief said yesterday.

Zoo turns to artificial insemination as 'porn' fails

Hillary's presidential bid raises record $26 million

$5m prize may improve leadership in Africa: Annan

More children plea not enough to solve aging problem

Across asia: Tajikistan

Across asia: Israel

Across asia: Cambodia

Across asia: Sri Lanka

Across asia: Japan

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International

Britain to test migrants' 'Britishness'
All foreigners wanting to settle in Britain are now being tested on their "Britishness" - knowledge of British history and customs.

'Life in the UK' test sample questions

French fry grease powers Americans from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego

Green group says kiwi better than bunny for Easter

After bloody week, singer delights Iraqis with win

News Makers: Last known WWI veteran dies at 105

News Makers: Trump wins Battle of the Billionaires

News Makers: Bond is Britain's best-dressed man

World Scene: India

World Scene: United States

World Scene: Panama

World Scene: Norway

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Cartoon

Media must beware of being manipulated
When you fry food, you heat it up.

South Asia opportunity

Corporate citizenship

Reality is the cure

Equal rights for disabled

Perks should not be biased

Waking up to high quality made-in-China

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Opinion

South Asia moving toward closer China relations
The 14th Summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which opens today in New Delhi, is considered a milestone in the regional organization's history. It encompasses the addition of new member Afghanistan and the first ever participation of five observer parties China, Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea and the European Union.

From our archives

Letters and Blogs

Universities should enhance human power

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Insight

Operation blitzkrieg against desert storm
It was huge, 3,100 square km till the late 1920s. A lifeline of the ancient Silk Road, it was first mapped by ancient Chinese geographers. But the salt lake in the southeastern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has largely dried up today, with marshes and small, shifting lakes receiving the channels of the Tarim River.

Surfers make waves in British battle of the breaks

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Business

CNPC boosts offshore projects
China's top oil company China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) will make a huge investment to tap offshore reserves this year, with Bohai Bay its priority.

Plans for more pipelines

Local bank entities throw open their doors

Acquisition to power Datang capacity

Digitization hobbled by cable operators' monopoly

Biz monitor

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Business China

Audi plans to drive up sales growth
Audi AG, the luxury arm of German carmaker Volkswagen AG, is aiming for 11 percent sales growth in China this year to cement its decade-long position as the top luxury car firm in the world's No 2 vehicle market.

Venture to take tofu further

Chengdu to focus on outsourcing industry

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

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Business Indepth

Oil industry a step closer to reform
Two new guidelines for wholesale oil product and crude licenses are set to bring about de facto market deregulation. But analysts say reform of the oil-pricing mechanism is crucial in terms of whether new players enter the market.

Danish insulin maker tastes sweet success in China

Biz Scene: MARKET

Biz Scene: BIZ MOVES

Biz Scene: GRAPEVINE

Biz Scene: BIZ UNUSUAL

Biz Scene: LOCAL

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Business International

Newspapers seek to refashion image in Web era
The US newspaper industry is pressing hard to show advertisers that its products are worth every dollar despite bleak financial forecasts, with data released yesterday showing a rise in website visitors.

US-ROK free trade talks go to the wire

Heyer out after losing board's confidence

Has 'Celtic Tiger' lost its roar?

Biz People: Jacobs confident on Nokia deal

Biz People: Saudi billionaire looks to Asia

Biz People: Europe enjoying 'robust recovery'

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

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Life

Loving Andy to death
A 28-year-old woman whose infatuation with Hong Kong pop star Andy Lau had drawn media attention, is now holding the celebrity actor and musician responsible for her father's suicide.

Who's in

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Life Science

Bones of contention
Some scientists argue that Chinese genes originate from an African female, believed to be the ancestor of human beings who emerged two million years ago. But, the truth is not that simple, as new evidence shows.

Ancient city found under Palestinian suburb

What makes electrons tick? New device has answers

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Life Pulse

Tapping into the roots
People across China may now find their family heritage just a mouse click away. Thanks to a project launched by the Shanghai Library and involving 25 institutions in China and abroad, the General Catalogue for Chinese Genealogy (GCCG), Chinese will be able to trace their genealogical roots on the Web, using an enormous electronic database.

Rural-urban semantic divide

Reviews: Film

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Sports China

Snooker looks forward to bright future
After a punishing 5-1 first round defeat at the China Open, Li Hang was puzzled to find himself the center of media attention.

Beijing has 500m yuan event fund

IN BRIEF (Page 22)

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Sports

Phelps zeroes in on Beijing target
MELBOURNE: It's all ahead full throttle for Michael Phelps and his ambitious tilt at Mark Spitz's Olympic record of seven gold medals in Beijing next year after a stupendous world championships.

Top Shot

World record spree sets scene for Olympic assault

Aging Milan ready to roll back years against Munich

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Sports

Djokovic captures Miami men's title
MIAMI: Tenth seed Novak Djokovic defeated Guillermo Canas 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 here Sunday in the final of the $6.9 million ATP Miami Masters Series event.

Suns end Mavericks winning streak

Sevilla title hopes fade; Robinho rescues Real

Inter within touching distance of Scudetto

IN BRIEF (Page 24)