'Yes-woman' at CPPCC attracts critics

A TV anchorwoman and political advisor has been criticized for saying she has never voted against any proposal at the annual legislature meeting. Ni Ping, a celebrity delegate to the annual Chinese People's Political...

Warm welcome for longer holidays

A proposal to prolong the holidays for Spring Festival and May 1 Labor Day during the annual legislature has won approval in an online survey. Congress delegate Ma Yuanzhu, the president of a Sichuan tourism company,...

China selects first two women astronauts

TWO jet pilots have been selected as China's first female astronauts, and one may join their male peers on a space mission by 2012. They were selected after training since last May, General Zhang Jianqi, former...

Family queries death in custody

THE family of a prisoner who died in custody in Yunnan Province has questioned the cause of death, said to be a sudden stroke. Liu Chonglin, 47, was sent to hospital with acute cerebral bleeding and certified dead...

Manhunt for Gansu cop killer

POLICE in northwest China are offering a reward of 100,000 yuan (US$14,600) in the hunt for a vegetable wholesaler who shot dead a policeman called to settle a domestic dispute. Police have set up checkpoints at...

Bomber's death deals fresh blow to Indonesia militants

A suspected mastermind of the Bali bombings was killed in a police raid in Indonesia in the latest blow to an Islamist militant movement in the world's most populous Muslim country. Dulmatin, who once trained...

Israeli minister apologises to Biden over homes plan

AN Israeli cabinet minister apologised today after Israel embarrassed visiting US Vice President Joe Biden by announcing plans to build 1,600 more homes for Jewish settlers. Biden condemned the project, whose...

Inflation fears drive down index

SHANGHAI'S key stock index ended lower today on fears that February's consumer price index to be released tomorrow will show more inflationary pressure. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.66 percent,...

China curbs top bankers' bonuses

CHINA today unveiled stricter rules to target fat-cat banking executives and avoid a Wall Street bonus-driven risk-taking culture that triggered the credit crunch. Senior banking executives' performance-related...

New Zealander auctions 'ghosts' in a bottle

A New Zealand woman sold two vials that she said contained the ghosts of an old man and a young girl for almost NZ$2,000 (US$1,410) after a fiercely contested online auction, local media reported. Avie Woodbury...

China to release emission cut results every two years: official

CHINA will release the development of its emission cutting action every two years, Xie Zhenhua, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, said today. Xie, one of China's leading negotiators...

Last chances to see 'Avatar' in cinemas

MOIVE fans must say goodbye to 3D sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" next Monday as local cinemas will remove it from screens, the Oriental Morning Post reported today. Fans can still enjoy the IMAX version of "Avatar"...

Try the world's top toilet at Expo

JAPANESE companies will build the world's most comfortable and cleanest toilets in the Japan Pavilion for World Expo 2010. People will feel as happy and relaxed in the toilets as they would in a comfortable living...

US-born panda Taishan meets public in Sichuan

China's exports soar 45% in February

CHINA'S exports surged more than expected in February, while imports continued a strong growth after the global economy showed signs of recovery amid robust domestic demand. However, China should prepare for increasing...

Shaanxi landslide buries homes, at least 8 dead

AT least eight people are dead and about 44 are missing after landslide buried more than 10 homes in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, local authorities said today. The landslide in Shaanxi occurred at 1:30...

Reclaimed land for Pudong's 5th runway

SHANGHAI will build a fifth runway for the Pudong International Airport on land it will reclaim from the sea. The new runway will be open by 2014 when China's large jumbo is due to take its maiden flight, today's...

Man charged with transporting fake notes

A VEGETABLE seller has been charged with transporting fake notes with a face value of 600,000 yuan (US$87,895). Minhang District People's Procuratorate Office said Lu Shanqing, 34, should be charged with a criminal...

7-year-old calls police, saves family from attack

A dramatic call to police reveals a terrified 7-year-old boy begging emergency dispatchers to send police to his California home where three armed robbers were threatening his parents. The boy called emergency...

Google adds bike lane with latest mapping feature

GOOGLE is adding a bike lane with its latest online mapping option. The new bicycling directions available on Google Maps today supplement the guidance already provided to motorists and pedestrians. The biking...