Myanmar concerned over NGO doctors’ bias

Myanmar's government said it wants the international aid group Doctors Without Borders to leave a state torn by sectarian violence, in a move linked t...



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Yuan falls nearly 1pc against greenback

China's yuan currency fell nearly one percent against the US dollar in intraday trade Friday, its biggest drop in years, in what dealers viewed as a d...



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Zero inflation for Spain in February

Spain's inflation rate dropped to zero in February, an official estimate showed Friday, as fears of a damaging deflationary spiral haunted sluggish e...



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Hang Seng, Shanghai end higher

Hong Kong shares edged up for a third straight session on Friday following a cautiously optimistic view of the US economy from the head of the Federal...



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European markets open flat

Europe's main stock markets steadied at the start of trading on Friday, with London's FTSE 100 index down a marginal 0.01 percent at 6,809.57 points...



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(Paris Fashion Week) Lanvin – moving to the fringe

To the set of an age-old movie studio with flood lighting Alber Elbaz produced yet another symphony of excitement, nostalgia and innovation for Lanvin...



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(Paris Fashion Week) Balmain – Opulent Africa

Zebra stripes, leopard print, beaded jackets mixed with khaki colors, flak pockets and safari pants. Yes, this was Africa _ at least, Balmain's opule...



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(Paris Fashion Week) Nina Ricci – A nod and a wink to the ’30s

The Nina Ricci show progressed from covered up chic to complete see-through in a feminine show that channeled designer Peter Copping's fascination wit...



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(Paris Fashion Week) Rochas – Dell'Acqua’s quirky collection

Change is underfoot at Rochas, the old French house that is famed to have been first to put pockets on skirts. Alessandro Dell'Acqua showed his debut...



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(Paris Fashion Week) Damir Doma – bold sexuality

Damir Doma gave classical tailoring a frayed, grungy edge with a splash of art at Paris Fashion Week. The Croatian-born designer was inspired by cont...



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Cheung Kong posts better-than-expected 2013 profit

Cheung Kong (Holdings) posted a better-than-expected 10 per cent rise in its net profit to HK$35.26 billion for the year ended December 2013, thanks to contributions from Hutchison Whampoa and property sales from Hong Kong and overseas.

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India’s Sahara chief Subrata Roy surrenders to court over alleged illegal bond issuance

A well-known Indian businessman surrendered to police today after failing to show up in court on charges that his company failed to return billions of...



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Press freedom critical to HK: Li

Local tycoon Li Ka-shing said freedom of press is a core value of Hong Kong. The territory will be dealt a big blow without it. But the chairman of C...



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LeBron, Wade help Heat reel in reeling Knicks

LeBron James scored 31 points, Dwyane Wade added 23 and the Miami Heat used a huge third quarter to run away and eventually rout the New York Knicks 1...



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Yuan payments surpass Swiss franc, but lag greenback

The yuan has overtaken the Swiss franc to become the seventh most-used currency for payments, a global transaction services organization said. The ...



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Vietnam cans bitcoin

Vietnam has banned its banks from handling bitcoins, saying the virtual currency is not legal tender. Bitcoin, is a form of cryptography-based e-mon...



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Occupy Central not good for HK: Li

Cheung Kong (0001)'s chairman Li Ka-shing said Occupy Central will bring negative impact to Hong Kong. No matter how long the movement will be, Hong ...



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Regulations urged on cabbies using smartphones

Legislators have accused the government of putting lives at risk by failing to regulate the number and use of smartphones by taxi drivers. They say t...



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Taking seats off doesn't make much more space: MTR

MTR dismissed a suggestion to take seats off from the crowded trains, saying it would add standing space for three more people. Foldable seats may pu...



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Hutchison profit up 20pc to HK$31.1b

Hutchison Whampoa (0013) booked at 20.1-percent jump in net profit to HK$31.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013. Earnings before interest,...



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Nikkei dips at close

Tokyo stocks closed 0.55 percent lower Friday after the dollar felll against the yen on a cautious view of the US economy by Federal Reserve chief J...



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Disgraced party chief gets death sentence

Disgraced former Guangdong Party bigwig Zhou Zhenhong was sentenced to death with two years' reprieve on Friday for taking bribes. Zhou, former head ...



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Attacked editor’s condition improves

The condition of former Ming Pao editor, Kevin Lau, has improved from critical to serious, two days after he was injured in a chopper attack. The 49...



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Hang Seng eases at break

Stocks in Hong Kong fell 0.30 percent on profit-taking in the morning session following two straight sessions of healthy gains. The benchmark Hang ...



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Cheung Kong pre-sales lag, profits rise to HK$35.2b

Developer Cheung Kong (0001) said today profit increased by 10 percent to HK$35.2 billion for the year ended December 31 compared with the restated HK...



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China rejects Polish pork amid African swine fever scare

China has banned pork imports from Poland, a leading EU exporter of the meat, after Warsaw confirmed its first two cases of African swine fever amon...



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Israel limits Muslim youth access to mosque

Israeli police said they will limit access for Muslim men to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound during Friday prayers to prevent possible clashes f...



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Pumped up Aussies suffer shrinking testicles and risk death from steroid abuse

Australia's cloak and dagger love affair with steroids is ringing alarm bells as muscular young men in city gymnasiums abuse the drug, Christian Edwar...



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Macau population swells to 607,000

Macau’s population reached a record 607,500 at the end of 2013, an increase of 4.4 percent year- on-year, according to the tiny island’s Statistics an...



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Beijing takes aim at US human rights failings, citing efforts to sidestep tainted record

China responded to the United States criticism of human rights by publishing its own report on US human rights issues. The Human Rights Record of the...



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Nikkei dives 2pc

Stocks in Tokyo edged down 0.02 percent after US central bank chief Janet Yellen's hopeful-but-watchful view on the economy lifted US shares but sent...



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13 Thai children die in bus crash

At least 15 people, including 13 children, were killed when a bus carrying students on a trip to the seaside collided with a lorry in eastern Thaila...



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(Europa League) Napoli thrash mediocre Swansea

Late goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Gokhan Inler allowed unconvincing Napoli to run out 3-1 winners against a battling Swansea City and book their t...



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(Golf) Tiger tumbles to a 71. McIlroy leads

On the course where Rory McIlroy first climbed to No 1, he looked as if he might be headed in that direction again on Thursday in the US state of Flor...



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16.5pc profits tax to stay, says Tsang

The Financial Secretary, John Tsang Chun-wah, says corporate profits tax will not be reduced. The current profits tax rate is 16.5 percent. He was re...



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US Fed’s Yellen insists stimulus pullback not on pre-set course

US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen noted Thursday that recent economic data have pointed to weaker-than-expected gains in consumer spending and job...



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The Power of Family Assets: Inside the world’s oldest independent inn

In the picturesque Awazu Onsen district off the north-west coast of Japan is a small inn that today is the world’s oldest independent family firm.

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Years of possible losses ahead for Citic Pacific's Australian iron mine, warns group chairman Chang Zhenming

Be patient and look at the long term. That's the advice by Citic Group chairman Chang Zhenming, for investors who are fretting about the escalating losses on a Australian iron ore mining project owned by the group's Hong Kong subsidiary.

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Young British man charged with hacking into US Federal Reserve computers

A British man accused of hacking into US government computer networks was charged in a new indictment unsealed Thursday with infiltrating the Federal ...



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Pakistan swindler guilty of money laundering and US$10m fraud

A Pakistani man accused of buying US$30,000 watches and cars costing more than US$100,000 as part of a money laundering scheme that robbed a man of US...



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Low inflation not a danger, says ECB chief Draghi

Inflation in the euro zone is very low but there is no danger of deflation, European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi said. “At this point in time, w...



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British tabloid ex-editor Brooks admits corrupt payments

Rebekah Brooks, who edited aging Australian tycoon Rupert Murdoch's British tabloids, told her trial Thursday that she had sanctioned payments to pu...



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Loss-making Virgin Australia opposes aid for junk-rated Qantas

Australia’ second biggest carrier Virgin urged the government not to bail out junk-rated airline Qantas after slumping to a first-half loss of A$83...



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Crimean airport seized

Some 50 armed men seized the airport of Crimea's regional capital Simferopol, a day after pro-Russian gunmen took over government buildings in the...



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Hang Seng gains, Shanghai falls

Stocks in Hong Kong opened 0.50 percent higher, a third straight gain, after Federal Reserve head Janet Yellen's broadly positive outlook for the US ...



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Expelled Chinese academic warns US universities against educating children of Beijing’s elite

A Chinese economist and champion of free speech recently expelled from Peking University said in Washington that American universities are putting the...



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Japan consumer prices rise

Japan's consumer price index climbed by 1.3 percent in January, as inflation picked up pace though most of the increase was due to higher energy costs...



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Huisheng shares gain 7pc in trading debut

Shares in Hunan-based pork supplier Huisheng International (1340) gained by 7.3 percent in their trading debut today on the main board, opening at HK...



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Airlines urged to maximise usage at Chek Lap Kok as landing slots run short

Hong Kong-based carriers, including Cathay Pacific Airways, are being urged by the Civil Aviation Department to use larger aircraft and consolidate routes as Hong Kong International Airport risks running out of landing slots as early as next year.

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China buys majority stake in grain trader Nidera: reports

China’s state-owned grain trader has acquired a majority stake in a Dutch trader Nidera, ending weeks of speculation over the deal, Argentinian media reported on Wednesday.

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PCCW's profit jumps 13pc in 2013

Local phone and network operator PCCW (0008) recorded a 10 percent growth in revenue year-on-year to HK$26.643 billion for the year ended December 31,...



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Missing Indian submariners found dead

Two Indian naval officers who were missing after a submarine accident off the coast of Mumbai have been found dead, the defense ministry said. Wedn...



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Russian media report says Yanukovych seen in Moscow

A respected Russian news organization is reporting that Ukraine's fugitive president is staying in a Kremlin sanatorium just outside Moscow. Viktor Y...



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Robert Kuok heads Malaysia’s billionaire ranks

Ninety-year-old tycoon Robert Kuok heads the list of Malaysia's wealthiest, according to the latest ranking of the top 50 in the country by Forbes mag...



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Philippine HIV infections rise in January, annual AIDS deaths climb to 223

Philippines recorded 448 new HIV infections in January, up 18 percent over a year earlier, the Department of Health said. New infections brought the ...



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German jobless rate unchanged

Germany's unemployment rate was steady in February, as the labor market continues to hold up thanks to the improving economic outlook, official data...



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Euro zone business lending falls further

Lending to businesses in the debt-mired euro zone contracted again in January, data published by the European Central Bank show. Private sector lo...



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(Golf) Webb cards 66 for champions lead

Karrie Webb birdied six holes to shoot a 6-under 66 and take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the HSBC Women's Champions today. Sweden's ...



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Convicted Korean scientist Hwang loses appeal

South Korea's apex court has upheld a suspended prison term on disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo Suk on criminal charges related to faked research...



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2.19m mainlanders visit Taiwan in 2013

Chinese mainland visitors to Taiwan reached 2.19 million in 2013, up from 1.97 million in 2012, an official said on Thursday. Nearly a quarter of mai...



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Deep in the red, Royal Bank of Scotland flags more job cuts

Britain's state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland there will be more job losses, after announcing that the bank plunged into a near £9 billion loss last ...



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Germany’s Bayer moves in on Kunming-based drug maker Dihon

German pharmaceuticals giant Bayer, maker of Aspirin, said it had signed an agreement to buy the privately-owned Chinese group Dihon Pharmaceutical ...



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Europe equities hold steady

Europe's main stock markets held steady at the start of trading. London's FTSE 100 index was down by 0.05 percent at 6,795.71 points. Frankfurt's D...



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Qantas to cut 5,000 jobs after posting A$252 million pretax loss

Australian carrier Qantas Airways plans to cut 5,000 jobs, or 15 per cent of its workforce, sell older jets and reduce capital spending after reporting a first-half loss amid growing competition in both international and domestic operations.

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Shanghai closes higher

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed at 2,047.35 points today, up by 6.1 points, or 0.3 percent. Turnover was ...



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Guiyang bus fire kills five

Five passengers were killed in a bus fire in Guiyang, capital of southwestern Guizhou Province, local firefighters said. The fire broke out at around...



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Royal Bank of Scotland sets aside £576m bonus pot despite £8.9b loss

Britain's state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland plunged deeper into a net loss of almost £9 billion last year on the back of vast accounting charges, i...



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Allianz books 6b euros earnings

Allianz, Europe's leading insurer, said it was confident of its performance this year after profits grew in 2013. “In a politically and economically ...



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Armed men hoist Russia flag atop Crimea parliament

Ukraine placed police and interior ministry troops on alert after armed men seized the government and parliament in the pro-Russian region of Crimea...



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China, HK visitors to NZ soar

New Zealand drew a record number of overseas visitors last month thanks to the Lunar New Year holiday, the government statistics agency announced. Th...



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US food labels to list calories and sugar

The US is proposing new food labels that would make it easier to know about calories and added sugars, a reflection of the shifting science behind nut...



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Search begins for Indian sailors in crippled sub

Rescuers were searching the cramped confines of an Indian navy submarine after it returned to port in Mumbai today, a day after an onboard accident. T...



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Russia allies seize Crimea’s seat of power

Pro-Russian armed men seized the parliament and government buildings in the Ukrainian region of Crimea and raised Russian flags above them, the Inte...



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Boeing's defense industry phone tamper-proof

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has developed a smartphone for users in defense and homeland security fields, the company said on its web site. Boe...



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Perils of Ukraine’s revolution

At a time when cynicism and scepticism about European integration are at an all-time high, the drama unfolding in Ukraine is a salutary reminder that the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law remain a beacon of hope to many in post-Soviet Eastern Europe.

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Hang Seng climbs

Stocks in Hong Kong gained 0.90 percent in the morning session, in line with a broad regional advance, following a positive lead from Wall Street. ...



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Attacked ex-editor Kevin Lau recovering from surgery, but remains in critical condition

The former chief editor of Ming Pao, Kevin Lau, is recovering from surgery following a brutal chopper attack Wednesday morning in Sai Wan Ho. But he ...



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Fund managers cast wary eye on soaring valuations of Chinese internet firms

Fund managers in Hong Kong have turned cautious on China’s red-hot internet sector as valuations for high-flying technology firms approach nosebleed levels.

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Baidu splurges on mobility, earnings slip

Baidu Inc., which operates China's leading search engine, said quarterly profit edged down 0.4 percent as it spent heavily to promote mobile services....



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Detained Korean evangelist points to Seoul intel link

A South Korean Baptist missionary arrested for allegedly trying to establish underground Christian churches in North Korea has told reporters he is so...



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(Cricket) Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan guilty of corruption

Shakil Kasem, a member of Bangladesh Cricket Board's three-member Anti-Corruption Tribunal, confirmed to AFP that Dhaka Gladiators managing director...



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Wealth Blog: Will Hyatt’s service revolution work in Japan?

It’s worked in Los Angeles, London, New York and Amsterdam but it will be interesting to see how Hyatt’s Andaz concept goes down in Tokyo.

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Anti-graft panel summons Thai PM Yingluck

Thailand's prime minister has been summoned to face an anti-corruption panel to hear negligence charges. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has...



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Indian soldier guns down five colleagues

A soldier in Indian Kashmir shot dead five of his colleagues in a military camp before turning the gun on himself, an army spokesman told AFP. The ...



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Shanxi legislator faces corruption investigation

Jin Daoming, a local legislator in the northern Shanxi Province, is under investigation for suspected serious violation of discipline and laws, the an...



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Chinese insurers eye opportunities in online payment services

Payment platforms have emerged as a new battlefield for Chinese insurers, who see internet finance as being increasingly lucrative, but their ambitions could be hindered by concerns over cost and competition from e-commerce giants, analysts said.

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IPOs: Legend eyes Hong Kong, Xunlei New York

The recent window of positive sentiment towards Chinese tech firms continues to fuel a wave of offshore IPO plans, with video sharing site Xunlei and Lenovo (

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Tokyo flat at break

Stocks in Tokyo were flat at the end of morning trade, clawing back earlier losses as investors await congressional testimony by the head of the US ...



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(Sochi Games) American skater Perry banned for doping

Speedskater Brett Perry has received a nine-month doping suspension after a positive test for a banned substance at last December's Sochi Winter Oly...



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(Champions League) Ronaldo tops leading scorers

Leading Champions League scorers after Wednesday's last 16, first-leg matches: 11 goals: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP) 10 goals: Zlatan Ibrah...



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Shanghai outlet centre to promote affordable Italian luxury

Luxury retail is not the most obvious target sector for mainland shopping centre developers in the wake of the Communist Party’s crackdown on conspicuous consumption and corruption.

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(Champions League) Galatasaray stump Chelsea

Fernando Torres scored a valuable away goal for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw at Galatasaray in the Champions League in Istanbul yesterday, but the English Pr...



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(Champions League) Real Madrid tear up Schalke

Real Madrid staked their claim as the main challenger to Bayern Munich's supremacy in Europe with a 6-1 rout of Schalke in Germany yesterday. (Picture...



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(Cricket) New Zealander Vincent admits approach by bookie

Former New Zealand test cricketer Lou Vincent has pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to report an approach from an illegal bookmaker while playing ...



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Credit Suisse admits Swiss-based private bankers helped hide billions from tax liabilities

The American head of Credit Suisse expressed regret the Swiss bank helped US clients hide billions from the tax man, but blamed the wrongdoing on a s...



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Hang Seng edges up, Shanghai flat

Stocks in Hong Kong inched up 0.13 percent in the first few minutes of trade, adding to the previous day's gains, following a positive lead from Wal...



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Qantas pilots lament chief Joyce’s ‘demolition job’

Massive losses and thousands of jobs cuts announced by Australian airline Qantas, which has a junk grade credit rating, came under fire from politicia...



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Junk rated Australian carrier Qantas sheds 5,000 jobs, cuts flights, and clips Jetstar wings

Struggling Australian carrier Qantas said it will shed 5,000 jobs after a first-half net loss of A$235 million (US$210 million). Following an interi...



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Tokyo lower

Stocks in Tokyo opened 0.21 percent lower as investors await a testimony by the US central bank chief in the absence of fresh trading cues. The Nikke...



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Brazilian miner Vale annual earnings plunge 89pc, last quarter losses double

Profits at the world's top iron ore producer, Brazilian miner Vale, dived 89.2 percent to US$584 million in 2013, the company reported. The company’...



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HKEx books HK$4.5b in earnings

Bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (0388) announced profits of HK$4.55 billion, up by 11 percent for the year ended December 31. Revenu...



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Tokyo checks on Mt Gox bitcoin mess

Japanese authorities are investigating the troubled Mt Gox bitcoin exchange after claims of a multi-million dollar theft from its digital vaults. US ...



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JPMorgan to cut 5,000 more jobs

JPMorgan Chase, the largest US bank, announced thousands of job cuts as its mortgage lending business slows and said it was lowering its profitability target.

The company said it expected total headcount to fall by 5,000 to 260,000 this year.

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German consumer confidence improving

Consumer confidence in Germany is still on the rise as households feel optimistic about their income expectations, a new poll found on Wednesday. "C...



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Britain to ease rules for branches of Chinese and other non-EU banks

Britain’s central bank set lighter conditions on Wednesday for branches of Chinese and other non-European investment banks as part of efforts to bolster London’s role as a financial centre.

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Profitable Airbus predicts hefty order book

Airbus says profits increased last year following record deliveries of civilian jetliners and forecast further growth this year. The European aerospa...



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Korean carrier Asiana fined for post-crash failures

The US Department of Transportation said it had fined South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines, US$500,000 for violating federal law by failing to assist ...



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Pyongyang breathes fire over 'capitalist poison'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has warned of a creeping "cultural invasion,'' state media said Wednesday, reflecting Pyongyang's growing concern ove...



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Missouri inmate executed for rape, murder

A Missouri inmate has been executed for abducting, raping and killing a Kansas City teenager nearly 25 years ago. Michael Taylor was lethally injecte...



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Uighurs rail against China lawsuit

Rights groups condemned China for charging a prominent Uighur critic of government policy towards the mostly-Muslim minority with separatism. The char...



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Nikkei ends lower

Tokyo stocks fell 0.54 percent Wednesday, taking a soft lead from Wall Street after disappointing data on US housing and consumer confidence. The Nik...



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Defaults, restructurings to rise as Chinese firms’ debt soars

China’s corporate debt has hit record levels and is likely to accelerate a wave of domestic restructuring and trigger more defaults as credit repayment problems rise.

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(2014-15 Budget) Tsang warns of structural deficit

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah has warned that a structural budget deficit is inevitable. Tsang expected the local economy to grow slower th...



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(2014-15 Budget) Yuan deposits exceed 1 trillion

Yuan deposits and outstanding renminbi certificates of deposits surged past 1 trillion yuan at the end of 2013, accounting for 70 percent of the offsh...



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HKEx earnings growth of 11pc trails market estimates

Higher operating expenses and depreciation at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing resulted in lower-than-expected earnings, and brokers are wary of the challenges ahead.

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Former Ming Pao chief in critical condition

Former Ming Pao chief editor Kevin Lau Chun-to is in critical condition following a knife attack. He has been admitted to hospital with wounds to his ...



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(2014-15 Budget) HK$55 billion investment on new hospitals

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said the government will invest HK$55 billion to enhance hospitals. These include the new Tin Shui Wai Hospita...



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Reprehensible Canadian doctor jailed for sex assaults

A Canadian anesthesiologist convicted of sexually assaulting 21 sedated women during surgeries was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison. Ontario S...



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Bieber minder arrested over bust-up

A security guard and driver for Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber have been arrested near Atlanta in the US state of Georgia and charged with stealing...



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Hang Seng positive at break

Stocks in Hong Kong ended the morning session 0.19 percent higher on budget day in the city, despite a weak Wall Street lead as buying picked up aft...



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(2014-15 Budget) Tsang shakes off concerns towards welfarism

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah dismissed the claims that Hong Kong is moving towards welfarism. ''I would like to point out that government'...



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(2014-15 Budget) 3.5pc growth for 2015-18

An annual average of 3.5-percent growth in real terms in expected between 2015 and 2018, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said, who forecast th...



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(2014-15 Budget) Lower expenditure expected

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah expected a lower government spending for the 2014-15 fiscial year. Operating expenditure for the year is esti...



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(2014-15 Budget) Fiscal surplus at HK$12b for 2013-14

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah forecast a surplus of HK$12 billion, with the fiscal reserve at HK$745.9 billion by March 31, 2014. The reven...



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(2014-15 Budget) HK$20b for relief measures

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah announced five relief measures in a bid to ease the Hongkongers' burden, involving about HK$20 billion. Salar...



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(2014-15 Budget) Higher tobacco duty

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah announced a 20-cent increase for each stick of tobacco, effective immediately. ''This will bring the proporti...



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(2014-15 Budget) Additional HK$660 million for elderly services

The government is adding another HK$660 million to boost elderly services, said Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah. Recurrent expenditure on suc...



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(2014-15 Budget) 150 residential sites spotted to boost supply

The government has identified 150 sites for residential use, hoping to provide 210,000 public and private flats over the next five years, said Financi...



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(2014-15 Budget) Education Retraining Board gets more funding

An injection of HK$15 billion into the Education Retraining Board has been approved, said Financial Secretary John Tsang announcing the 2014-15 budget...



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(2014-15 Budget) Further aid to SMEs

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah announced new measures to support local small- and medium-sized enterprises. Delivering the 2014-15 budget, T...



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Wealth Blog: What’s hot right now in interior design?

Meet Boris the Chair

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(2014-15 Budget) Govt to upgrade tourist facilities

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said the government is upgrading Hong Kong's tourist facilities to attract more high-spending visitors. The n...



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(2014-15 Budget) Fourth batch of inflation-linked bond

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah proposed another issue of inflation-linked bond, also known as iBond, up to HK$10 billion with a maturity of t...



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Apec card opens doors to shorter immigration queues – but not all

If you want to flash a bolt of electricity through any conversation among business executives in Asia, there can be few safer ways than mentioning the Apec Business Travel Card (ABTC). It seems to provoke passions wherever it goes.

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(2014-15 Budget) More investment in recycling

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said the government has earmarked HK$11.4 billion to phase out all the 82 000 pre-Euro IV diesel commercial ve...



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(2014-15 Budget) 'Turning HK into a Smart City'

The government is doubling the number of wi-fi hotspots with completely or time-limited free public access to 20,000 by the end of 2014, as Hong Kong ...



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(2014-15 Budget) Efficient transport networks to maintain competitiveness

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah said the government is assisting the Airport Authority Hong Kong to press ahead with planning for a three-runw...



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(2014-15 Budget) HK economy expected to grow by 3-4pc in 2014

Hong Kong economy expanded by 2.9 percent in 2013, as compared to a 1.5-percent growth in 2012, said Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, announci...



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(2014-15 Budget) Extra expenditure of HK$25b for new measures

The government will have an additional expenditure of HK$25 billion on the new measures announced in the Policy Address, said Financial Secretary John...



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All eyes will be on AS Watson spin-off plans when Hutchison reports results

In the absence of sizeable mergers and acquisitions last year, Hutchison Whampoa’s annual results announcement on Friday is likely to be uneventful, with much of the attention focused on a plan to spin off its retailing business, AS Watson, which analysts said could spur

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Jailed Die Hard director McTiernan released

“Die Hard'' director John McTiernan was released from prison in the US after nearly a year behind bars in connection with a wire-tapping scandal, hi...



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Tokyo falls

Stocks in Tokyo fell 0.13 percent morning, taking a soft lead from Wall Street after disappointing data on US housing and consumer confidence. The N...



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Swiss bank Credit Suisse concealed US$5b

Switzerland's second largest bank, Credit Suisse, used elaborate measures to find wealthy clients and help an estimated 19,000 US customers evade Am...



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British banana lust drives growers into poverty

When a banana flown half-way round the world costs half the price of an apple grown in Britain, many wonder whether Latin American banana producers ...



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Blue chips steady ahead of HK budget

Stocks in Hong Kong began trading flat following a tepid lead from Wall Street in response to data showing US consumer confidence weakened in Februar...



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Expect limited sweeteners in budget

The Financial Secretary, John Tsang Chun-wah, will unveil his budget later this morning, and all indications are that there will fewer handouts than i...



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Mainlanders use ‘free money’ from Hong Kong banks to earn higher returns at home

Mainland Chinese working in Hong Kong have found a way to use “free money” from local banks to invest in profitable financial products across the border.

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(Champions League) Scotsman Moyes lost for words over humiliation

Manchester United’s manager David Moyes, a Scotsman, (Pictured) admitted he had been taken aback by the abject quality of the English team's perform...



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(Champions League) Greek champs expose impotent Man U

Once-high flying English football club Manchester United's troubled season took another turn for the worse yesterday in Greece as David Moyes' side sl...



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Dad suspects Stilnox addiction, while Aussie Olympian Grant Hackett flies off for drug rehab

Australian Olympic swimmer Grant Hackett (Pictured with former wife Candice) is seeking treatment for addiction to prescription drugs, his manager an...



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Hang Seng backtracks, Shanghai dives

Stocks in Hong Kong closed 0.32 percent lower , wiping out early gains, despite a strong lead from Wall Street. The benchmark Hang Seng Index lost 71...



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Apec ministerial meeting moved to Beijing

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers' Meeting slated for Hong Kong from September 10-12 has been re-scheduled for Beijing later th...



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Leung hosts Heilongjiang official

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying met visiting governor of Heilongjiang Province Lu Hao at the Government House today to exchange views on issues of mut...



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Sina plans US$500 million IPO for Weibo in US

Chinese internet company Sina plans to spin off its Twitter-like microblog service, Weibo, in a US initial public offering to raise US$500 million, a person with knowledge of the deal said on Tuesday.

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Seven killed in Shandong bus smash

Seven people were killed and one critically injured today in a bus-truck crash in eastern Shandong Province, police said. The accident occurred at ab...



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Cheung Kong Infrastructure books record earnings

Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (1038) reported today that it booked record profits for the year ended December 31. Net income at CKI grew by 23 p...



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Hang Seng to expand branch network in Hong Kong

Hang Seng Bank plans to further expand its branch network in Hong Kong this year in an effort to gain more customers.

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German public finances healthy

Germany clocked up a small surplus in its public finances in 2013, the federal statistics office Destatis said. “According to Destatis's latest cal...



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(NBA) Crawford leads way for Clippers

Jamal Crawford (Pictured) drained seven of the Los Angeles Clippers' 16 three-pointers on Monday as the Clippers wrapped up a three-game US National...



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(NBA) Golden State beat Detroit to extend win streak to 4

The Golden State Warriors won their fourth straight game after defeating the Detroit Pistons 104-96 on Monday. All-Star guard Stephen Curry had 19 po...



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Record number of HIV cases in HK

Hong Kong has booked a record number of new HIV cases for the third year running. There were 559 cases last year -- up from 513 in 2012 and 438 in 20...



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Parents complain against govt over school closure

A group representing parents and children from an international school that faces closure has lodged a complaint against the government with the Legis...



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China alerts citizens to Bangkok bloodshed

The Chinese embassy in Thailand warned citizens to keep away from rally sites and surrounding areas in the chaotic Thai capital Bangkok now going thro...



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RMB's sharp fall last week may be central bank's warning message

The sudden depreciation of the yuan last week was one of the largest three-day moves in recent years.

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Soaring dengue fatalities and water crisis leave Malaysia in a bind

Malaysia began rationing water to thousands of households in the most populous state today. The water crisis comes amid rocketing rates of deaths fro...



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LDK Solar seeks help from liquidators as bond maturity date looms

LDK Solar, the solar cell producer that failed to make a bond payment in August, asked a Cayman Islands court to appoint liquidators to help it resolve “liquidity issues” before the 1.7 billion yuan (HK$2.15 billion) note matures on Friday.

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MTR services back to normal

Train service between Hung Hom and Mong Kok East stations is back to normal, after reports stated that someone had jumped onto to rail. No one was fo...



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Nikkei climbs at close

Stocks in Tokyo closed 1.44 percent higher following healthy gains on Wall Street ahead of the release of US economic indicators later in the week. ...



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LinkedIn Chinese version bends to censorship rules

Business networking site LinkedIn has launched a Chinese version and admitted consenting to censorship conditions. Foreign tech giants are required ...



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Troubled bitcoin’s Tokyo exchange website disappears

The website of Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange MtGox went down today after the value of the virtual unit sank to about a quarter of that on other platf...



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Saudi camel virus found in humans, killer bug detected in secretions and blood

A killer respiratory virus spreading in the Middle East, is widespread in camels and may be jumping directly to humans, a study has found. The Middl...



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Education official sentenced for misconduct

A senior school development officer at the Education Bureau was sentenced to 140 community service, after she was guilty of misconduct in public offic...



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Service disrupted on East Rail

MTR's East Rail services is disrupted after some persons reportedly jumped to the railway. Police are at scene investigating. MTR said it will take 5...



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EOC dismisses double standards accusation

The Equal Opportunities Commission has rejected accusations of double standards over the use of insulting words by groups with differing political vie...



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Minor explosion hurts roadside worker

A worker has been injured in a minor explosion and fire in Sai Kung. Reports say he was carrying out roadside works in Po Lo Che when the incident ha...



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Hang Seng rallies

Stocks in Hong Kong climbed 0.45 percent by the break, following a positive lead from Wall Street as investors focus on the release of US economic d...



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Smog continues to choke Beijing

As severe smog lingers over Beijing, 147 industrial companies have cut or suspended production as of today. City authorities on Friday initiated a r...



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Severe smog alert raised for China’s northern and central regions

The national observatory has raised the severity of its smog alert for northern and central China. Heavy smog is expected to continue for another two ...



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Drunk faces court for flight fisticuffs

A man who allegedly punched a Philippine Airlines flight attendant on a Los Angeles-bound flight has been charged with interfering with a flight crew....



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Manila seeks explanation on shoal incident

Philippine President Benigno Aquino demanded an explanation from China over a report its coast guard had fired water cannon at Filipino fishermen at...



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Chalk failure up to experience, then move on to your next idea

William Zeckendorf, the American property developer who died recently, is not well known in Hong Kong, but he is credited with literally shaping and transforming Manhattan with his buildings.

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HSBC’s shares drop after it misses earnings forecasts

HSBC shares fell as much as 2.7 per cent in Hong Kong to the lowest in eight trading days after the bank posted annual results that missed market expectations.

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Sri Lankan virologist Peiris cautions against live chicken imports

A leading clinical and publich health virologist says the government should abandon plans to resume live chicken imports from the mainland. Professo...



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Nikkei rallies

Stocks in Tokyo rallied 1.35 percent, following healthy gains on Wall Street ahead of the release of US economic indicators later in the week. The N...



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Huawei TalkBand promises call feature on wrist

Hours after Samsung launched the Gear 2 smart watch, Huawei revealed a connected watch of its own at the mobile fair in Barcelona, Spain. Huawei, t...



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Samsung Galaxy S5, a minor evolution

Samsung unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone armed with a fingerprint scanner and a built-in heart rate sensor . Taking center stage on t...



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Facebook admits email was a failure

Facebook, after unsuccessfully trying to get its users on its own email system, has thrown in the towel. The social networking company told AFP by e...



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Yuan’s sharp drop puts investors on alert for end of strengthening trend

The yuan has recently been something of a safe haven among emerging-market currencies, yet market participants have learned from a bloody lesson over the past week that it is no longer an easy, one-way bet.

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Turkey’s Erdogan denounced for spying claims

The Turkish government accused associates of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen in the police and the judiciary of eavesdropping on thousands, i...



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Money woes force cuts in US ground forces

The US Pentagon plans to scale back the Army by more than an eighth to its lowest level since before World War II. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reco...



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Hang Seng, Shanghai climb

Stocks in Hong Kong gained 0.49 percent at the start following a positive lead from Wall Street. The benchmark Hang Seng Index added 109.86 points to ...



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(Golf ) Tiger Woods tops rankings

World Golf Ranking 1. Tiger Woods, United States, 10.27 2. Adam Scott, Australia, 8.79 3. Henrik Stenson, Sweden, 8.47 4. Jason Day, Australia, 6....



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(Football): FA Cup quarters draw

Revised draw for the quarter-finals of the English FA Cup after yesterday's matches: Quarter-finals Arsenal v Everton Hull City v Sunderland Shef...



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(Football): Hull and Charlton into FA Cup quarters

Hull City booked an FA Cup quarter-final with English Premier League rivals Sunderland after seeing off second-tier Brighton 2-1 in a fifth round rep...



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Barcelona pays Spanish tax man 13.5m euros for Neymar signing, amid fraud charges

Barcelona paid 13.55 million euros to Spanish tax authorities to cover any potential irregularities in its signing of Neymar, all the while maintainin...



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(Horse racing) Vets, manager leave in Godolphin shake-up

The racing manager and three vets are leaving their roles at Godolphin as the horse racing organization is restructured following a doping scandal. T...



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Harold Ramis: comedian who brought funny originality

Harold Ramis, the bespectacled “Ghostbusters'' sidekick to Bill Murray whose early grounding in live US comedy led to blockbuster movies such as “Nati...



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Vitamin E does not help prevent heart disease, beta-carotene could worsen lung cancer

In yet another blow to the US$28 billion vitamin industry, a US task force urged against taking Vitamin E and beta-carotene to ward off heart disease ...



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Loss-making Qantas prepares for more woes

Loss-making Australian carrier Qantas said it was committed to slashing costs by A$2 billion (US$1.8 billion) but refused to confirm or deny a report...



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Nikkei rebounds

Stocks in Tokyo opened 1.11 percent higher as gains on Wall Street helped boost risk appetite ahead of of this week's release of key US economic indi...



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(NBA) Crawford takes control for Clippers

Jamal Crawford scored 36 points to help the Clippers get the win. Matt Barnes scored 24 points and Chris Paul had 18 points, 12 assists and eight reb...



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Banks fight back against online investment products

China’s bricks-and-mortar banks are launching a counterattack against the assault on their business from Alibaba and other internet heavyweights, in an attempt to staunch the outflow of bank deposits into high-yielding online investment products.

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(NBA) Nets hold off Lakers

Jason Collins played his first game with the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night, becoming the first openly gay player in the four major U.S. professional s...



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US puzzled by paralyzing, polio-like infection

A polio-like illness has afflicted a small number of children in California since 2012, causing severe weakness or rapid paralysis in one or more limb...



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Fleeing Yanukovych sighted in Crimea

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies say they have no information about the whereabouts of deposed President Viktor Yanukovych, who reportedly was seen ...



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Iraq invites more Chinese companies to invest, Wang Yi sets tone for more economic exchanges

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Baghdad that Beijing is ready to strengthen all-round cooperation with Iraq. “China will continue to promote its fri...



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Tokyo closes lower

Stocks in Tokyo edged down by 0.19 percent on late profit-taking amid light volume ahead of this week's release of key economic indicators from the U...



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Weibo: Xiaomi buzzes In Singapore, LinkedIn hires in Beijing

Executives from smartphone sensation Xiaomi were playing their usual marketing tricks in the microblogging realm this past week, trumpeting an online promotion in the run-up to a more formal launch next month in Singapore, the first stop on the company's

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Offshore yuan centres not the biggest threat to Hong Kong’s financial sector

As local banks uncork the champagne on Tuesday to mark 10 years since they were first allowed to engage in personal banking in yuan, they have a lot to do to prepare for the challenges ahead.

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Taipei radicals dislodge Sun Yet-sen statue

A radical Taiwanese independence group said it had pulled down a statue of republican China's founding father Sun Yat-sen, who ended centuries of imp...



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Sogo Causeway Bay pumps up Lifestyle profits

Sogo department store operator Lifestyle International (1212) said today profit increased by 19 percent to HK$2.4 billion for the year ended December ...



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Papua landslides kill 11

Torrential rains triggered floods and landslides that killed at least 11 people in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, s...



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Aussie actor held for assaulting Chinese photographer

Police say actor Sam Worthington has been arrested in New York City for punching a photographer after the man kicked Worthington's girlfriend in the s...



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Hang Seng falls 1pc

Stocks in Hong Kong fell 1.28 percent by the break in line with other regional bourses following a weak lead from Wall Street. The benchmark Hang S...



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(NBA) Gay Nets player takes to court

US basketballer Jason Collins became the first openly gay active player in the National Basketball Association Sunday. He entered the first game with...



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Beijing air dangerous to health

Dangerous smog which has blighted swathes of northern China in recent days has prompted a rise in air purifier sales, local media reported. China's...



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Six-year-old girl Thai girl dies from grenade attack

A six-year-old girl died early today from wounds sustained during a grenade attack on a busy Bangkok shopping area, hospital officials said, taking t...



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Cheap labour not the only pull as factories flee from China

Foreign buyers are fleeing China for Bangladesh, Cambodia and Indonesia not just for cheaper labour but also because of rising tensions between mainland workers and their employers, in some cases owing to poor corporate social responsibility on the part of the firms.

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Deposed Yanukovych flees east

Ukraine's deposed president Viktor Yanukovych is hiding in the eatern region of the country, local media reports said. Moscow Times reported that he ...



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(NBA) Injured LeBron sits out Heat game

LeBron James was held out of Miami's home game Sunday against Chicago Bulls with a broken nose he suffered earlier this week in the US National Bask...



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Tokyo edges up at break

Stocks in Tokyo edged up 0.10 percent amid light volume while the yen remained relatively low. The Nikkei index added 15.05 points to 14,880.72 by th...



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Piers Morgan admits audience tired of his whinging

British television host Piers Morgan whose prime time show on CNN is being axed, told the New York Times, the show had “run its course,'' adding that...



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Despised British TV host Piers Morgan falls flat, CNN dumps prime time show

CNN president Jeff Zucker has decided to end television host Piers Morgan's (Pictured on set) show after its ratings plunged, sources at the televis...



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Tencent, Kingsoft join others to build defenses against Windows XP vulnerabilities

China’s Tencent will join hands with other leading IT companies to “build a hedge" against potential internet attacks on Chinese users after support f...



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Home price softening in more cities

Home prices dropped month on month in more Chinese cities in January, adding to signs pointing to a gradually cooling property sector, official data s...



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Kiev installs pro-Western leader, dumps foreign minister

Ukraine's new opposition-led parliament appointed a pro-Western interim leader and sought vital EU aid after the ousted pro-Russian president fled Ki...



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(Football) Bayern hammer Hanover to tighten grip on lead

European champions Bayern Munich opened a 19-point gap in the Bundesliga on Sunday with a 4-0 victory at Hanover 96. It was their 20th win from 22 le...



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(Golf) Happy Day at Match Play

Jason Day withstood the determined challenge of Victor Dubuisson Sunday in the US to win the World Golf Championships Match Play crown with a birdie...



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Hang Seng, Shanghai tumble

Stocks in Hong Kong opened 0.42 percent lower, reversing gains from the previous session and following a weak lead from Wall Street. The benchmark H...



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Why China cannot have a ‘Lehman moment’

Many people are going to be discussing the many flaws of Chinese finance for many years. A helpful guide: as soon as you see or hear “China’s Lehman moment”, used seriously, stop paying attention.

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US eyes and ears tracked Mexican drug lord Guzman

Authorities finally closed in on Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo'' Guzman using a cellphone found at a house where drugs were stored, AP reports. ...



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Elderly survivor dies

Alice Herz-Sommer, who was believed to be the oldest-known survivor of the Holocaust, died in London on Sunday at the age of 110, a family member said...



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Discovery Channel Amish Mafia star convicted

A star of the reality TV series “Amish Mafia'' also broadcast on Discovery Channel in Hong Kong, has been sentenced to prison in the US after repeated...



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Fearing Ukraine break-up, Washington underlines ‘territorial integrity’

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said Sunday that Russia, Europe and the United States all have an interest in keeping crisis-hit Ukraine fro...



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Nikkei slips

Stocks in Tokyo opened 0.45 percent lower, following a weak lead from Wall Street as dealers awaited a string of fresh US data to be released later ...



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Sea Shepherd unshaken in whale protection mission despite Japanese sabotage tactics

Anti-whaling campaigners Sea Shepherd said they were ambushed under the cover of darkness by a Japanese whaling fleet in a “ruthless assault'' to di...



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US wants Mexican drug lord Guzman in the dock

US prosecutors are seeking to extradite Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo'' Guzman to the United States to stand trial, officials said Sunday. ...



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Yue Xiu keen on further expansion

Guangzhou government-backed Yue Xiu was open to acquiring non-Hong Kong financial firms, either on the mainland or in the wider Asia-Pacific region, to help expand Chong Hing, Yue Xiu chairman Zhang Zhaoxing said last week.

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Titan in talks to acquire oil rig shipyard

Debt-laden Titan Petrochemicals says it is in advanced talks with an unidentified Singapore-based manufacturer of oil drilling rigs to use a mothballed shipyard that may be injected by major shareholder Guangdong Zhenrong Energy into Titan.

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Poly Culture plans global growth with Hong Kong IPO targeting HK$2.57b

Poly Culture, the culture and auction business unit of state-owned military-linked conglomerate Poly Group, plans to expand its international business after an initial public offering in Hong Kong this week that is expected to raise up to HK$2.57 billion.

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Companies and lenders pay the price of overexpansion in Jiangsu

In Yixing, a city in Jiangsu that is home to a sizeable manufacturing base, the dinner table conversation among entrepreneurs and bankers is dominated by talk of company closures and business loans turning sour.

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Asia places its bets on gambling

Flush with cash after hitting the jackpot in Macau and Singapore, international gaming companies are betting on new markets across Asia as governments package economic incentives and rewrite legislation to welcome them.

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Deal hungry banks welcome cross border visitors

Not all visitors from the mainland may get a hearty welcome in Hong Kong lately, but there is one group being received with open arms by deal-hungry investment bankers - firms wishing to list on the mainland's stock exchanges.

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We need to hear more, not less, from our intellectuals

Many of my colleagues and friends know I have two real-life identities - by day I am an editor and journalist with the South China Morning Post, and at weekends I am a student at the University of Hong Kong who hopes to survive a four-year doctoral programme and someday be called Dr Chen.

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Wal-Mart puts quality before price in China

Wal-Mart Stores, famed for its low prices, has stumbled in the one major market where consumers say price is less of a driver in their buying decisions: China.

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Wilmar pushes new green policies

Commodity giant Wilmar International is using its buying clout to push suppliers to be greener, or else - setting up a battle with growers and governments that have profited from their environmentally damaging practices.

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G20 targets jobs and investment push over 5 years

The final communiqué from the two-day meeting of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers in Sydney said yesterday they would take action to increase investment and employment. An agreement targeting tax evasion was also hailed as a key achievement.

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Euro zone sucked into a black hole

The gravitational pull of the black hole of recession is still dragging on many individual euro-zone economies, despite the region as a whole claiming it has reached escape velocity.

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LME, listing challenges ahead for HKEx

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, which will announce financial results on Wednesday, is facing the twin challenges of capturing more listings and devising strategies to turn the London Metal Exchange into a growth engine, according to brokers and analysts.

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Ratings agencies mark down earnings prospects of casino operators

Shares in Macau's six Hong Kong-listed casino operators - Sands China, Wynn Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, MGM China and SJM - have been on a roller-coaster ride in the past year and remain vulnerable to market rumours about the prospects of its fast-growing industry.

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Spread the wealth, IMF chief Christine Lagarde urges Hong Kong

IMF chief Christine Lagarde said in an interview with Post Magazine that improving the economic role of women, reducing income inequality and encouraging "greener" growth would all bolster the Hong Kong economy.

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Apple users' email accounts at risk as security flaw is revealed

A major flaw in Apple Inc software for mobile devices could allow hackers to intercept email and other communications that are meant to be encrypted, the company said, and experts said Mac computers were even more exposed.

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Noble Group's net dives 48pc on loss in agriculture unit

Noble Group, a Hong Kong-based grain and energy product supply chain manager, reported a 48 per cent drop in net profit last year as its agriculture business sailed into the red on a drop in sugar prices and low crushing margins on oilseeds in South America.

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Long March Capital mulls buying platinum assets in South Africa

China's Long March Capital, a partner of Citic Group, is considering buying South African platinum assets after their value was depressed by strikes.

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Emirates' Taipei service seen as threat to Cathay Pacific's Europe network

The move by Emirates Airlines to add a new service to Taipei would divert Taiwan transit passengers from Hong Kong to Dubai, dealing another blow to Cathay Pacific Airways' long established and lucrative network business in the region, analysts said.

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Scientific firm BGI Tech targets US$400m from IPO

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Strong rally fuels gamble on Tencent

A HK$1,100 price tag for Tencent's shares - almost double the current level - is being dangled in front of investors willing to take a punt on financial derivatives as a means of tapping another route to riches on the back of the internet giant's spectacular stock rally.

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Beijing firm briefly profits from copycat Mario game app

Nintendo is not offering Super Mario games on smartphones. Other people are.

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Judge Zervos gives liquor board a poke in the eye

A few months ago, we suggested the Liquor Licensing Board was getting out of control in the way it dealt with bars.

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Investors in Poly Culture IPO should take note of its firepower

China's art market has soared to become the world's second-largest after the United States and most of the top 10 deals last year involved Chinese artists. Now its top auction house is doing a public share offering.

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EU law to publicise who owns companies will help China graft fight

A proposed European Union law to make public who owns secretive companies and trusts would help in the fight against corruption in China, analysts say.

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(Sochi Games) German athlete’s dug test sample not normal

The German team at the Winter Olympics in Sochi has been informed by the IOC that a doping test of one of its athletes has produced an abnormal resu...



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Thai farmers back down over payments

Angry farmers driving hundreds of tractors called off a threatened protest at Thailand's main airport, Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport after striking a...



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Unicef seeks US$2b

UNICEF launched a record US$2.2 billion aid appeal to help tens of millions of children, saying the lion's share was to deal with the Syria war. “C...



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New arrival for Swedish royal

Princess Madeleine of Sweden, the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and fourth in line to the throne, has given birth to a girl in New York, th...



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Gaming addicts await PlayStation 4

Video game addicts in Japan who began lining up earlier this week will get their hands on a new PlayStation 4 today, when Sony finally unleashes its ...



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Positive close for Hang Seng

Stocks in Hong Kong closed up 0.78 percent Friday, reversing some of the previous session's losses triggered by a trio of gloomy figures from China. ...



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Young New Zealand woman held in Bali for marijuana and hashish haul

Indonesian authorities arrested a New Zealand woman for allegedly possessing illegal drugs in a raid on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, police and ...



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South Korean held in Philippine drug raids against methamphetamine gangs, seven gunned down

Seven people were shot dead in an operation against illegal drug dens by police in southern Philippines, law-enforcement officials said. Thirty-six ...



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Shanghai shares dive

Shares in Shanghai closed lower Friday. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed down 1.17 percent, or 25.09 points, to finish at 2,113.69. The ...



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Appetite for Huisheng IPO bodes well for fellow pork producer WH’s listing

Hong Kong’s retail investors are clamouring for rare shares in a bite-sized Chinese pork supplier this week, heralding a potential stampede when industry giant WH Group comes to market in April with what could be a US$6 billion listing.

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Esprit flags cloudy second half, books HK$95m income

Retailer Esprit (0330), which is continuing efforts to turn its fortunes around, booked earnings of HK$95 million for the six months to December 31....



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Ukraine deal sets stage for coalition

A preliminary deal due to be signed today between Ukraine's embattled President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition includes changes to the constitu...



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Tokyo leaps 2.8pc at close

Stocks in Tokyo jumped 2.88 percent, clawing back losses from the previous day as Wall Street rallied and shares of Japanese exporters got a boost f...



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Guards at Aussie refugee dump on Manus Island kicked slain young Iranian in the head

The body of a young Iranian asylum seeker killed in violence at a controversial Australia-run detention camp on Papua New Guinea will be repatriated t...



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Citibank bancassurance deal expected to add to strong sales growth for AIA

AIA, the second-largest Asian insurer by market value, expects to expand its business this year by way of organic growth and through its new regional bancassurance deal with Citibank, chief executive Mark Tucker said.

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Young British man suspect in Aussie diamond theft

Australian police searching for a stolen 200,000 Australian dollar (US$180,000) rare pink diamond have X-rayed a British tourist suspected to have swa...



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JPMorgan reveals scrutiny over forex deals

American bank JPMorgan Chase Thursday disclosed that US and foreign regulators have sought documents on its foreign exchange trading business, amid ...



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Beijing brands Dalai Lama-Obama meeting ‘interference’

China urged US President Barack Obama to cancel a planned meeting with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. “China is firmly opposed to ...



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Hang Seng positive at break

Stocks in Hong Kong were up 0.41 percent at the break, rebounding from losses in the previous session as they took heart from a rally on Wall Street...



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Dalai Lama warms to free markets at Washington think tank and espouses holistic approach

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday brought a message of compassion and care for humanity to the free market mavens of a right-leaning...



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(Milan Fashion Week) Max Mara – City meets country

Max Mara set its English countryside-inspired collection on a cement runway in stark white light. The message was clear: The looks suggest cozy countr...



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(Milan Fashion Week) Roberto Cavalli – monumental portraits

Roberto Cavalli took inspiration from Florence's artistic treasures for his Just Cavalli line, photographing and painting the images himself that he w...



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Milan Fashion Week) Fendi – Standout Karlito hangs out

Fendi has a new meme: a furry figure (Pictured) on a string evoking designer Lagerfeld, complete with a neat white pony tail, large white collar and b...



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(Milan Fashion Week) Prada – sophisticated vulgarity

Miuccia Prada has immersed herself in German culture of the 1980s, film and music, and taken inspiration for her latest collection unveiled in Milan, ...



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Investor plans to carve out decaying California

California has reached the breaking point, says a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who is pushing a proposal to divide the most populous state in the...



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American students enact black man’s lynching

An attorney for eight young American wrestlers kicked out of a tournament after a photo surfaced of team members apparently simulating a lynching say...



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US, EU impose travel bans on Ukraine leaders

The White House deplored continuing deadly violence in Ukraine, and Secretary of State John Kerry late Thursday said the US has started “implementing ...



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US Army chief Odierno meets China generals

The US Army chief met with top Chinese generals in Beijing today. US Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno was greeted with full military honors at...



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US$600 trial becomes banana skin for Nicaragua

A court's decision to hold three men for trial for the attempted theft of two bananas is drawing surprise and ridicule from lawyers in Nicaragua. Th...



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(Sochi Games) Koreans turn cynics over Kim Yu Na silver in skating

For millions of South Koreans who stayed up into the early hours today to watch their idol Kim Yu Na (Pictured) try to defend her Olympic figure-ska...



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King Digital set to cash in on Candy Crush popularity, but analysts wary of fleeting glory

King Digital Entertainment, the game developer behind the wildly addictive puzzle game candy Crush, said this week it will seek a listing on the New ...



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Long-term view key to success, says third-generation boss of fund firm Franklin Templeton

Breaking the curse of the Chinese saying that “wealth will not last three generations”, Greg Johnson, chairman and chief executive of wealth management company Franklin Templeton Investments, one of the world’s largest financial firms, is living proof that business succes

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