Think Positive

Kidnap fears spark tough love for ‘little emperors’

2009-12-16T23:17:00.000+08:00

After a spate of kidnappings, wealthy parents in Shenzhen have decided some tough love is necessary to ensure their “little emperors” are equipped to survive.

Australia to proceed with controversial Internet filter

2009-12-16T21:51:00.001+08:00

Australia said yesterday it would push ahead with a mandatory China-style plan to filter the Internet, despite widespread criticism that it will strangle free speech and is doomed to fail.

I Ching and 2012

2009-12-16T20:28:00.002+08:00

I Ching and 2012

妻子, 情人, 紅顏知己

2009-12-16T20:08:00.003+08:00

No more 3-year telco contracts, fixed penalties

2009-12-16T20:08:00.001+08:00

IDA’s new rules are meant to safeguard the interests of consumers

Few can muster the political courage to pop an asset bubble

2009-12-15T22:56:00.002+08:00

The mainland authorities are nervous, too. Yesterday, the State Council pledged to crack down on overheating property markets, declaring “some cities are seeing excessively fast housing price rises, and we should pay high attention to this”.

Despite the fighting talk, however, it is doubtful whether officials either in Hong Kong or on the mainland will muster the courage needed to pop any developing bubbles, at least in the near term.

Asian Stocks to Extend Bull Market, JPMorgan Says

2009-12-15T19:58:00.001+08:00

Asian stocks outside of Japan may extend a bull market into 2010, helped by declining risk premiums, a recovery in economic and earnings growth, and low interest rates, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.

China Developers Fall as Government Targets Housing

2009-12-15T19:51:00.000+08:00

China Vanke Co. led declines by the nation’s developers after the official Xinhua News Agency said the government will target “excessive” growth in property prices in some cities.

50 Ways to Cut 500 Calories a Day

2009-12-14T22:47:00.000+08:00

Here's the simplest (no-diet!) way to slim down.

NTU opens centre for China’s officials

2009-12-14T18:31:00.001+08:00

Growing demand prompts university to offer more customised programmes

Dr. Wu wants the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration, housed at the historic Chinese Heritage Centre, to become a full-fledged school of public affairs that also offers undergraduate degrees.

Cleaners ‘beat bankers in worth’

2009-12-14T11:04:00.001+08:00

Hospital cleaners are worth more to society than bankers, a study suggests.

And tax accountants damage the country by devising schemes to cut the amount of money available to the government, the research suggests.

Bubble muddle

2009-12-14T02:38:00.001+08:00

The International Monetary Fund is worried about Hong Kong.

$40m in coffers? Sino-Env EDs have no quick answer

2009-12-14T02:34:00.000+08:00

Sino-Environment executive directors (EDs) appear to have backtracked on the claim made by the group chairman about having $40 million in the company’s coffers after the Singapore Exchange (SGX) asked them to substantiate the claim.

Sons ordered to pay dad’s $15m debt

2009-12-14T02:26:00.002+08:00

The two sons of Indonesia-born businessman Agus Anwar have been ordered by the High Court to cough up the $15 million he owes to a private bank here.

Who’s going to blow next?

2009-12-14T02:19:00.000+08:00

Dubai’s travails have some economists wondering if another debt bomb may be lurking dangerously

China’s public holidays for 2010

2009-12-13T16:02:00.001+08:00

1. New Year: January 1-3; 3 days;
2. Spring Festival: February 13-19; 7 days;
3. Qingming Festival: April 3-5; 3 days;
4. Labor Day: May 1-3; 3 days;
5. Duanwu Festival: June 14-16; 3 days;
6. Mid-Autumn Festival: September 22-24; 3 days;
7. National Day: October 1-7; 7 days;

China’s young Net addicts don’t grow up

2009-12-13T14:58:00.000+08:00

Problem from youth continues into adulthood leading to divorces, money and health woes

A year into office, no unity under Thai PM Abhisit

2009-12-13T14:44:00.002+08:00

In the year since he became Thai premier with no popular mandate, Abhisit Vejjajiva has underperformed on the domestic and regional stage and failed to reconcile a deeply divided nation, analysts say.

Young Chinese groan at skyrocketing property costs

2009-12-13T14:30:00.001+08:00

Computer engineer Jenny Jin and her husband have been hunting for a home for a year, but like many young would-be property owners in China, they have struggled to enter the market due to soaring prices.

PLA streamlines arms purchases to stamp out waste and corruption

2009-12-12T01:53:00.001+08:00

The People’s Liberation Army is to reform its procurement system in a bid to stem widespread wastage and corruption.

Americans unable to accept US decline

2009-12-12T01:50:00.000+08:00

Domestic resistance, rising global challenges make it tough for US to continue being No. 1

Fisting in Chinese

2009-12-11T22:27:00.001+08:00

Fisting in Chinese, etc. from Danwei on Vimeo.

Court freezes big asset sales by Sino-Env EDs

2009-12-11T20:22:00.000+08:00

Independent Directors (IDs) of Sino-Environment Technology Group were granted court orders yesterday to restrain the company’s executive directors (EDs) from selling any major assets and signing new contracts of significant value.

Raising the bar for independent directors

2009-12-11T20:19:00.001+08:00

The Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) latest move to change listing rules to improve corporate governance will place a greater burden on independent directors (IDs). It comes in the wake of recent events which have highlighted how challenging the job can be for IDs, something far removed from the popular notion of the board as a cosy old boys’ club.

Dual listing lure poses challenge to SGX

2009-12-11T20:02:00.000+08:00

The performance of China XLX on its debut on the Hong Kong bourse has serious implications for Singapore’s ambitions to attract offshore companies to list here.