CHINA

Chinese liquor maker Wuliangye will raise prices for its alcohol by 20-30 percent from Sept 10, the firm said, the latest company to lift retail prices amid stubborn inflation pressures.

China's automobile production will grow at an annual rate of 9.3 percent over the next few years, doubling in size by 2017, thanks to a burgeoning middle class in the outlying regions, a study showed.

Hong Kong on Wednesday sought to defuse criticism of a security clampdown during Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang's recent visit that was heavily criticised as excessive and a violation of Hong Kong's civil rights.

The asset management arm of Edmond De Rothschild Group, owned by the Rothschild Family, said it had bought more than 5 percent of China CYTS Tours Holdings Co Ltd , worth $54 million at current value, and plans to increase its stake over the next 12 months.

A Chinese tax on moon cakes is not likely to spark an uprising of the sort that earned the Boston Tea Party its place in history, but the move has left a bad taste in the mouth ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hong Kong shares are poised to post the worst month since the 2008 financial crisis despite a third session of slim gains on Wednesday on the back of oil counters, but thin overall turnover continued to point to a lack of conviction in the rally.

Japanese trading house Itochu Corp said on Wednesday it will acquire 30 percent of Shandong Ruyi Group for roughly 15 billion yen ($200 million) , as it looks to expand in China's clothing sector.

Beijing Jingyuntong Technology will raise 2.52 billion yuan ($395 million) from an initial public offering in Shanghai after setting the price at over 50 times its historic earnings.

Chinese Internet firm Shanda Interactive said on Wednesday its second-quarter net profit fell 95 percent on increased costs.

Destitute North Korea's push to breathe new life into economic relationships with its neighbors China and Russia appears to be bearing fruit in its far north of the country where foreigners are busy helping rebuild a crumbling infrastructure.

Chinese environmental groups accused Apple Inc of turning a blind eye as its suppliers pollute the country, the latest criticism of the technology company's environmental record.

Babies born in the United States have a higher chance of dying in their first month than babies in much of the developed world, according to a new report on infant mortality rates.

Silvercorp Metals Inc., a Vancouver-based mining company, said Wednesday it purchased 2,027,167 of its common shares at an average price of $8.112 (Canadian).

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will not be rushed into revising the controversial false-start rule that sent Usain Bolt crashing out of the world championships 100 meters, a top official said on Wednesday.

Carrefour , Europe's No.1 retailer, warned 2011 profits would slump 15 percent as it cuts prices in a bid to reverse falling market share and tackle an increasingly tough economic environment.

Global investors slashed their holdings of equities below 50 percent this month and piled into cash, reflecting what was lining up to be the worst August for world stocks since 1998.

Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal are seemingly not the only ones sick of the sight of Novak Djokovic and his domination of men's tennis.

The 7 billionth baby, according to the United Nations population division, is set to be born on October 31 this year during the Halloween.

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a warning, looking at the situation that it a mutant strain of deadly flu is already spreading in China and Vietnam, according to CBS News report. Fears of an outbreak of bird flu this winter have been raised by the United Nations. Bird flu was in decline, but FAO warns it appears to be on the rise again and the new bird flu strain is even deadlier.

Gold's high price spurs private individuals to sell jewelry and other personal items made of the yellow metal.

Russian internet investment group Mail.ru raised its full-year revenue growth forecast to 50 percent from 40 percent on Wednesday after sales and profit rose at its social network, online gaming and e-mail activities in the first half.