Free top-class tuition at a touch

When Anant Agarwal taught circuits and electronics in the hallowed halls of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the complicated and intricate nature of lectures often gave students headaches or sent them to sleep.

Policy shift gives birth to optimism

Having been an only child, Li Xia has been longing for a sibling for her 2-year-old daughter.

Roadmap on reform 'will curb local debt'

Policy changes will ease financial pressures, support project funding

Businesses show cautious optimism

Optimism regarding economic prospects saw a significant uptick in the third quarter, according to the Grant Thornton International Business Report 2013.

Center links firms with foreign partners

As China's government seeks to open up the economy and ease it away from leaning on state-owned heavy industry and a massive manufacturing base, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises has become more important.

Steady as she goes for wary SMEs

China's small businesses are cautious about prospects in the world's second-biggest economy amid a manufacturing contraction in recent months, a bank survey has shown.

Quotable

"China's external trade environment is smooth, with demand from the United States and the European Union rebounding. Meanwhile, imports have remained robust since mid-year because of an improvement in domestic demand."

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Incubators hatch plots for healthy future

It's not quite Catch-22, but for most startups, you can't make much money until you spend a lot first. Then come all the other catches of setting up and running a business.

Middle class key to consumption

China's emerging middle class is growing up, preparing to make its presence felt in terms of the nation's economic growth.

Listing reflects China's financial heft

ICBC holds a 20 percent stake in Standard Bank of South Africa, the main advisor for most of the mergers and acquisitions deals in Africa.

Assembling a strategy for the future

Peter Agnefjall says he never makes blind forecasts. "In Ikea, we think about and look to the long term."