Spy agencies miss clues by focusing on mass surveillance: Snowden

America's spy agencies are so focused on "mass surveillance" that they have missed clues about terrorist incidents, such as last year's Boston Marathon bombing and an attempted attack on a jetliner on Christmas Day in 2009, former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden said.

• US judge tells NSA it must keep phone surveillance records

• NSA leaks fueled needed debate, Snowden tells SXSW

Brokers flee HSBC for Chinese investment banks in Hong Kong

Dozens of former stockbrokers at HSBC have recently found new jobs at two rapidly expanding Chinese investment banks in Hong Kong after they left the British lender over disagreements on salaries.

• HSBC’s shares drop after it misses earnings forecasts
• China Merchants Securities taps British market
• Why statutory body may not be solution to brokers' woes

China uses cameras on drones to catch industrial polluters unaware

The mainland's environmental watchdogs have long been criticised for their alleged lax supervision of industrial polluters. Even when the agencies did crack down, their inspections were obstructed by local officials.

• Pollution would be cut by high-voltage grid, says energy firm boss
• How mainland Chinese influx can damage the environment
• Pollution and food safety to top legal agenda this year, Zhang Dejiang tells NPC delegates

Disgruntled delegates urge party to give CPPCC more teeth

Uygurs in Beijing feel the chill after deadly Kunming knife attack

Bin Laden relative warned of ‘storm’ of plane attacks in wake of 9/11

Russia’s army largest in region but not the force of old, say analysts