Pollution control involves all

The severest ever smog that has shrouded most of North China and some parts of East China since Thursday is expected to last a week; an unwelcome reminder of the scale of the task the country faces in tackling all kinds of pollution.

Dalai Lama's word game

According to the White House, US President Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama on Friday and expressed his support for the monk's "middle way" approach.

Asian markets ready for taper

The US Federal Reserve has begun tapering its quantitative easing policy. The Fed started "tapering" or paring its bond buying in December and cut its monthly bond purchases further in January to $65 billion.

Truth behind DPRK rights report

The final report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, issued on Feb 17, says mass crimes against humanity are being committed in the country. The UN-mandated COI report on the DPRK has evoked reactions from many countries.

Access to finance can improve the life of the poor

Nearly 2.5 billion people - half the world's adult population - lack one of the most basic amenities of modern life: a bank account. These people are among the world's poorest, struggling to obtain the money they need to feed their families or start a business and create jobs.

Letters

US has to change its China policy

Caution tempers trade optimism

Despite the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead, this year is expected to be better than 2013 for imports and exports

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Cure the gaming fix by fixing reality

In January, the documentary Web Junkie was screened at the Sundance Film Festival, capturing the attention of world media. Directed by Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia, the documentary shares with the world a boot camp type of therapy center for Internet addicts in Daxing, Beijing.

US must not use Dalai Lama against China

The White House announced on Feb 20 that US President Barack Obama will receive the 14th Dalai Lama in Washington next morning (US Eastern Time) for their third meeting since he assumed office in 2009.

Abe's 'normal state' abnormal

Japan's Prime Minster Shinzo Abe visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in December. Less than a month later, when he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Abe compared the tensions between China and Japan to the rivalry between Britain and Germany on the eve of World War I.

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