Born in the Year of the horse

In the traditional Chinese Lunar Calendar, 12 animals form a zodiac cycle. The animal associated with this year is the horse. The horse was important in ancient times for hunting, farming, and warfare; it is also recognized as one of the six most important animals associated with humans. Horses symbolize luck, virtue and a progressive spirit, and most Chinese idioms about horses are positive - such as ma dao cheng gong, literally success on the horse, which means immediate success; yi ma dang xian, literally marching forward on the horse, meaning progress in career or business; or long ma jing shen, literally the spirit of horse and dragon, which means a high and progressive spirit. People have been welcoming the Year of the Horse in different ways, with those born in previous years of the horse wearing red clothing and red belts. Among them are pupils and retired teacher and engineer, as well as horse trainer. Each of them has their own story and has expectations and dreams for their birth year. China Daily shares their stories and sends best wishes to them.

Cyberspace code of conduct

The lack of an explicit code of conduct for cyberspace poses a threat to global security, but forging a set of rules is proving a challenging test.

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Judicial progress should be acknowledged

Human Rights Watch, a New York-based non-governmental human rights group, released its 2014 World Report on Jan 21, its 24th annual review of human rights conditions in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide. In the typical way that China's human rights record is always badmouthed, the report ignores basic facts and turns a blind eye to the progress embodied in China's judicial reforms last year.

Happy Chinese New Year

Pollution concerns may subdue the celebratory bangs and fancy firework displays.

Japan brainwashing kids

The media in Japan reported on Tuesday that the Japanese education ministry will revise its teaching materials so that the Diaoyu Islands an integral part of Chinese territories, will be described as an integral part of Japan's under the name Senkaku.

Clean, green Spring Festival

Spring Festival is about family reunion, the Lunar New Year Eve dinner, and visiting relatives and friends. It is also about setting off fireworks. But with heavy smog covering many cities across North and East China for long spells, especially last year, people have begun debating whether fireworks should be banned during Spring Festival.

Why tuhao year-end bonus matters

One potent symbol of excess on the part of the American super-rich was the golden shower curtain flaunted by disgraced Tyco chief executive Dennis Kozlowski. Among China's "tuhao", or those with loads of cash but no class (or the nouveaux riches), the lust for gilt-edged items goes beyond bathroom fixtures to include underwear and shoes, as well as 18 karat gold mobile devices costing $5,513 to $6,282. In Nanjing, the extreme represented a gold-plated Infiniti G37 that was recently photographed parked outside a jewelry store.

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Home best place for festival dinner

De Gaulle's visionary decision

Fifty years ago, amid the tensions of the Cold War, the move by then-French president Charles de Gaulle to establish a diplomatic relationship with China was a brave and, to some observers, surprising move. Being the first major power in the West to recognize and establish ambassadorial level diplomatic relations has given France a special position in China's foreign policy. However, despite this, the bilateral relationship has still experienced downs as well as ups over the past five decades. The anniversary provides both countries with the opportunity to reflect on and renew their relations in a changing global order.

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