Hukou and properties

Nothing is more eye-catching and sensational than the online disclosure, one after another, of officials who have more than one hukou, or household registration, and identity card, which they have used to acquire dozens of properties, in one case more than 100 properties under different identities.

Printing self-illusions a risky game

In the past four years, central banks in the advanced economies have been opting for new rounds of quantitative easing (QE) because the global financial crisis has exhausted the traditional instruments of monetary policy. And with investors seeking higher returns, more QE has been driving "hot money" (short-term portfolio flows) into high-yield emerging-market economies.

No resolution to Syrian crisis in sight

A resolution to the Syrian crisis remains a distant dream. The bloody conflict between the Syrian government and opposition forces continues and the United Nations' efforts to restore peace in the country have been failures.

Letters

System needs reforms

From the Chinese press

Blind urbanization dangerous

Online use, not abuse

In its World Report 2013 published on Friday, Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization on human rights research and advocacy headquartered in New York, continues lashing out at China, saying "its human rights record remained poor in 2012, with minimal significant progress on political, civil, socio-economic or cultural rights".

Cartoon

Getting a grip on shadow banking

Over the last five years, there has been a boom in wealth management products and trust business, as the higher interest they offer has attracted more and more individual investors. With the rapid growth, regulators are paying greater attention to the potential risks arising from shadow banking, and tighter controls are likely to be introduced in the near future.

Higher fuel standards

With the search for the culprits that caused the notorious smog homing in on low-quality fuel, China's fuel standards are set to rise.

Domestic violence

The settlement of the high-profile divorce between Li Yang, founder of the controversial Crazy English schools, and Kim Lee, his American wife, is significant in the fight against domestic violence, as the ruling conveys the message that there is a price to be paid for wife beating.

Promoting peace on Korean Peninsula

The international community is closely watching what is going on in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, speculating whether or when it will conduct another nuclear test.

Sino-Japan ties not easy to improve

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated on Feb 1 that Japan-China relations remain one of the most important bilateral relations for Japan and should be improved overall.