A year of rewarding reforms

From "shadow banking" to lavish public spending, the message of the new leadership headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in its first year has been clear: the days of excessive spending and damaging liquidity are over.

To give or not to give birth abroad

An increasing number of Chinese women have been traveling overseas to give birth. They are doing so either to avoid paying the very high fine for having a second child in violation of the family planning policy or to get their children the citizenship of a country or region that does not have a tough exam-oriented education system like China's. The visa on arrival facility for Chinese in about 45 countries and regions, and the good education and medical treatment available at lower costs in quite a few regions seem to have made their job easier.

Letters

Tesla vehicles have long way to go

From the Chinese press

Think before damning Li Na

An unholy alliance of perverted purpose

On Friday, in a stealthy manner as usual, the 14th Dalai Lama visited the White House and attended an "unofficial meeting" with US President Barack Obama.

Cartoon

California's new racial discrimination

In January, US Senator Ed Hernandez of California proposed an amendment to repeal part of California's Proposition 209, which, enacted in 1996, ended the long-standing state affirmative action programs in education, public employment and government contracting.

Let power run in sunshine

Whatever the law does not prohibit can be done as far as the market is concerned, while whatever the government does must be authorized by law. That is how Premier Li Keqiang summarized why the government must sim-plify approval procedures, cancel unnecessary items for approval and publish lists of such items.

Closing 'protective umbrella'

As China's anti-graft war picks up momentum, a nationwide crackdown on the sex trade has become a key part of the nation's efforts to root out entrenched corruption, says a Xinhua commentary.

Fast-changing political scene is Ukraine

Ukraine's political scene has been in turmoil since last week, when riot police tried to clear Independence Square in Kiev of anti-government protesters. This resulted in multiple deaths. Although President Viktor Yanukovych agreed a compromise deal with the opposition leaders following the bloody clashes, the situation changed dramatically when dozens of MPs quit the ruling Party of Regions.

HK anti-tourist protest good for no one

Chinese mainland tourists are in the news again. But unlike the past when web postings went viral about their uncivil behaviors in France and Egypt, the latest headlines revolve around Hong Kong residents' protest against visitors from the mainland.

Letters

Change patients' mindset