Demolitions an abuse of power

Proper administration over newsstands is necessary, but the authorities need to consult public opinion before taking any action. By demolishing legal newsstands with force, without any negotiation, they will not only inconvenience and upset residents, they will also affect the lives of those who run the newsstands by depriving them of their source of income. Besides, such actions require money, which will doubtlessly come out of taxpayers' pockets. Such deeds are far from reasonable or smart.

Cartoon

Africa doesn't need US as benefactor

By all accounts, the United States - which generally prides itself on being a trendsetter - is essentially a "Johnny Come Lately" to the "Africa Rising" story. As if to make amends, US President Barack Obama held the largest ever gathering of African heads of state and business leaders in Washington DC from Aug 4 to 6. The effort goes to show the seriousness with which his administration sees the need for a "reset" in US-Africa relations.

Nuclear policy a gift to world peace

To dispel doubts over its defensive defense policy, China is making its military more transparent, and the recent unveiling of China's new ballistic missile submarine was part of that effort. But the Western media reacted by saying that China's ballistic missile submarines are a destabilizing factor in the West Pacific region. It's ironic that China is singled out for criticism for developing ballistic missile submarines while the other nuclear powers are not.

End gaokao bias toward migrant workers' kids

The second and even the third generation of migrant workers' children have grown up, but the country's more than half-century-old hukou (household registration) system, and the rules based on it, has remained unchanged.

Letters

Expired meat leaves toxic trail

From the Chinese press

Senior citizens need company

A two-child policy for all

Editor's Note: So far 29 municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions have introduced the policy of allowing couples, of whom one is an only child, to have two children, since the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress endorsed the policy in late 2013. Under the new policy about 11 million couples are eligible to have another child. But given China's increasing grey population, it is facing another dilemma: whether to further ease the family planning policy to fully implement a two-child policy.

Policy relaxing needs to be gradual

China has succeeded in curbing its excessively rapid population growth and reducing its fertility rate through its rigid family planning policy over the past three decades. The population growth rate has dropped from 2.5 percent in 1960 to 0.5 percent nowadays, and the yearly average number of newborns has dropped from 27 million in the 1960s to 16 million now. Based on the current growth trend, China's population will step into a "zero growth" era in the 2030s. The changing population situation has drawn wide public attention to the adjustment of the family planning policy.

Buildings to withstand quakes

WHEN A CEREMONY WAS HELD ON SUNDAY TO remember those who died in the Ludian earthquake that jolted the southwestern county in Yunnan province on Aug 3, what strikes us the most is the question: how could a quake with a magnitude of only 6.5 on the Richter Scale result in 617 deaths? With another 112 people still missing.

Lessons from quake need learning

On the seventh day after the earthquake, which according to Chinese tradition marks the last day of mourning for those who have passed away, people from the whole nation lowered their heads for the victims of the disaster. Disasters bring losses, but they also make Chinese society grow more mature.

Lack of work-safety culture kills

Major workplace accidents are much like earthquakes or air crashes. For a couple of days they instill in us a sense of fear and good fortune - "There but for the grace of God go I" is a very familiar refrain for those of us from the English speaking regions of the world. And then just as quickly the memory disappears as the news moves on ... until of course the next time.