Dry reality of droughts in China

From times immemorial, China has faced droughts, with some parts of the country facing the curse every two to three years. The damage droughts have inflicted on China's socioeconomic fabric was relative to their intensity and duration. For instance, the drought in 1994-95 was so intense that it caused a loss of $13.8 billion.

Letters

Engage people to ensure food safety

From the Chinese press

Treat Japan athletes with respect

Manfred elected next MLB commissioner

Rob Manfred was elected baseball's 10th commissioner on Thursday, winning a three-man race to succeed Bud Selig and given a mandate by the tradition-bound sport to recapture young fans and speed play in an era that has seen competition increase and attention spans shrink.

Stewart to skip race as probe goes on

Tony Stewart will skip the NASCAR race in Michigan on Sunday as a probe continues into the incident in which his car struck and killed a fellow driver in a dirt-track race.

Another scare for the US as Cousins hurts his knee

DeMarcus Cousins had a big bag of ice on his right knee while he watched the end of practice on Thursday. He briefly covered his face with a towel as trainers milled around his table next to the folded gym bleachers.

Score board

Plenty of challenges for Conte

Unloved even in its own country, Italy's national team clearly needs a radical overhaul and, if anyone can do it, then it is the steely-willed Antonio Conte who was named as its new coach on Thursday.

Suarez begins training at Barcelona

Luis Suarez will start training with his new Barcelona teammates on Friday after getting the green light from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Spanish giant confirmed.

Pulis leaves Palace over transfer row - reports

Tony Pulis is reported to have left Crystal Palace by mutual consent in a shock move prompted by disagreements over the Premier League club's transfer policy, according to reports on Thursday.

City star Aguero signs new 5-yr deal

Manchester City received a boost on the eve of the new Premier League season as Argentine striker Sergio Aguero signed a new five-year contract with the English champion.

Getting rid of pandering hypocrisy

British Parliament should review unilateral legislative moves by last HK governors that left holes in the democratic process