Dangers from the MH17 catastrophe

The crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine looks most likely to be the result of a catastrophic bungle. Such things happen in wars, civil and otherwise, and more details are awaited before the guilty can be identified. But irrespective of further revelations, the disaster looks certain to worsen US-Russia ties.

BRICS bank should help the poor

At their summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, last week, the leaders of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) announced the details of the much anticipated "New Development Bank", which will be headquartered in Shanghai and have an initial subscribed capital of $50 billion, and the $100-billion Currency Reserve Arrangement.

Letters

Thoughts on teaching English

From the Chinese press

Don't abuse social concessions

People must not be left behind

Bus attacks show the need for balanced development and social justice so that the least advantaged also enjoy benefits of growth

Cartoon

Social media kick off new football era

Since the World Cup was televised live for the first time in 1958, television has been the main means for soccer fans worldwide to watch matches. But the nearly 60-year TV soccer era is now giving way to the Internet soccer era, as the World Cup in Brazil this summer has changed fans' viewing habits and made the beautiful game appeal to even broader audience.

Scandal shows scale of problem

IT IS SHOCKING TO LEARN THAT HUSI FOOD, A Shanghai food distribution company that supplies meat to international fast-food giants, such as McDonald's and KFC, has been supplying unsafe products.

Watchdogs should exercise duty well

A question remains to be answered: Why is it always the media and not the food safety regulators that uncover the illegal activities of food enterprises? The Shanghai Food and Drug Administration required the enterprises involved to remove the harmful food only, and did not order them to close down until the media put heavy pressure on them. The food safety authorities need to perform their duties better because those duties concern our health and lives.

Japan must stop playing with fire

A few days before the 120th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War, Japan reinterpreted Article 9 of the Constitution to expand its military role, which should be cause for concern for not only China, but also the whole world.

News as fast food not a healthy diet

This piece is not being written by a robot, but an increasing number of reports on the Internet are. Recently, a Los Angeles Times writer-bot wrote and posted a story about an earthquake only 3 minutes after it struck, and Associated Press announced that it plans to use automation technology from a company called Automated Insights to produce reports on companies' earnings.

Letters

High-speed train tickets a problem