Cauldron of war boiling over in Iraq

The irony is complete. The country that defied the United Nations to lead an invasion of Iraq, the country that is squarely to blame for the tragic mess that Iraq is in today, the country that is responsible for the deaths of at least half a million people and the displacement of many more in what was once one of the leading economies and most open societies in the Middle East, is now being implored by the Iraqi government to come to its aid against an extremist force that in more ways than one was born out its divisive policies.

No kid gloves for corruption

THE EXPULSION OF XU CAIHOU FROM THE PARTY, which was announced on Monday, has once again vindicated the majority of people's belief that the anti-graft fight led by the new leadership will not treat corrupt elements with kid gloves no matter how high a position they hold or once held.

Housing stimulus unsustainable

Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolian autonomous region, has broken the silence to become the first provincial capital city to suspend the ban on second-home purchases by local residents.

Hong Kong at the crossroads

Hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers voted online, via smartphones and polling booths in a ten-day unofficial referendum that ended on Sunday. It was deemed illegal by the central government.

Korean unification and global peace

While the United Nations celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2015, Koreans will lament 70 years of national division. Considering all of the challenges and opportunities that the divided Korean Peninsula faces - and will continue to confront in the coming years - unification remains an important goal that we must continue to pursue.

Letters

Rich victims of the pleasure trap

From the Chinese press

Kids in need of social protection

Political trust across Straits

Visit to the island by top official for mainland Taiwan affairs has been fruitful and will facilitate further contact and cooperation

Cartoon

Working in harmony with Hollywood

China's Pangu Investment Company has announced it has settled its dispute with Paramount Pictures ahead of the release of Transformers 4: Age of Extinction in China. Previously the Beijing-based developer filed a lawsuit against Paramount, accusing the movie company and its two Chinese partners of failing to include its landmark building in the movie as agreed. The case shows that it is still not easy for Chinese companies to have their products included in Hollywood blockbusters.

China's peaceful diplomacy

THE MESSAGE PRESIDENT XI JINPING CONVEYED in a speech on Saturday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence could not be clearer: No country cherishes world peace so urgently and honestly as China does.

'Occupy Central' unacceptable

The "Occupy Central referendum" organized by the radical faction of the opposition campwrapped up on Sunday as all political parties and groups involvedmade their last effort to persuade asmany people as they could to support this unconstitutional poll.However, nomatter howhard they try, this pollwill have no legal status.