Expat in China designs phone app for easy language pickup

After observing how so many people fiddle with their cellphones in China, Seso Nikolov, a Bulgarian man from Xiamen, Fujian province, came up with the idea of an application that will assist leaners of foreign languages.

Authentic paste maker fears loss of traditional technique

Chen Shucheng, a 60-year-old chili bean paste maker, is worried Sichuanese kitchens could lose an essential flavoring within a few decades.

Beer hug

There's an old punch line, popular on T-shirts at college campuses, that goes, "Beer: It's not just for breakfast anymore."

Agent of change

When Chen Xuanbo, 40, an ethnic Han official, was sent to work in southern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, he thought he was going to a place where it would be "too dangerous to fall asleep".

The keys to China's success

The institutional system and decision-making capabilities of democratic centralism have proven to be the country's advantage

Cartoon

Paid vacations can fix 'golden mess'

The Golden Week of the National Day holiday may witness another "golden mess" with crowded trains and scenic spots. Before the holiday, the national holiday office, which was in charge of deciding the dates of the national holidays, was upgraded to an intra-ministry organization to promote the sound development of tourism.

Let reason prevail

WITH CHAOS FROM THE "OCCUPY CENTRAL" campaign beginning to rattle Hong Kong's financial markets, and disruptions to social order in the city now clearly evident, it is high time to let reason prevail again over recklessness.

'Occupy Central' harms law

The initiators of the "Occupy Central" movement in Hong Kong are actually aware their "appeals" are unreasonable and illegal. For them and the schemers behind them, their only purpose is to create a mess, hinder Hong Kong's economy and stability, tarnish China's national image and deal a blow to "One Country, Two Systems". "Occupy Central" is increasingly aloof from the so-called disputes over universal suffrage. It is an open challenge to the established system in Hong Kong, and a source of troubles and unrest.

No Asian Monroe Doctrine

Some in the international society wearing tinted spectacles recently made a fuss over China's "show of muscle", claiming Beijing is attempting to change the status quo in the East and South China seas by means of force and the violation of international laws.

EU still needs more transparency

On the European Parliament website, President Martin Schulz has declared the monthly income range of his four jobs, starting from his early career as a bookseller in Germany to his position as European Parliament head, which helped him earn about 5,000 ($6,342) to 10,000 euros per month.

Officials' sideline interests

SOME 80,000 GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE been found to hold senior positions in either State-owned or private enterprises, which means they get extra payment from these enterprises while they are paid as government employees. Of the total, some 50,000 have now quit their second job as required by Party and government rules.