Budget airlines in spotlight

Tuesday was another sad day for the world's aviation industry as an Airbus A320 operated by Germanwings, Lufthansa's budget carrier, crashed in a remote area of the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board. According to France's aviation authorities, the pilots issued no distress call but had lost radio contact with their control center, adding fuel to speculation about the cause of the crash. One of the plane's black boxes has been recovered from the scene, and it is hoped it will hold clues to what caused the plane to make an unexplained eight-minute dive. A regular safety examination a day before the accident found no problems with the plane, and it underwent a scheduled major safety overhaul in the summer of 2013.

Inspections and maintenance of planes can never be compromised

THE CRASH OF THE GERMANWINGS AIRCRAFT with 144 passengers and six crew on board has shocked the world. With increasingly more details about the tragedy being revealed concerns have been voiced about flight safety, with the focus on Germanwings being a budget airline and the plane having been in service for over 24 years. Comments:

Lists of powers can improve governance

THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES HAVE REQUIRED local governments to draw up lists of the areas in which they exercise power and to strictly abide by them. The provincial governments need to finish the task by the end of 2015 while the deadline for municipal governments is 2016. Comments:

New FTZs stress test for reform

THE PARTY LEADERSHIP officially approved a plan for pilot free trade zones in Guangdong and Fujian provinces and Tianjin municipality at a meeting on Tuesday. A plan to further reform and open up the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone was also proposed during the meeting. Comments:

Hot words

Political activities outside the Party

Cartoon

Lee's legacy to find suitable model

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding father who died on March 23, has been widely praised for his governance and insightful comments on global situations. His persistent efforts for efficient governance have been lauded by leaders in Asia, although some Western observers have criticized him for being autocratic.

Global finance a game of the more the merrier

China's decision to establish Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to provide financing for infrastructure projects in the region and beyond has created tension between the United States and some of it allies.

Preschool kids need new ideas, not old rules

Beijing education authorities launched inspection tours of kindergartens this week to ensure that children are not overburdened with schoolwork.

Make Netanyahu see need for peace with Palestinians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a surprise victory in last week's parliamentary elections and will soon form a government for his fourth term. For many international observers, however, the election result does not bode well because it has further dimmed hopes for restoring peace in the Middle East.

Interest in AIIB shows China winning friends

That the planned Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is winning wider support in the world arena underscores the international community's common desire for development and strong willingness to cooperate.

Japan must correct its views

Japan should adopt a correct perception of its history of aggression against Asian countries to avoid losing its conscience again.