School should let students choose nap or meditation

THE PILOT PLAN of an elementary school in Foshan, South China's Guangdong province to replace its customary afternoon nap for students with zazen meditation was recently ended after being tried for only two days, due to the complaints of parents. Comments:

Hot words

English test for professional title

Cartoon

Xi's visit a chance for Obama to make history

Chinese President Xi Jinping will soon pay his first state visit to the United States. The big question is: What can he accomplish during this visit?

Who will suffer most from climate change?

A few years ago, Melinda and I visited a group of rice farmers in Bihar province of India, one of the most flood-prone regions in the country. All of them were extremely poor and depended on the rice they grew to feed and support their families. When the monsoon rains arrived each year, the rivers would swell, threatening to flood their farms and ruin their crops. Still, they were willing to bet everything on the chance that their farm would be spared. It was a gamble they often lost. Their crops ruined, they would flee to the cities in search of odd jobs to feed their families. By the next year, however, they would return - often poorer than when they left - ready to plant again.

Monitor private charities to prevent fraud

Huang Hongbin, chairman of a charity philanthropic foundation and headmaster of a charity primary school in Liangshan Yi ethnic autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan province, was detained by police early last week for suspected illegal transfer of State-owned forest land, illegal construction and financial wrongdoings in the foundation.

Onus to resolve historical issues lies with Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not have the courage to attend the commemorative activities organized by China on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II and Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45). Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga went so far as to say that China did not even try for rapprochement with his country.

Refugee crisis challenges conscience of the West

The picture of the drowned three-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi lying on a Turkish beach on Wednesday drew worldwide attention to the massive refugee crisis engulfing Europe and the ongoing turbulence in North Africa and West Asia.

For a better world system

The participation of a number of foreign heads of state or their representatives in the large-scale commemorations China held on Thursday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory in the war against Japanese aggression and the fight against fascism reflects China's growing influence on the world stage and the international community's expectations for China to play a bigger role in resolving world issues.

Japan's appeals at home should be heeded for a better future

On Thursday, Shigeru Yamaguchi, a former chief justice of Japan's Supreme Court, criticized the new security bills being pushed through the Diet by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, calling the legislation to exercise the right to rule collective self-defense "unconstitutional". He also expressed his concern about the Abe administration's reinterpretation of Japan's pacifist Constitution, which he said would "undermine constitutionalism and make it impossible to control the use of power or protect citizens from arbitrary politics." Comments:

English test outdated professional indicator

About 211 antiquated professional titles are reportedly to be abolished. However, the outdated English test that is one of the most popular professional qualification exams is not to be replaced. Comments:

Patriotism is no excuse for online verbal violence

Taiwan singer Fan Fan was recently scolded by some Chinese netizens for not being "patriotic", because she posted pictures of her twin toddlers on her micro blog on Sept 3, the day marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japanese aggression. She later apologized for "displeasing some netizens". Comments: