Balancing air quality and use of fireworks

The controversy over fireworks and firecrackers during Spring Festival is not new. This year, many cities and provinces have issued stricter regulations on fireworks because of the serious air pollution across large parts of China last year.

Beware of the harms digital devices can cause

As the use of digital devices is becoming more common, so are many conditions associated with their increased use.

Culture can counter the spin of animosity

Many Chinese living in Washington and most other US cities have long complained that they don't feel any festive mood at the Lunar New Year, which this year arrives on Monday, Feb 8. That would surely not have been the case if they visited the American Art Museum in downtown Washington on Jan 30.

Spring Festival test for local governments

Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded at Guangzhou Railway Station due to the recent bad weather, when heavy snow delayed more than a dozen trains. The number of passengers meant many were forced to stand outside as they waited until their trains were ready for boarding.

Concrete step for destocking

In a move believed to be aimed at reviving the housing market, the People's Bank of China and the China Banking Regulatory Commission announced on Tuesday that the down payment requirements will be reduced from 25 percent to 20 percent for first home buyers and from 40 percent to 30 percent for second home buying.

For some officials, New Year visits simply a chance to put on a show

AS LUNAR NEW YEAR approaches, leading local officials, as part of established practice, will visit poor residents in their communities and bring gifts for them. However, China Disciplinary Daily, the official newspaper of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the top anti-graft agency, found some of them pretended to make such visits by faking photos:

Campaign strategy more important than stance

US SENATOR Ted Cruz beat billionaire Donald Trump in Iowa's Republican caucus on Monday. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders had to settle for a tie in the Democratic caucus. Beijing News says this signals a notable change in US politics:

Customary for people to read before buying

A XINHUA BOOKSTORE in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has been criticized after a video was posted online showing employees making two children leave the store. The manager, Yao Fang, explained that before they were expelled, the children had been frolicking in the store for over half an hour. Gmw.cn said:

Hot words

Lower minimum down payments

Cartoon

No fear of a major economic slump this year

China's GDP grew by 6.9 percent in 2015, the lowest since 1990, the National Bureau of Statistics announced on Jan 19. But some economists doubt whether the Chinese economy grew at that rate given the poor performance of the stock market, the yuan's depreciation, and a series of poor economic data.

Year of the Monkey connects China and India

China is not alone in preparing to celebrate the Year of Monkey.