US' provocations inflame South China Sea tensions

The United States owes China a reasonable explanation as to why US B-52 bombers entered Chinese airspace near the Nansha Islands on Dec 10.

Air pollution responsibilities

The frequency of severe smog seems to have made emergency measures to lessen the pollution's impact part of life for Beijing residents nowadays.

US Congress' approval of IMF reforms a welcome breakthrough

THE US SENATE on Friday ratified reforms to boost the representation of emerging economies at the International Monetary Fund. The approval for plans to give emerging markets more voting power and double the IMF's resources were agreed in 2010, but had been delayed by Congress. China's central bank welcomed the move in a statement on Saturday. Xu Hongcai, an economist at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, applauds it as a major breakthrough for both developed and developing economies. The following is an excerpt of his interview with China Daily's Cui Shoufeng:

Do corruption statements show real remorse?

WANG GUOCHANG, former deputy director-general of the environmental protection department of Southeast China's Fujian province, who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for accepting bribes, has reportedly sought to copy someone else's letter of repentance while in prison. Xinkuaibao newspaper condemns Wang's absurd request, saying it shows he has no real regrets about the crimes he committed.

Right to paid leave needs to be protected proactively

ACCORDING TO the Department of Human Resources and Social Security in Sichuan province, Southwest China, less than 5 percent of employees involved in payment disputes have sought to independently defend their right to paid leave in recent years. Beijing News says it is the responsibility of the relevant local authorities to protect the rights of workers whether or not there are any complaints of their rights being violated.

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Silk Road vision for the developing world

In 2015, global headlines reflected mounting concerns about China's slowing economy and whether the country could maintain its reform momentum and complete its shift to a new growth model based on higher domestic consumption and expanded services.

Tricky transitions to manage in 2016

Global growth in 2016 will be disappointing and uneven. The global economy's medium-term growth prospects have weakened as well, because potential growth is being held back by low productivity, aging populations, and the legacies of the global financial crisis. High debt, low investment, and weak banks continue to burden some advanced economies, especially in Europe; and many emerging economies continue to face adjustments after their post-crisis credit and investment boom.

The great economic malaise continues

The year 2015 has been a hard one all around. Brazil fell into recession. China's economy experienced its first serious bumps after almost four decades of breakneck growth. The eurozone managed to avoid a meltdown over Greece, but its near-stagnation has continued, contributing to what surely will be viewed as a lost decade. For the United States, 2015 is supposed to be the year that finally closed the book on the Great Recession that began back in 2008; instead, the US recovery has been middling.

The ideas that are changing everyday life

Imagine a mirror that can take your body measurements within five minutes and create virtual images of you trying on new clothes without the trouble of taking them on and off.

Garment firm shifts its focus to robotics

Fancy your own robot at home, responding to your every need, even talking to you during lonely nights? Not a problem.