Educators switch on to new revenue stream

A physics teacher surnamed Zhang has been giving live online courses, and in one day can bring in as much as some teachers earn in a year. Each of his seven classes lasts one hour, and more than 9,400 students paid nine yuan ($1.40) each for classes. This means Zhang can earn 67,000 yuan after platform commissions. Teachers earning such eye-popping paychecks for online classes in subjects ranging from English to physics have stimulated a lively debate across China that touches on the power of internet instruction, the state of Chinese education and the ethics of entrepreneurship.

Action plan targets soil pollution

China released its third national action plan to curb pollution on Tuesday, this time targeting soil deterioration.

Sexually abusive guardians must lose rights, top court reiterates

The right to be a child's guardian must be removed whenever parents and guardians are found to have sexually abused minors, officials from China's top court said on Tuesday in response to a rise in such cases in recent years.

Beijing, Manila sharing goodwill

Beijing and Manila are on a goodwill drive as President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, and key figures from the incoming Manila administration expressed willingness to talk with China.

IN BRIEF (Page 5)

New mandatory textile standards for children's clothing to improve safety

China's first mandatory national textile standards for children - both infants and older children - will take effect on Wednesday, International Children's Day.

Making 'left-behind children' count

Late last year, Fan Juxiang made a life-changing decision. The 27-year-old migrant worker quit her job in Zhejiang province in East China, and made the 1,100-km journey home to Huarong, a village in the central province of Hunan, where she had left her 3-year-old son to be raised by his grandparents.

Too much, too young

When I met Zhai Meixiang in Beidouxi township in Hunan province, she was celebrating her 12th birthday with a group of school friends, who were all left-behind children and shared birthdays in May.

Manila's duplicity cannot cover up core issue

The Philippines has never stopped playing tricks on the South China Sea issue. It is trying its best to cover up history and the facts, and to confuse the international community over the core issue, which is that the Philippines has not only seized some of China's territory, it wants more.

Textbooks for Chinese language should put that first

The Language & Culture Press, which is in charge of publishing the official Chinese language textbooks for middle and secondary schools nationwide, has recently aroused hot debate by announcing its plan to change 40 percent of the articles in the textbooks.

Noninterference and assistance best for Middle East

At the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing last year, an ex-journalist of Al Jazeera asked me why China couldn't fill the power vacuum in the Middle East. China can be accepted by all parties, he said, because "unlike Western powers, China's hands are clean".

Technological innovation is strategic imperative

Technology is the basis of a modern nation's development and innovation the soul of its progress. In his strategic thinking, President Xi Jinping considers technological innovation essential to sustain development.