Right to development is fundamental

China's State Council Information Office on Thursday issued a white paper on the right to development, detailing the country's philosophy, practice and contribution in this regard. Following is the full text of the document.

Court of Appeal deals heavy blow to separatism in HK

The Court of Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has dismissed an appeal by two young people elected to be lawmakers against an earlier court ruling disqualifying them from taking their seats in the Legislative Council because they failed to take their oaths of office.

Improving food standards

The National Health and Family Planning Commission has revealed its intention to clean up and consolidate nearly 5,000 food safety standards and formulate or revise 300 national standards.

Clarifying legal status of police assistants strengthens rule of law

TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES are often hired by the police to help with law enforcement. These assistants have aroused controversy because their legal standing in enforcing the law was not clear until now. The State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a detailed guiding document making clear their power and responsibilities. Beijing News comments:

Right to curb speculation in property

SHANGHAI AND TIANJIN have raised their down payment requirements for homebuyers in an attempt to cool their overheated property markets. First-time homebuyers in Shanghai now have to pay down payments of at least 35 percent, while the threshold for their Tianjin counterparts has reached 30 percent. Beijing News commented on Wednesday:

Super hospitals not in line with medical reform

SOME SUPER HOSPITALS play such strong roles in the provision of public healthcare that they create a problem by diverting resources and draining talent from local hospitals. Legal Daily commented on Wednesday:

Cartoon

What kind of world do we want to live in?

Our world is changing with unprecedented rapidity. Technology, demography, climate change and globalization are mega-trends that seem to be powering ahead, creating uncertainty and, in some cases, fear of change.

China's hunting for corrupt fugitives is justifiable

Yang Xiuzhu, China's most-wanted fugitive who fled overseas 13 years ago, returned to Beijing and turned herself in on Nov 16, marking another victory in the country's campaign against corruption. The former deputy director of the construction department of East China's Zhejiang province has been accused of embezzling 250 million yuan ($36.3 million), making her the most-wanted on China's "red notice" list of 100 corrupt officials released by Interpol last year.

Promoting quality academic research in sciences

A recent national policy allowing researchers in the sciences and college teachers to take up part-time jobs in a "modest way" according to the laws and regulations has raised public concern.

Raise skilled workers' status to reduce kids' study pressure

Should we send our children to after-school tutoring institutions to help raise their scores in exams and sharpen their competitive edge?

China, Japan and the ROK need to talk to restore trust

Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye has indicated she intends to attend the planned China-Japan-ROK leaders meeting in Tokyo next month.