Clean coal can cut rural emissions

PROMOTING THE USE OF clean coal in heating and cooking in villages is a practical way to control air pollution. But the government must provide subsidies to encourage farmers to replace the cheaper bulk coal with clean coal, and make it easier for farmers to buy clean coal near their homes, thepaper.cn commented on Wednesday:

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Rising frictions over distribution of trade dividends

Last year was a tough one for the global economy, and this year looks like it could be another. Market demand continues to wane, and protectionism and terrorism have made some inroads in the West where globalization and the free flow of people have traditionally been championed and revered.

Celebrating Year of Rooster? Chicken? Hen?

Reform SOEs to revitalize Northeast China

To revitalize the northeast of China, we should first analyze the problems of its undesirable development nowadays.

Regulators right to act to ward off financial speculation

China's monetary regulators have been strict in checking the background of foreign exchange purchases amid intensifying pressure on capital outflows and contracting foreign exchange reserves.

Lead globalization, resist trade wars

China made its point. In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Xi Jinping made a straightforward defense of globalization.

Market needs rule of law

The media recently exposed two bases for the selling of counterfeit goods on the same day. One was a shopping mall in Putian in East China's Fujian province, which was found to be selling counterfeit shoes, cellphones and invoices among other things, the other was in the town of Duliu, in North China's Tianjin, where manufactures were producing counterfeit condiments.

Meal boxes must be fairly and transparently priced on trains

THE 15-YUAN ($2.3) MEAL BOXES, which were required to be available throughout the journey on all high-speed trains, are now provided on a first-come first-served basis, according to reports. Guangzhou Daily commented on Monday:

Fireworks ban fizzles out due to lack of forethought

ON SATURDAY, Central China's Henan province issued a notice extending its fireworks ban to cover all urban and rural regions. Yet two days later, it withdrew the decision and suspended the total ban because of opposition from residents and fireworks sellers. The total ban is a good idea to fight air pollution, but it requires a well thought out and practical plan for its implementation, says people.com.cn:

Hiring a spouse-to-be for festival problematic

WITH THE APPROACH of the Chinese Lunar New Year the business of renting a girlfriend or boyfriend has emerged again. In either written or oral contracts, the price of such a deal can be up to 1,000 yuan ($160) per day. Changsha Evening News commented on Tuesday:

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