Firm to open first cashierless pop-up outlet in Shanghai

Tencent Holdings Ltd has opened its first cashierless pop-up store in Shanghai, the latest player to delve into what could become a 65 billion yuan ($10.2 billion) industry by 2020.

JD to compete with Amazon in US market

BEIJING - Chinese e-commerce giant JD is preparing to make its United States debut with a beachhead in Los Angeles by the end of this year, seeking to best arch-rival Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and challenge Amazon.com Inc on its home turf.

Making bearish bets on China remains a losing proposition

US writer Gordon Chang only made himself a laughing stock with his 2001 book The Coming Collapse of China, but international hedge fund managers who have bet against China's economy are losing their pants.

Crime-busting battle waged

A special nationwide crackdown has been launched against organized crime, as, despite the tangible progress that has been made by the law enforcement authorities in recent years, the country's top decision-makers have realized that organized crime, if not uprooted, poses a grave threat to social stability and national governance.

Falls in their permanent populations timely turning point for metropolises

THE BEIJING AND SHANGHAI governments announced last week that, for the first time since 1978, the permanent resident population of the two metropolises fell last year, Southern Metropolis Daily comments:

Chinese choices for the best in dining

ON TUESDAY, Meituan-Dianping, China's largest service-focused e-commerce platform, launched its first Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, highlighting 330 restaurants in 22 Chinese cities and five overseas cities. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

Courts have duty to curb violence against children

A 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL in Xining, Northwest China's Qinghai province, died after being repeatedly beaten by her parents over 20 days. Beijing News comments:

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China reaches a cloning milestone

Editor's note: On Thursday, the Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, announced it had cloned two monkeys using non-reproductive somatic cell nuclear transfer in December. Three experts share their opinions on the issue with China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang:

Specific regulation needed for kids' online safety

Editor's note: Millions of Chinese children were exposed to thousands of cartoon videos with disturbing scenes of violence and sex that passed through the online "children filter", leaving parents horrified and sparking a debate on cybersecurity for kids. Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Yao Yuxin. Excerpts follow:

Belt and Road will boost ties with Middle East

Judging by the US Energy Information Administration's forecast, China's demand for energy could double by 2030 if its domestic growth and overseas economic activities through the Belt and Road Initiative continue at the current pace. Hence, speculation is rife that China might be a prime bidder for the 5 percent stocks of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) which Riyadh has decided to sell to ensure its future energy security.

How divisive will Trump be when he speaks in Davos?

The news that US President Donald Trump will attend the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos and deliver a keynote speech there on Friday has shocked many and even sparked protests in several Swiss cities.