Fintech highlights the good, bad and ugly of lending

The controversy about some Chinese online small consumer credit providers allegedly overcharging their clients should not invite a blanket ban. Instead, it calls for a swift and smart regulatory response that, while allowing more entrepreneurial efforts to tap into the huge potential of fintech in the age of the internet, soundly protects consumers from predatory loans in whatever guise.

Signs ROK and China can turn the page on THAAD

Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyungwha reportedly told lawmakers on Monday that the country is not considering any additional deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system. She also reiterated that the ROK will not be part of the US-led missile defense networks.

Quality growth for more gains

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the top leadership has abandoned the GDP-dominant performance approach to assessing how well local officials have been doing their jobs; instead, improvements in people's livelihoods, social progress and the state of the environment are taken as important indexes for how well they are serving the people.

Free trade ports will help to push the envelope of reforms

IN THE REPORT he delivered at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing on Oct 18, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping pointed out that the government should give pilot free trade zones more autonomy to carry out reforms and the country should explore the possibility of establishing free trade ports. Beijing News comments:

Elderly are not stick-in-the-muds

THE LATEST RESEARCH ON ONLINE SHOPPING suggests that it is the elderly, frequently portrayed as not being internet-savvy, who comprise a larger-than-expected proportion of online shoppers. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Monday:

Campaign to drive home the message of pedestrian safety

THE BEIJING GOVERNMENT has organized a media campaign in which it is encouraging people to shoot small video clips showing vehicles stopping at crossings to allow pedestrians to cross the road. These videos of courteous drivers will then be broadcast online and on TV. Rednet.com comments:

Hot words

Coordinated development of urban and rural compulsory education

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HK benefits from growth of motherland

It is imperative to fully and faithfully implement the policies of "one country, two systems", "the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong" and "the people of Macao governing Macao", and a high degree of autonomy for both regions,

Supervisory commissions tackle graft from the root

The just-concluded 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China included "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era "in the Party Constitution. As part of General Secretary Xi Jinping's report to the 19th Party Congress on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi's thought shows the political wisdom of the central leadership with Xi Jinping as the core.

Stronger Sino-Russian ties help Eurasian integration

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated President Xi Jinping on his re-election as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the success of the just-concluded 19th Party National Congress during a phone call on Thursday. He also hoped that Xi will lead the world's largest political party to achieve new goals.

The not-so-dire future of work in the age of technology

The future of work is a hot topic nowadays. It has inspired a seemingly endless train of analyses, commentaries and conferences, and it featured prominently in recent annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. For good reason: new technologies - digitization, robotics and artificial intelligence - have far-reaching implications for employment. But, contrary to how the story is often framed, a happy ending is possible.