Time to pull the plug on parents' voting contest

IN THE FACE of increasingly widespread children's popularity contests and the vote canvassing activities associated with them, the education bureau of East China's Zhejiang province issued a regulation on Tuesday that in principle prohibits the soliciting of votes via social media. Beijing News comments:

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Merkel on a delicate mission

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will start a two-day visit to China on Thursday and Friday in an attempt to boost relations between Germany and China and China-EU ties amid a highly volatile and uncertain international climate. The main reason for this volatility is the uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump, whether in trade disputes with China and the European Union, or his rash decision to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal. This latest Trump move has angered Europeans following his withdrawal from the Paris climate change agreement and relocation of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Transatlantic relations are facing difficult times.

Chinese animation superheroes in the making

Editor's note: Marvel is collaborating with NetEase, a Chinese internet company, to create Marvel's first two Chinese superheroes based on Marvel's concepts and Chinese mythology and culture. Two experts share their views on the Sino-US cooperation and the influence it could have on China's animation industry with China Daily's Yao Yuxin. Excerpts follow:

Sino-US trade talks yield tangible results

The specter of an all-out trade war between China and the US has been somewhat exorcized by the two rounds of high-level talks between the two countries. But despite the talks yielding some tangible results, some problems remain.

China will import only what it needs

In the joint statement issued after the US-China trade talks on May 17-18, China pledged to significantly increase purchases of US goods and services. But there is a caveat to such a commitment: the products and services from the US, or any other country, must be those that Chinese people are willing to buy.

Canberra should drop any anti-Beijing bias

After months of growing estrangement, there are positive signals that Australia is stepping up efforts to mend the fences with China. A refreshing change of attitude that Beijing has welcomed.

Battle against pollution now has pride of place

The latest crackdown on waste shipments from overseas launched by the General Administration of Customs on Tuesday reflects the government's firm determination to prevent the continuous inflow of foreign waste in efforts to combat pollution.

Diversifying investments could help social security fund grow

FOR THE FIRST TIME in recent years, the growth in income of the social security fund exceeded the growth in expenditure last year, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Beijing News commented on Tuesday:

Talent grab has opened doors for speculators

IT IS ESTIMATED that around 8.2 million people will graduate from college this year. And more than 20 cities have issued favorable policies to attract fresh graduates over the past two months. Beijing News comments:

Blogger's tactless words only serve to add insult to injury

YANG BINGYANG, a popular micro blogger under the name Ayawawa, aroused fierce criticism online by saying "comfort women", women and girls forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during its occupation of China, lived in "better conditions" than the soldiers who died. China Youth Daily commented on Tuesday: