End Sanya's de facto monopoly by airlines during the holidays

THIS YEAR when the Spring Festival holiday ended all the economy class tickets for flights from Sanya in South China's Hainan province to Harbin in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, which in previous years could normally be purchased for about 3,000 yuan ($476), had completely sold out, and the prices for the business class tickets that remained cost about 20,000 yuan. Beijing News comments:

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China's soft power is on the rise

Soft power is the ability of a country to shape other countries' views, attitudes, perceptions and actions without force or coercion. Exercising soft power, a state can attract supporters and partners towards its policies, views and actions. Its importance has been known for centuries, but the term was coined by Joseph Nye in the late 1980s.

Shift in focus to attain quality growth

Shifting toward "quality growth" is now at the top of the country's policy agenda. Governments at all levels nationwide now have a quiet but resolute commitment to fostering a new growth model that corrects the distortions created by decades of double-digit growth - including corruption, pollution, rising inequality and other structural imbalances.

Trump's fixation on deficit shows he needs an economics primer

Donald Trump has been consistent in blaming the United States' economic woes on its trade partners, having done so even before he started campaigning to be president in 2016. However, his rationale is totally flawed.

Quad's plan is damagingly divisive, despite the denials

According to reports citing an unnamed senior US official, Australia, India, Japan and the United States, the so-called Quad, are reportedly planning a joint regional infrastructure scheme to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Palestinian-Israeli peace process needs kiss of life

The unpleasant exchanges on Tuesday at the United Nations Security Council between United States and Palestinian representatives was just another indication of how difficult the Middle East peace process may become.

Preferential treatment is a blight on local business environments

HUANG MING, PRESIDENT OF HIMIN GROUP, a manufacturer of solar energy water heaters in the prefecture-level city of Dezhou, East China's Shandong province, posted an open letter on the internet last week, complaining bitterly that the Dezhou Party chief Chen Yong's malfeasance had caused great difficulties for his business. Beijing News comments:

Wrong for people to praise killings

A MAN SURRENDERED HIMSELF to local police in Hanzhong, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, last week, two days after stabbing to death three male members of a neighboring family. Beijing News comments:

Temple fairs can help 'sell' tradition to next generation

DURING THE HOLIDAY, toys based on mobile games, such as dolls based on the character in Travel Frog, have become bestsellers at the temple fairs held in many cities. Rednet.cn comments:

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Ensuring Olympic success - after the games

As the Olympic torch is being passed to emerging economies, it is time to come up with innovative solutions and appropriate cost controls to finance the games.