Govts should act now to narrow wealth inequality and save the world

Eight men own as much wealth as the poorest 3.6 billion people, or half of the world's total population, says Oxfam in its latest report. The report titled "An economy for the 99 percent", released just before the Jan 23-26 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, reflects the horrific global wealth disparity that is being further widened as big businesses and the super rich continue to dodge taxes, lower wages and use their powers to influence political regimes.

Abusing trade remedies part of Trump's agenda

The decision by US President Donald Trump on Monday to impose tariffs on imported solar energy components and large washing machines, signals Washington is quickening its pace to embrace anti-trade populism under the pretext of pursuing "fair trade".

Joint efforts on climate needed

The extreme weather around the world recently, from the blizzards in the United States to the sweltering heat wave in Australia, further verify the previous predictions that hurricanes, floods, droughts and other natural disasters will become increasingly frequent worldwide.

Trillion club reveals cities are the driving force for growth

ELEVEN YEARS AGO, Shanghai became the first city in China whose GDP exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($156 billion). By the end of last month, the number of the cities in the 1 trillion yuan club had risen to 14, with Wuxi in Jiangsu province, and Changsha in Hunan province, as the latest newcomers. Beijing News commented on Tuesday:

App may have sought to cloak corruption

IN ORDER TO participate in the bids to provide school uniforms, companies in 16 provinces and municipalities are reportedly required to mandatorily join a third-party app called YGZY. According to some local education officials this was intended to prevent corruption. However, YGZY takes 4 percent of the total value of the uniforms provided, which pushes the prices higher. Southern Metropolis Daily comments:

Will planes, pets and electronic devices be a troublesome mix?

HAINAN AIRLINES has said it will allow some pets to travel in the cabin with their owners on domestic flights on a trial basis, making it the first commercial airline in China to do so. Sichuan Airlines reportedly intends to follow suit in March. Southern Metropolis Daily comments:

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Is China challenging US leadership?

Editor's note: While a Gallup poll result on Thursday showed global support for China's leadership was higher than that of the United States in 2017, a Chinese scholar sparked controversy by declaring China has surpassed the US in all major aspects. Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Pan Yixuan. Excerpts follow:

Check population decline with urgent steps

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 17.23 million newborns were added to China's population last year, down 630,000 year-on-year, and the birth rate dropped from 1.295 percent in 2016 to 1.243 percent in 2017. The declining newborn population and birth rate indicate China could experience negative population growth in the near future.

West trapped in 'sharp power' hysteria

It used to be called "soft power": information and analyses coming from all over the world, including China, Russia or Cuba. It used to be the loose definition for state-sponsored art projects, academic research, or for culture in general, even sports.

US should see the huge potential ahead instead of condemning China

In November, the United States administration refused to recognize China's market economy status, going back on the promise it had made when China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. And last week's US statement suggested it regrets supporting China's entry into the WTO.

US shows it's hell-bent on having its own way

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' weeklong trip to Asia has caught global attention as it comes just two days after the Pentagon revealed its national defense strategy on Friday. Not surprisingly, it has been anticipated that his visits to Vietnam and Indonesia will set out new markers for US strategy in the Asia-Pacific.