US trade case against China very weak

On the surface, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer appears to have made an ironclad case against China in the so-called Section 301 report issued on March 22. Laid out in a detailed 182-page document (which, with 1,139 footnotes and five appendices, would make any legal team blush with pride), the USTR's indictment of China on charges of unfair trading practices regarding technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation seems both urgent and compelling.

Paid leave for only child a welcome step

Editor's note: Eight provinces, including Heilongjiang and Hubei, have passed local legislation granting paid leave to only child to allow them to take care of their sick parents. In force for two years, the measure has been welcomed by many people, especially the large number of single offspring and their parents. Now, some National People's Congress deputies are trying to get a national regulation passed on the subject. Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

No reason for city clusters not to succeed

In a debate on "Urbanization: Testing the City Cluster Model" that we (Asian Development Bank officials) participated in at the Boao Forum for Asia in South China's Hainan province in April, all the panelists agreed that integrating cities and urban systems in coordinated city clusters is a global challenge.

Pyongyang to align time with Seoul

The Democratic People Republic of Korea will shift its clocks 30 minutes earlier to align its time zone with the Republic of Korea, and Seoul said it will remove loudspeakers that blared propaganda across the border, according to reports on Monday.

May appoints Javid as interior minister

LONDON - British Prime Minister Theresa May appointed a former banker of South Asian origin as interior minister on Monday, trying to draw a line under an immigration scandal threatening her authority as she negotiates Brexit.

Leaders pledge to save Iran nuclear deal

PARIS/LONDON - French President Emmanuel Macron and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani agreed on Sunday to work together in the coming weeks to preserve the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, according to a statement released by the French presidency.

Overnight strike on Syria kills 26 fighters

DAMASCUS - As many as 26 pro-government fighters, mostly Iranians, were killed in the overnight missile attack that targeted Syrian military sites in northern Syria, a monitor group reported on Monday.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Beijing challenge is helping me thrive

Madeleine Leewellyn, 22, is an Indonesian student at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

Industrial profit growth steady

China's industrial sector continued to see steady revenue growth in March, with sustained structural improvements and continued economic growth momentum, according to analysts.

Coca-Cola eyes healthy returns with Beijing LePur deal

The Coca-Cola Co China is expanding into the yogurt business with an investment in Beijing LePur to boost its health and well-being innovation.

Ant Financial to establish mobile pay in Bangladesh

Ant Financial Services Group, the company behind the popular payment app Alipay, is extending its tentacles to Bangladesh through a partnership with a local mobile financial service provider, another step toward its globalization goal of serving 2 billion users within 10 years.