Booze in the age of the robo-barman

LOS ANGELES - As Tipsy methodically unfolds an arm to select a glass, retrieve ice and mix a drink, it's all a far cry from the flashy swagger of Tom Cruise in Cocktail.

Disabled in war, soldiers seek a living on the streets

JALALABAD, Afghanistan - Afghan soldier Mehrullah Safi's military career ended in southern Helmand province last year when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded next to him, severing his right leg. Now he sells mobile telephone cards in the street.

Hopes of health and good habits as goddess girls are worshipped

KATHMANDU, Nepal - Over 100 young girls aged under 10 years old participated in the ancient Kumari Puja, part of a festival dedicated to rain god "Indra Jatra", in Nepal on Monday.

New dimension to trailblazing pop video

VENICE, Italy - Director John Landis says his new 3D version of Thriller gives Michael Jackson fans chance to see the groundbreaking video how the late king of pop would have wanted them to.

Last laugh: Scientists expose role of female cuckoo's evil 'chuckle'

PARIS - The common cuckoo, notorious for evading parental duty by hiding her eggs in the nests of other brooding birds, is even more devious than previously thought, scientists revealed on Monday.

Summit offers road map for building a fairer world order

On Sept 4, 2016, while addressing the 11th G20 Summit in Hangzhou, President Xi Jinping urged participating global leaders to make the grouping "an action force, rather than a talking shop".

US helping none in DPRK issue

US President Donald Trump's reaction to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's sixth nuclear test on Sunday stood out - not for its condemnation but for its twisted approach. Trump took to Twitter to say the DPRK "is a rogue nation which has become a great threat and embarrassment to China, which is trying to help but with little success". In his second tweet, he said the Republic of Korea "is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with" the DPRK "will not work, they only understand one thing".

Without legal teeth, accountability system cannot improve air quality

TO TACKLE THE SMOG PROBLEM in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, especially in the winter, the Ministry of Environmental Protection will implement a "quantification accountability system" this year in the region's 28 cities and counties. The ministry will hold even the city's Party chief, the highest local authority, accountable if air pollution in his or her city rises above a certain level. Beijing News comments:

Legislation needed to tackle scourge of bullying

TEN DEPUTIES to the people's congress of South China's Guangdong province have called for binding, tailored regulations to end bullying and violence in schools, and make sure all parties concerned shoulder their due responsibilities. West China Metropolis Daily commented on Monday:

Reusable boxes and bags for greener takeouts

WITH THE FAST GROWTH of mobile internet, an increasing number of people are ordering takeouts when they are too busy to cook. Takeouts have made life more convenient for many, but the plastic bags and boxes used to pack the foods are an environmental hazard. Hbnews.cn comments:

Hot words

Golden decade 金色十年 (jīnsè shínián)

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