Once again, Washington's word proves worthless

It is getting harder and harder for members of the world community to deal with the current US administration, as it clearly has a problem keeping the country's word. It has scrapped international treaties at will, and it has shown a double face in bilateral trade talks with almost all its major trading partners.

Monetary policies must serve reform and quality development

AFTER THE US FEDERAL RESERVE cut its interest rate on Thursday, many central banks have followed suit. The central banks of Europe and Japan are also embracing looser monetary policies. The 21st Century Business Herald comments:

US trying to trigger an arms race

THE UNITED STATES withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on Friday, as scheduled. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

Japan should not use trade to settle historical issues

Editor's note: With tensions rising between Japan and the Republic of Korea, the two countries' foreign ministers held a bilateral meeting on Thursday, and took part in a trilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on Friday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Xiakedao, a WeChat account owned by People's Daily Overseas Edition, comments:

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Realty sector to remain relatively stable

Real estate investment remained high in the first half of this year. The total real estate investment nationwide from January to June was 6.16 trillion yuan ($892.89 billion), up 10.9 percent year on year. In June alone, real estate investment reached 1.55 trillion yuan, an increase of 31.01 percent from the previous month, indicating high market investment enthusiasm.

How many lives is Notre Dame worth?

Just a little more than 24 hours after the fire that seriously damaged Notre-Dame de Paris on April 15, donations to rebuild the 850-year-old cathedral had crossed e1 billion ($1.1 billion). Most of the money came from some of France's wealthiest people. Untec, the national union representing construction economists in France, has indicated that the cost of the reconstruction is likely to be between e300 and e600 million, far less than the amount raised.

The strange case of fans creating celebrities

John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles, was shot by a crazed fan on Dec 8, 1980, reflecting the ugliest side of the mostly intense, sometimes intractable, relationship between fans and their idols.

Equities tumble on Asian bourses

China's A-share market, together with other Asian peers, tumbled on Friday, after the unexpected tariff threat from the United States overnight rattled investors globally.

ChinaJoy gaming expo attracts foreign players

While a growing number of overseas game industry leaders are reaching into the Chinese market, more Chinese game developers and publishers are looking beyond the domestic market to a bigger arena.

Shanghai and Bangkok look to forge closer ties

Shanghai and Bangkok are expected to build closer economic ties due to the extended development of the Belt and Road Initiative, the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, as well as Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), officials said.

Upbeat words in Bangkok need corresponding actions

The messages from the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Bangkok, as well as that between the top diplomats of China and the United States appear more positive than anticipated.