US can't call all the shots anymore

The United States has officially designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization in an attempt to isolate Iran in the international community. US President Donald Trump's announcement on April 8 that he would designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, not surprisingly, invoked a quick counter-move from Teheran - Iran's Supreme National Security Council labeled the US Central Command and its forces in West Asia as terrorist organizations on the same night.

Stop cryptocurrency 'mining' for public good

Editor's Note: In a recent draft list of industries it intends to encourage, restrict or eliminate, the National Development and Reform Commission has said the cryptocurrency "mining" industry has to be eliminated. What will be the impact of this move on the cryptocurrency industry both at home and abroad? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

Smear campaign against China won't make US great again

Senior US officials like to talk about reciprocity in relations with China. But one thing that China will not and cannot reciprocate is sending its officials around the world to defame another country. Which is exactly what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did in Chile on April 12 when he slandered Beijing, and tried to drive a wedge between Latin American countries and China.

Govt's actions ensure economy in better fettle than expected

China's GDP growth in the first quarter beat market expectations to achieve a 6.4 percent year-on-year expansion, a hard-won result that reflects the country's strenuous efforts to keep the world's second-largest economy on track.

Some in Australia insist on banging the same old drum

A worrying trend is gaining momentum in Australia as the country's media are giving increasing coverage to political figures and academics airing far-right, even racist views.

Together, three neighbors can better promote free trade in Asia

THE 15TH ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS AMONG CHINA, Japan and the Republic of Korea on a free trade agreement was held in Tokyo last week. Zhong Sheng, a columnist for People's Daily, comments:

Japan's population drop a drag on growth

OFFICIAL DATA from Japan show that the Japanese population declined for the eighth consecutive year in 2018. China Youth Daily comments:

Northeast rust belt needs new lease on life

Editor's note: Without warning, Hegang, a little-known border city in Heilongjiang province, has become a catchword on social media for its low housing price - a 70-square-meter apartment costs about 20,000 yuan ($2,982), which is not enough to buy half a square meter of housing in the center of big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. China Daily reporter Li Yang comments:

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Balance pension fund with growing needs

The Pension Fund Actuarial Report 2019-2050, prepared by the Center for International Social Security Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and released on April 10, has drawn wide public concern. The report, China's first actuarial report on the pension fund, focuses on the old-age pension fund, especially because Premier Li Keqiang said in this year's Government Work Report that the share borne by employers for urban workers' aged-care insurance will be lowered.

An intriguing encounter at Mar-a-Lago

A gate-crasher to the heavily commercialized Mar-a-Lago presidential residence in Florida tells the guards she's going for a swim but she turns out to be carrying four phones, two passports and a twitchy memory stick, but no bathing suit. This alone is enough to make the caper at Mar-a-Lago sound like the intriguing introduction to a Hollywood film noir, and in a way, it is.

BRI will clear doubts as it progresses

Editor's Note: Doubts have again been raised over the Belt and Road Initiative's goals, with some calling it a "debt trap" for participating countries and China's "geopolitical expansion tool". Why are anti-China elements using such ploys to malign China? And will they see reason once the Belt and Road Initiative starts yielding fruitful results for the participating countries? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Pan Yixuan. Excerpts follow: