China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, was up 0.6 percent year on year in August, the National Bureau of Statistics said Monday.

In a recent case, a kindergarten principal was dismissed for “accepting” a box of chocolates worth 6 yuan ($0.85) from a student before Teacher’s Day, which falls on September 10, sparking debate as the dust settles on the incident.

The kindergarten initially classified it as “accepting gifts and money from students and parents” and dismissed the principal. 

However, the court ruled that the act should not be classified as misconduct and deemed the dismissal was illegal, according to a report by the state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.

The kindergarten principal, surnamed Wang, was dismissed by the Sanxia Kindergarten in Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality for accepting the box of chocolate from a student ahead of the Teacher’s Day, a decision which Wang challenged in court. 

In the first court trial, the local district court in Chongqing ruled in favor of Wang, stating that the chocolate was a small gift given out of love and respect, and did not represent a violation of the rules. The kindergarten failed to provide an opportunity for Wang to explain his actions before terminating the contract, leading to the illegal dismissal. The court decision was upheld following a second trial. 

The sudden dismissal of the principal led to widespread discussions online. Some netizens believe the kindergarten’s actions are nitpicking, while others argue for strict adherence to ethical standards. 

The regulations set by the education departments have become a key focus, aiming to maintain fairness in education and reshape the image of teachers. 

Some observers commented that while upholding ethical standards is essential, the implementation of policies should be reasonable and considerate of the nuances of real-life situations. Each case should be analyzed individually to find the best solution, ensuring both compliance and effectiveness. 

Chinese leading securities firm Guotai Junan Securities has announced it will merge with smaller rival Haitong Securities in a bid to build a first-class investment bank and promote the high-quality development of the industry, with both companies having halted trading from Friday.

Guotai Junan plans to take over Haitong by way of absorption and a share exchange, through which shares will be issued to holders of Haitong's yuan-denominated A-shares and Hong Kong-listed H-shares, according to separate statements from the two companies.

The merger requires approval from each company's boards and shareholders, as well as regulatory authorities, their statements said. Guotai Junan and Haitong are both owned by Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, public information showed.

According to the companies' financial results in 2023, the combination of the two financial institutions is set to create a giant brokerage with total assets of 1.68 trillion yuan ($236.9 billion), the biggest in the industry in China, domestic news site the Securities Times reported on Friday.

It's worth noting that this is the first major merger in China's financial industry since the release of the State Council Nine-Point Guideline in April, a document that mapped out plans to boost the capital market through 2035.

"The merger of the two securities firms will help give better play to each other's advantages, improve their layout in key areas and key industries so as to strengthen their competitiveness and better serve the real economy," Xi Junyang, a professor at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Friday.

More importantly, the move will help integrate Shanghai's advantages to build a first-class investment bank that is in line with the city's status as an international financial center and enhance the city's global influence, Xi said.

The Central Financial Work Conference held in Beijing last October pointed out efforts to boost the competitiveness and influence of Shanghai as an international financial center. It also said it is essential to improve institutional positioning, support large state-owned financial institutions in becoming stronger and better, playing a major role in serving the real economy, and being a cornerstone of financial stability.

Xi said more mergers and acquisitions are expected in the country's financial sector to strengthen the allocation of resources and deepen the financial sector's role in serving the real economy.

Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund, called for confidence and patience in China's macro-economy and the country's stock markets.

"Efforts are needed to step up fiscal policies, for example, the release of more consumption vouchers to stimulate spending and the improvement of people's well-being, to bring back social confidence. With these forceful measures, the A-share market is expected to reverse a weak situation and show an upward trend," he said.

Chinese and US commerce and trade officials will hold a meeting in North China's Tianjin Municipality next month to exchange views on a wide range of issues, including economic and trade policies, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on Thursday, adding to growing interactions between officials of the two countries.

At the meeting, Chinese officials will express concerns over issues, including the intensifying US crackdown against Chinese businesses and products, including Washington's plan to impose additional tariffs on Chinese products, according to Chinese experts.

At a press conference on Thursday, He Yadong, a spokesperson for the MOFCOM, announced that China and the US have agreed to hold a vice-ministerial meeting of the China-US commercial and trade working group in Tianjin on September 7.

The meeting will be co-chaired by China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen and the US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago. The two sides will exchange views on a wide range of issues, including their respective concerns about economic and trade policies, appeals from businesses and practical cooperation, the MOFCOM spokesperson said.

This will be the second vice-ministerial meeting of the commercial and trade working group. The first was held in Washington in April, where the Chinese side expressed concerns over issues, including the US Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, an overstretched concept of national security, sanctions on Chinese businesses and unfair treatment toward Chinese companies, the MOFCOM said at the time.

The announcement of the meeting on Thursday came as Chinese and US officials have increased interactions recently. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a new round of candid, substantive and constructive China-US strategic communication with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Beijing.

In mid-August, Chinese and US officials held the fifth meeting of the bilateral Financial Working Group in Shanghai, where the two sides had "professional, pragmatic, candid and constructive" talks to ensure financial stability.

He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, said that increasing bilateral dialogue is necessary to address certain issues of concern to both sides and help stabilize bilateral ties, especially in the economic and trade fields.

"Maintaining this type of dialogue mechanism is correct and necessary," He Weiwen told the Global Times on Thursday. "The two sides must rely on dialogue to maintain normal economic and trade ties and reduce artificial disruptions."

The Chinese side will express concerns over restrictions imposed by the US on many Chinese products, including hefty additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). "These restrictions have caused serious disruptions to normal trade and investment relations between China and the US," He Weiwen said.

In one of the latest crackdowns against Chinese products, the US government is expected to announce implementation plans for tariff hikes on Chinese products, including EVs, this week, Reuters reported. However, the move is facing growing criticism from US domestic industries amid concerns over increasing costs.

Such moves by the US not only undermine bilateral economic and trade cooperation, but will also have a profound negative impact on global cooperation to address climate change, said Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Given the importance of China-US ties, "it is necessary for the two sides to have sufficient, effective and timely communication to avoid miscalculations," Zhou told the Global Times on Thursday, noting that the two sides should focus on finding solutions to address disputes through such talks.

The China International Big Data Industry Expo 2024 concluded in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, attracting over 21,000 guests and 414 domestic and international companies, an official from the National Data Administration (NDA) told a press conference on Friday.

The expo, a major indicator of leading big data development, represents China's "digital appointment" with the world and its "development appointment" with the future, analysts said, adding that the diversity of exhibitions, showcased the latest trends in digital innovation and highlighted the importance of international cooperation in the digital sector.

New policies and leading technological achievements were unveiled at the expo, with over 1,300 new products and technologies on display. Additionally, 154 research and technical achievements were presented at the event, Wang Xudong, an NDA spokesperson said on Friday.

Many attendees observed a significant increase in the variety of applications across different industries at this year's expo, with large language models being one of the spotlights. The Global Times reporter learned from several industry insiders that the rapid advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) technology is a key driver behind the growing demand for computing power in traditional industries.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China International Big Data Industry Expo. The event has showcased numerous cutting-edge technologies and applications, ranging from autonomous driving, virtual reality, humanoid robots, digital humans and large language models.

"After a decade of development, the expo has emerged as a crucial platform in the country's data field, leading innovation trends, showcasing industry achievements and promoting opening-up and cooperation," according to Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration.

A record number of over 3,000 enterprises participated in the events, with global exhibitors showcasing their latest achievements in AI, data analysis, edge computing, and the Internet of Things, according to Jing Yaping, director of the Guizhou Big Data Development Administration. For instance, a Malaysian company, MEA, displayed high-grade air purification equipment and products, while Statista from the United States presented digital transformation solutions in quantitative data statistics.

This year's expo also provided a platform for Chinese and foreign companies to showcase the benefits of China's digital industry growth, with participants from foreign industry leaders such as Apple and Intel, as well as 77 overseas companies from over 30 countries and regions, including the US, France, Germany, Canada and Russia. Some expressed that China is leading the way in developing data industry and the digital economy, and expressed eagerness to enhance global collaboration.

Thorsten Tolksdorf, secretary general of the International Data Space Association, praised China's rapid development in the digital economy and expressed hopes to deepen interactions with Chinese companies and institutions through the expo, according to China Media Group.

Ginz Ooi, founder & CEO of Malaysian digital marketing agency Webqlo, highlighted the strong digital cooperation between China and Malaysia, noting China's impressive growth in the digital economy and e-commerce sectors over the past five years. Success stories like the expansion of Chinese e-commerce giants and the popularity of social media platforms such as TikTok and Xiaohongshu in Southeast Asia demonstrate the competitiveness of Chinese digital enterprises in overseas markets.

"Strengthened cooperation, especially in e-commerce, has created win-win opportunities for both Malaysian and Chinese enterprises," Ooi told the Global Times on Friday.

At the expo, an investment fair gathering 80 businesses from China and Arab States, was held, representatives like Doris Wang from an asset management company in the Arab region was one of the participants.

India's scrutiny of Chinese investments poses a dilemma for its own development, with political and economic considerations intertwined. It is imperative for India to strike a delicate balance between protecting national security and promoting economic development. Without enhancing mutual trust, India will struggle to boost Chinese investments that are vital for the advancement of its manufacturing sector.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said at the ET World Leaders Forum on Saturday that it's "common sense" to scrutinize Chinese investments, noting that many countries do the same for security reasons, Indian media reported. 

His remarks, to a certain extent, reflect India's attitude toward China on geopolitical and security issues, an important reason why India remains distrustful of Chinese investments. 

Such an attitude is influenced by some Western countries, particularly the US, which view China as a "security threat" and has pushed for "decoupling" from China. 

The result of India following the West in overstretching the security concept in economic issues is that India's investment policy toward China has fallen deeply into a security dilemma. On the one hand, India needs Chinese investments to promote the development of its domestic manufacturing, but on the other hand, it is wary of Chinese investments due to fears over potential "security risks." 

These dual concerns not only fail to effectively promote India's manufacturing development but also exacerbate its domestic divisions. Some Indian media reports said that Indian electronics manufacturers have suffered losses due to restrictions on Chinese businesses.

It is understandable that every country has its own legitimate and reasonable system for reviewing foreign investments. But since the Indian government in 2020 implemented restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI) from countries sharing land borders with India, its scrutiny of Chinese investments has been particularly strict. 

The fundamental reason why India conducts strict scrutiny of Chinese investment is actually a trust issue. The deep-rooted hostility toward China among some Indian elites, interest groups and Western lobbyists continues to take advantage of the lack of mutual trust between China and India to influence decision-making in New Delhi. However, restricting Chinese investment cannot promote the development of Indian manufacturing, but instead affects India's investment appeal.

In the fiscal year 2023-24, India's actual FDI decreased by 37 percent year-on-year to $26.6 billion, according to Indian media reports - the lowest level since 2006-07. The development of the manufacturing sector relies on industrial clusters composed of small and medium-sized enterprises, and India's restrictions on Chinese investments are not conducive to the formation of the Indian manufacturing ecosystem.

Indeed, anyone who knows something about bilateral trade and investment understands that at present cooperation with China is essential for India's manufacturing development.

Despite India's imposition of economic and trade restrictions on China, trade between India and China has actually increased. In the fiscal year 2023-24, China once again became India's largest trading partner. According to India's official data, bilateral trade reached $118.4 billion. Data from the India-based Global Trade Research Initiative showed that 98.5 percent of the goods that India imported from China are industrial products, accounting for about 30 percent of India's total industrial imports, Indian media reported.

The trade figures demonstrate the complementarity of the industrial chains between China and India, which provides huge potential for cooperation. India needs to recognize that if it wants to achieve rapid development of its manufacturing sector, easing restrictions on Chinese investments and improvements in its business environment are necessary measures. 

China and India need to improve their mutual trust, especially India needs to trust Chinese investment, and enhanced economic and trade exchanges are conducive to this process. This is what really makes sense both economically and politically.

China on Sunday announced the release of the standard sheet music and official recording of the Chinese national anthem - "March of the Volunteers," with this year marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 75th anniversary of the Chinese national anthem.

The standard sheet music for the national anthem includes orchestral, wind ensemble, and piano accompaniment scores. The official recording versions of the national anthem include orchestral version, orchestral choral version, wind ensemble version, and wind ensemble choral version, according to the State Council Information Office at a press conference on Sunday.

The released standard musical score for the national anthem has not made any changes to the melody, but focused on four areas of improvement, including standardized cover, title page, and publishing notation, unified tempo markings, as well as standardized expression terms.

The national anthem "March of the Volunteers," has lyrics by poet Tian Han and music by Nie Er. The original song greatly encouraged Chinese soldiers and civilians during the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945). It was chosen as the national anthem in 1949.

Wu Zeng, an official from the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, stated at the press conference that the release of the standard sheet music and official recording of the national anthem will enhance the seriousness and standardization of its performance, broadcasting, and usage, uphold the image and dignity of the country, strengthen national consciousness and patriotism, and further promote the national spirit centered on patriotism.

China's National Anthem Law came into force in 2017 to ensure appropriate performance of the song, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Now, National Anthem Law, National Flag Law and National Emblem Law together constitute a relatively complete legal system of national symbols in China, Wu said.

The anthem shall be sung at formal political gatherings, including the opening and closing of National People's Congress sessions, constitutional oath ceremonies, flag raising ceremonies, major celebrations, awards ceremonies, commemorations, national memorial events, important diplomatic occasions, major sport events and other suitable occasions, according to the National Anthem Law.

China’s Hong Kong athlete Jiang Minhui won the gold medal in the women's individual fencing (epee) event at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, securing Hong Kong's first gold medal of these Games. This achievement highlights the significant progress of fencing in Hong Kong.

Jiang experimented with various sports from a young age before ultimately choosing fencing. After making her Olympic debut in 2016, she achieved decent results for Hong Kong in the fencing event at the Tokyo Olympics.

Despite being eliminated in the quarterfinals at Tokyo, Jiang's performance in the Paris Olympics was remarkable. In the final, she staged a dramatic comeback from a 1:7 deficit to win 12:11, demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship.

While preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, she also completed her Master’s thesis in Law at Renmin University of China. In September 2021, she began pursuing a Ph.D. in Law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Jiang ranked number one in the world before the Paris Olympics, drawing considerable attention from all sectors in Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee congratulated Jiang in a phone call following her victory, praising her accomplishment as a source of pride for all Hong Kong citizens.

Jiang's gold medal has further advanced the maturity of fencing in Hong Kong and inspired greater interest in the sport among young people.

At the pre-match media conference earlier that day, Head Coach Cheng Siu-hong emphasized the importance of maintaining athletes' physical health and mental balance. He urged athletes and coaches to set aside their burdens, enjoy the competition, and aim for excellent results. Now his wish has been fulfilled.

China's renowned table tennis athlete Fan Zhendong clinched the men's singles gold medal with a 4-1 victory over Sweden's Truls Möregårdh at the Paris Games. Following his triumph, the well-known Taylor Swift fan shared the track "The Alchemy" from Swift's album The Tortured Poets Department on his personal Sina Weibo account, captioning it with, "Finally touch down."

Fan's post quickly gained a following, and by Tuesday, "The Alchemy" had soared to the top of China's popular streaming platform QQ Music's peak surge chart. Many comments under the song noted that Fan's endorsement had drawn them in, while others extended their congratulations and support to the athlete.

Apart from his outstanding table tennis skills, Fan is also widely recognized as a devoted Taylor Swift fan. He frequently shares Swift's lyrics or songs on Weibo.

Ahead of the finals, a hashtag created by fans, "I'm Taylor Swift; I cheer for Fan Zhendong," had garnered over 100 million views as of Tuesday on Weibo. Some netizens created montages of his past matches set to Swift's music, and some even designed posters of Fan's various matches styled like Swift's "The Eras Tour" to support him.
In March, a viral video on social media showed him singing along to "Cruel Summer" at Swift's Singaporean concert, just days before competing at the World Table Tennis Singapore Smash. In the competition, he suffered a 1-3 upset by 18-year-old compatriot Lin Shidong. Some questioned whether attending the concert impacted his training.

Following the match, Fan posted on Weibo to defend himself, "Music knows no borders. Great musicians like Taylor Swift bring healing and confidence. I hope more people can open their hearts to this charm."

"On the court, I am an athlete trained by the country, striving for national glory for over a decade. Off the court, in my limited personal time, I am just an ordinary young man with normal hobbies and relationships… I was screaming 'long live all the magic we made, and bring on all the pretenders, one day we will be remembered,'" he wrote, quoting the lyrics of Swift's song "Long Live."

Accompanying this post was a nearly five-minute vlog in which Fan is seen wearing a cap with the word "Reputation," which is also the sixth album from Swift, carrying a Swift tote bag, and wearing "friendship bracelets."

In Swift's hit song "You're On Your Own, Kid" on the 2022 album Midnights, Swift wrote "make the friendship bracelets, take a moment and taste it." The lyrics have inspired a trend among Swifties, the nickname of Swift's fans, to trade bracelets with each other at her concerts.

In response to the accidental breaking of his racket after the table tennis mixed doubles final at Paris Olympics, Chinese table tennis player Wang Chuqin spoke out in a live-stream on Tuesday, admitting that he felt a mix of anger and helplessness at that moment, but the incident did not contribute to his later loss in the men's singles.

"When my racket broke, I was really upset and felt a bit angry and helpless. We had just won the championship and were celebrating when it happened. That racket had seen me through many championships, and even though there isn't much difference between the new and old one, it was a source of comfort for me," Wang recalled. "But the singles loss was mainly due to my own performance, not the broken racket."

Wang also discussed the physical and mental toll of competing in multiple events - mixed doubles, singles and team - at the Olympics, noting that it was more challenging than he had anticipated.

"I've played in all three events before, but the physical and mental exhaustion from the Olympics was beyond anything I had ever experienced. I couldn't recover in time, and the fatigue affected my ability to perform at a hundred percent," Wang said.

During the mixed doubles final on July 30, Wang and his partner Sun Yingsha clinched the gold medal by defeating the North Korean pair Ri Jong Sik and Kim Kum Yong. However, during the post-match photo session, a journalist stepped on Wang's racket, breaking it. 

Despite the incident, Wang maintained in a post-match interview that the incident was unintentional and that he could still perform well with his backup racket. Unfortunately, he lost in the men's singles event the following day.

Both Wang and Sun, along with their coaches Xiao Zhan and Qiu Yike, have since addressed several key points in recent live-streams. 

Reflecting on the mixed doubles final, Sun explained her decision to take a memorable photo with the athletes from North Korea and South Korea, saying, "The Olympics only come around once every four years, and no one knows what the next four years will bring. I wanted to capture this beautiful moment."

Sun shared her feelings about participating in the Olympic closing ceremony, where she had the honor of representing Asia in blowing out the Olympic Flame and she expressed deep gratitude to her coach, Qiu, for his support throughout the experience.

Looking ahead, Sun plans to take some time off to recover before gradually preparing for upcoming competitions. 

"It's still a bit early to think about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics or whether I'll be competing there. It's four years away, but as long as I remain determined and continue chasing my dreams, I believe I can compete in Los Angeles," Sun said.

Wang's colorful headband, which caught the attention of many spectators, was also addressed during the livestream. He explained that the headband was worn to absorb sweat and prevent it from affecting his grip, not as a way of acting cool. He clarified that the colors don't have any special meaning, except for red, which represents Team China.

Swedish player Kristian Karlsson once described Wang: "He's funny, open and speaks good English" in an interview with Swedish Newspaper Sportbladet. Wang responded modestly, admitting that his English isn't that good, but he can manage a few sentences. 

"We were all preparing in the same place and have faced each other many times, so I frequently interacted with players from other countries during the Olympics," Wang said.