海角大神

China Daily / Beijing
China鈥檚 growing consumption economy
鈥淸V]iewed from a longer perspective, [the recent stock market plunges] do not necessarily point to gloomy growth prospects for the Chinese economy, which is undergoing a necessary transition from growth led by investment and exports to more sustainable development driven by consumption and innovation...,鈥� . 鈥淐hinese cinemagoers spent $53 million over [a recent] weekend to make Star Wars: The Force Awakens one of the highest Saturday/Sunday openings of all-time at the mainland box office.... [I]t definitely signals [the arrival of] consumption-led growth that will play an increasingly bigger role in determining the long-term strength of the Chinese economy.鈥�

Hurriyet Daily News / Istanbul, Turkey
Low oil prices may be around for a while
鈥淭he increase in unconventional oil production coming from the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico and the shift in OPEC policy could be cited as the main reasons for the decline in oil prices that was observed in 1985-1986. The low prices continued for more than a decade and the prices turned back to their previous levels early in the 2000s,鈥� writes economics professor . 鈥淭he 2014-2015 oil bust is similar to this episode in terms of the recent increase in the U.S.鈥橻s] unconventional oil supply and the change in OPEC policy in November 2014. Taking into account this similarity, there is the possibility that it may take more than a decade for the oil prices to turn back to three digit levels and it will take some time for the market to come into a new equilibrium.鈥�

Spiegel International / Berlin
Addressing sexual violence in German culture
鈥淭he sudden interest in women鈥檚 rights is feigned and is nothing other than a fake argument to legitimize one鈥檚 own racism. The trivialization of sexual violence is ubiquitous and deeply rooted in society and culture 鈥� German society and culture as well,鈥� writes in a commentary on the rise of racist rhetoric online following the wave of New Year鈥檚 Eve mob attacks on women in Cologne, Germany. 鈥淭he Cologne attacks on women perpetrated by mobs of men would have been a fitting occasion to address this state of affairs and to figure out why the majority of the German public cares so shockingly little about sexual violence 鈥� unless it is committed by 鈥榤en with a North African or Arab appearance.鈥� 鈥�

The Asahi Shimbun / Tokyo
What pacifist Japan could offer Middle East conflict
鈥淎long with supporting the arbitration efforts by the United States, European nations and other parties, Japan should also work with the global community in trying to find out what could be done at this moment鈥� to resolve the Syrian crisis, . 鈥淲e could now make the most of the confidence in Japan, which has played an original role in nonmilitary, humanitarian aid that is intended to stabilize the livelihood of Middle Eastern people.... Seeking a way to avert a conflict in a peaceful manner ... would be the best way for [President Shinzo] Abe to live up to the promises of 鈥榙iplomacy that takes a panoramic perspective of the globe鈥� and 鈥榩roactive pacifism鈥� ... in the real sense of those terms. Seldom do we believe there is any easy approach to doing so. But that is the sort of diplomacy that Japan should be seeking as a pacifist nation.鈥�

The Straits times / Singapore
Be wary of public fearfulness
鈥淭en months before a US presidential election, terrorism overrides the economy as the voter鈥檚 main worry. Society鈥檚 darker instincts are growing," writes . Both sides of the US political divide are also stoking it. President Barack Obama does so inadvertently. Whenever he cites terrorism as a reason to tighten gun control, gun sales surge.... Republicans, by contrast, are consciously amplifying public fear. Though America will take only 10,000 Syrian refugees this year, more than half of US states have said they will refuse to host any.... This is what [Islamic State] wants. At any time, public fearfulness is troubling. In an election year, we should be especially wary.鈥�