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Chinese cities have recently banned the burning of "ghost money" and other paper offerings for the dead, labeling the practice as "feudal superstition." This move has sparked public outcry and debate on social media. The bans have been issued in various cities, including Tianjin, Nenjiang, and Nantong, among others. The burning of ghost money and the sale of superstitious goods have also been banned in Beijing, Shanghai, Harbin, Qingdao, Henan, Chongqing, and Lanzhou in recent years. These bans aim to crack down on what the authorities perceive as "feudal superstitions." However, there has been pushback from social media users who feel that the government is trying to control people's expressions of mourning for their loved ones. The bans have also raised concerns about hill fires and air pollution caused by the mass burning of offerings. Despite the bans, some commentators argue that this custom is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and should be respected. [Extracted from the article]

JOHN Swinney appointed his main leadership rival as Deputy First Minister in a desperate attempt to bring together warring factions in the SNP. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

According to data from the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ), the country spent $87.4 million on importing special templates for printing ballots in the last four elections. However, $53.7 million of that cost was wasted due to low voter turnout, resulting in 5.1 million discarded ballots out of 8.3 million imported. Some experts suggest modernizing the voting system through electronic voting to reduce costs and environmental impact, but concerns about trust and high costs remain. In other news, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean, to intensify efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) on World Tuberculosis Day. TB is the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide, with approximately 325,000 cases and 35,000 deaths in the Americas in 2023. PAHO recommends the use of innovative technologies and increased investment and collaboration to eliminate TB by 2030. [Extracted from the article]

I TOO am guilty of a little job title inflation (Letters), as one who has delivered newspapers to a nearby village for the past 13 years. At the tender age of 70, I can't really be called a paper boy, so I have assumed the title of printed media distribution agent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

I TOO am guilty of a little job title inflation (Letters), as one who has delivered newspapers to a nearby village for the past 13 years. At the tender age of 70, I can't really be called a paper boy, so I have assumed the title of printed media distribution agent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE lack of resistance by the DS Smith board and investors to the £5.8bn takeover by the US's International Paper is to be regretted. Too often the UK allows home grown innovators, with an original business model, to escape overseas. To the credit of International Paper it has recognised the sensitivities by pledging a secondary quote in the UK and using DS Smith HQ as its European base. I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

PAPER TRAIL OF THE NIGHT: Why are the contestants on Race Across The World (BBC1) so careless with their passports? In Japan, James left his in a bag on the ground. Then his sister Betty lost hers on a bus in Malaysia. If they keep doing that, how do they expect to get home? [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]