1. CHINA

1. CHINA

China Daily, Beijing, June 1: China has become the world’s second-largest consumer of high-end fashion, accessories and luxury goods, according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The country now buys 27.5 percent of the world’s luxury goods, following in the footsteps of Japan, and is set to become the largest consumer of such items in five years’ time.

Now, the Chinese citizen’s dreams of cars, cash and credit cards extend well beyond the coveted goods of the 1980s — watches, radios and bicycles — and the TVs, washing machines and refrigerators of the 1990s. From luxury confectionery and designer clothes to imported beer and expensive cars, Chinese shoppers are buying as never before.

Consumption of luxury goods is mainly being driven by wealthy Chinese born after the “cultural revolution (1966-76)”.

This generation saves less than older generations as they have been less affected by the large-scale social and economic transformations China witnessed previously.

2. BRITAIN

The Telegraph, London, June 14: Israel has many good reasons for wanting to maintain its three-year blockade of Gaza, not the least of which is its desire to protect its citizens from Iranian-made rockets fired by Hamas militants. Thousands of rockets hit Israeli residential areas after Hamas originally seized control of Gaza in June 2007. The number of attacks has been greatly reduced as a result of the blockade and Israel’s controversial military incursion into Gaza 18 months ago.

But while Israel’s robust measures have undoubtedly improved the security of its borders, they have done little for its reputation abroad. Rather than being seen as the victim of unprovoked attacks by Islamist militants who are committed to the destruction of the Jewish state, Israel is now widely regarded as the aggressor, particularly following May’s ham-fisted interception of the Turkish aid flotilla.

Hamas and its sympathizers have shown themselves to be adept at turning the blockade to their advantage, using it as a propaganda tool to demonize Israel.

It is for this reason that the decision by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, to consider easing the blockade is welcome.