The People's Bank of China has called on 15 commercial banks, including the Big Five to offer first-home buyers more efficient mortgage services.

Is there a problem with loan supplies?

Topic2 C-section on the rise in ChinaJournalists interviewed some hospitals in Hebei Province and found C-section is being used unnecessarily. C-section rates of 6 cities in Hebei surpassed the national average of 46%; one of them is as high as 66%.

A WHO survey found that nearly one in two births in China are delivered by cesarean section, of which a quarter are not medically necessary.

Why?

Topic3 Yao Ming SuedFormer NBA star Yao Ming is being sued by Beijing resident Feng Changshun for endorsing a health food product that Feng said misleads consumers. This is one of the first consumer rights cases involving a celebrity since a new protection law was enacted in March.

Does Feng's claims hold up? Does he have a case?

Topic4 Anti-Terrorism Major in CollegeA new anti-terrorism major will be offered at a Chinese university to meet increasing demand for the expertise and strengthen the prevention of terror attacks.

The major, part of a new research area of the intelligence department of the People's Public Security University of China, will help train anti-terrorism police officers nationwide.

What exactly is this major about?

Topic5 Courtyard homes in Beijing need better preservationThe first ever official directory of siheyuan – the traditional courtyard homes of Beijing – is expected to be published by the end of this year.

Nearly 1,000 siheyuan have been logged in the directory. Half of them are found to have deteriorated over the years.

The question now is how to preserve these courtyard houses, which has become a controversial subject.

Should we care?