China news round-up: New-home prices surge, North Koreans told to convert yuan to won

Trending topics on weibo
Actress Yang Mi's pregnancy
South Korean performer Lee Min-ho to make appearance at Spring Festival Gala
Serena William's defeat at Australia Open
Screen Actors Guild Awards
I Am A Singer casting show

Politics
Foreign Policy
The promulgation of a "sunshine law" that would oblige top cadres to disclose their assets has been postponed indefinitely.
China Change
At least eight members of the New Citizens Movement are expected to face trial this week.
Jamestown China Brief
"The ideas of the New Left are visible not only in Xi’s rhetoric but in his political efforts - his emphasis on national confidence and the unique historical circumstances of the 'China Dream' and his combining economic reform with Maoist rectification."
Global Times
Editorial: "Clamping down on corruption and other misdeeds of civil servants supplies an opportunity to China's deepening reform, giving impetus to break the entrenched shackles of the mind and lack of self-confidence. "

Society
Reuters - The Knowledge Effect
Infographic: 64 per cent of surveyed millionaires are emigrating or planning to do so.
Financial Times
"We already moved our nianhui (new year office party) from a five-star hotel ballroom to our canteen, where the food is terrible. But what I hate the most is, they cancelled the prize-giving".
Businessweek
Sites such as Xiami.com improve the chances that China's independent musicians will find fans.
The Standard (Kenya)
A Chinese national was arrested at Nairobi's airport after being found with 3.4 kilograms of ivory.

Economy
China Economic Watch
Lending rates in China are significantly lower than most of its East Asian peers, with the exception of Vietnam.
New York Times
China remains a force for deflation in the world, but perhaps less than it was.
Bloomberg
New-home prices in cities defined by the government as first tier rose more than 15 per cent last month, led by Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Wall Street Journal
Pressure is building on ICBC and major shadow lender China Credit Trust to bail out investors facing a nearly US$500 million hit, potentially the first loss for a key part of China's vast but loosely regulated shadow-banking sector.

Foreign affairs
China News Agency (Taiwan)
Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou speaks out against Japanese Prime Minister's Yasukuni visit in a Facebook post.
Nikkei*
The "Small Japan doctrine" should be acknowledged more in China, writes columnist Hiroshi Murayama.
Daily NK
North Korean authorities have ordered residents of Pyongyang to convert hard currency holdings in Chinese yuan to North Korean won.
Times of India
Strengthening cooperation with Japan is not to provoke China but to signal India has other options if China does not reciprocate its friendly gesture.

* denotes articles in Chinese language.