Govt will make tax the tool for fairer wealth distribution

AT THE ONGOING PLENARY SESSION OF THE 12TH NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS, China's top legislature, in Beijing on Tuesday, two deputies, one from North China's Hebei province and one from Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, proposed raising the monthly individual income tax threshold from 3,500 yuan ($507) to 10,000, and reducing the marginal tax rate, the taxable share of income, from 45 percent to 23 percent for the highest-income group. Beijing News comments:

Encouragement for public-private partnerships

DELIVERING THE GOVERNMENT WORK REPORT on Sunday at the opening of the fifth plenary session of the 12th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, Premier Li Keqiang said more should be done to energize the non-public sector. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Wednesday:

Traffic police should track down litterbugs

FROM MARCH 15, Liuzhou, a city in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, will punish anyone who throws trash out of a vehicle window. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Wednesday:

Cartoon

Belt and Road forum will clear many doubts

This May will witness China seeking viable solutions to the problems facing the global economy at the Beijing-based Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, where over 20 countries' leaders have confirmed their participation. The forum, as Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi said, aims to make sure that the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road) delivers greater benefits to the world.

Targeted policy needed to promote culture

Has China's attempt to promote its culture abroad, particularly in the West, made enough impact? Compared with the prevalence of Western culture in China, both in terms of its influence and the money it generates, it appears China faces a "culture deficit".

Two-child policy needs multiple support

On Wednesday, Li Bin, minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission, vowed on a press release that the authorities will consider introducing more policies that could support more couples to have a second child.

Western media expose themselves by hyping China's defense budget

Most of the reactions against the increase in China's military budget this year are nothing but clichés influenced by the "China threat" theory. Although some Western media outlets have mentioned in their reports that the 7 percent increase in China's military budget this year is the lowest in years, they still took a critical stand against China.

New chapter at school for grannies

Literacy rate in India has grown to 74 percent, but not for female

Indian minister's 'hormonal' women comment sparks ridicule

Female students need curfews to protect them from their own "hormonal outbursts", India's women's minister has said, sparking ridicule on social media.

Twin sisters, 97, fall and freeze to death together

BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND - Ninety-seven-year-old twins Jean Young Haley and Martha Young Williams left the world as they entered it: together.

Anger over THAAD in peaceful village

SEONGJU, REPUBLIC OF KOREA - When they heard the news that Lotte had signed a contract with the Defense Ministry to exchange its golf course for military land, they fell into great panic. The bad feeling lasted for days, making the naive, old farmers wandering what to do.