Beijing’s Tongzhou district, the capital city’s subcenter under construction, plans to spend 16 billion yuan (2.3 billion U.S. dollars) treating polluted waterways. The investment will cover landscaping, pipelines, treatment of polluted creeks and wet… read more
Nearly 100 outstanding volunteers and their families enjoyed a day of magic at Shanghai Disneyland Friday, to celebrate community volunteerism and the upcoming China Youth Volunteer Service Day. These volunteers, including a torchbearer of the 2008 Be… read more
A website was launched on Friday to commemorate late Premier Zhou Enlai, born in 1898, in the lead-up to the 120th anniversary of his birth. The website, zhouenlai.people.cn, featured a 366-day countdown to the anniversary, an introduction to his life… read more
China raised the curtain on its annual political season on Friday, with top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng pledging conformity to the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core. As chairman of the Chinese People’s Po… read more
Teresa Pearce MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, responding to the IFS analysis of the business rates revaluation on local authorities, said:
“This business rates revaluation has
exposed the fundamental flaws in this outdated system of taxation. Those flaws
will be further magnified once 100% business rate retention comes into effect.
“Our high streets are already struggling – and this revaluation will signal the
end for many small businesses, such as independent pubs at the heart of
community life.
“The current system means that councils won’t see a sharp increase in their
revenue – but once 100% retention kicks in, some councils may be rolling in
cash whilst others are left out in the cold.
“Businesses and councils need far more support and stability than the
Government is currently offering. The Government must re-evaluate the business
rates system and produce something which works for communities across our
regions and the businesses they rely on.”