India state-run outlets sell onions to ease price pressure

12-28-2010 09:32 BJT

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India is suffering from the soaring price of onions -- their most commonly used vegetable. So to bring relief, state-run outlets are selling onions at rock bottom prices.

Irregular rains and onion exports have caused the shortage, and subsequent price hike.

Around a week ago, onions were retailing for less than 45 Rupees per kilogram. Now they're nearly 100 rupees in New Delhi, and up to 100 rupees in other cities.

India is suffering from the soaring price of onions -- their most commonly used vegetable. So to bring relief, state-run outlets are selling onions at rock bottom prices.

State-run outlets in Kanpur are now selling onions at wholesale rates, to alleviate the price pressure.

Suresh Awasthi, one buyer said "The price of onions was consistently rising. But with the help of the District Supply Officer, he has made onions available to the poor people who have been receiving 2 kilograms per card, so that onions can reach poor people" .

Long queues were made at the Public Distribution System ration shops. While onions at the markets dipped to 60 rupees a kilo, the Public Distribution System shops were selling them for 22.

Suresh Awasthi, one buyer said "Over here onions are being sold for 22 Rupees per kilogram."

The steep hike in onion prices has forced many middle-class families to skip onions on their menu.

And now, the vegetable prices have become a political issue. An alarmed government quickly enforced a ban on exports of onion and removed duty on imports.

Editor:Xiong Qu |Source: CNTV.CN

Tax rebate policy to boost Hainan tourism

12-28-2010 08:51 BJT

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Starting from next year, overseas tourists, as well as Chinese residents from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, will be able to enjoy a preferential tax rebate policy. It will be on items purchased in Hainan Province, the resort Island in China's south.

The Ministry of Finance says eligible tourists are entitled to tax refunds, of 11 percent of the purchases in pilot shops upon departure. The policy is the first of its kind for individual consumers in China. Existing tax rebates are in favor of businesses.

Starting from next year, overseas tourists, as well as Chinese residents from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, will be able to enjoy a preferential tax rebate policy.

The move is a major step in boosting the Island's tourism. But domestic tourists won't enjoy the policy for the time being. Officials say conditions aren't right at present, and that they're still studying the feasibility.

Hainan to start tax rebate in 2011

According to the latest announcement made by China's Ministry of Finance this morning, visitors from foreign countries and Hong Kong and Macao regions will be able to get a tax rebate on items purchased in the province from January 1st, 2011. Full story >>

How will Hainan benefit from the new policy?

Tax policy to promote Hainan's retail market

China's Hainan island is increasingly becoming known as the "Hawaii of the Orient" for its beaches and sun. And now, there's one more advantage attracting foreign visitors -- duty-free shopping. Full story >>

When will domestic tourists enjoy the new policy?

Hainan is now in a similar market position as that of South Korea's Chejudo and Japan's Okinawa airports. It's possible that the government will learn the experience of Chejudo and Okinawa and enable domestic visitors to enjoy tax rebates in duty free shops. Full story >>

Other countries' experience in tax rebate

Tax rebate boosts local consumption

Purchase tax refunds are offered in dozens of countries and regions, to attract tourists and consumers. Although the detailed measures are different, these policies have indeed boosted local consumption.

The purchase tax rebate policy began in Sweden in early 1980s. It's since been adopted by more than 50 countries and regions including the major EU countries, Australia, Japan and Thailand. Full story >>

Editor:Xiong Qu |Source: CNTV.CN

NDRC: Midwest faces rapid dev't

12-28-2010 08:48 BJT

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China's vast midwest regions are showing signs of developing at a faster pace than its eastern coastal cities. A senior official from China's top economic planner, says that proves that the 11th five year plan reigned in the development gap.

In recent years there have been conflicts over land, labor and energy in eastern costal areas including the Yangtze river delta, Pearl river delta, and the circum-Bohai region.

So some of the industries there have moved to midwest areas. That greatly boost the economic development in China's midwest and northeastern areas. It's predicted the development speed there will be faster than in eastern costal areas.

China's vast midwest regions are showing signs of developing at a faster pace than its eastern coastal cities.

Du Ying, Vice Minister of National Development and Reform Comm. said "This is the first time in 30 years, we see this as a symbolic and very important change. It shows that the mid-west areas' capability to improve by themselves has been increased."

Du also says that during the 12th five year plan, the transformation of industries will continue. And that period will probably become the one with the fiercest competition in productivity layout.

But Du also warns that when the industries are transformed to midwest areas, we need to make sure that the transformation of the industries is not only about changing the location of factories.

There needs to be a capacity for production, strict guidelines for industry, and plans to avoid heavy-polluting industries.

Editor:Xiong Qu |Source: CNTV.CN

Floods ravage parts of Australia

12-28-2010 08:50 BJT

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Australia is continuing to endure extreme weather conditions, as torrential rains flood large parts of the country's east. Towns were inundated, as residents sought refuge in nearby shelters.

In New South Wales, the State Emergency Service said a dozen people were evacuated from flooded homes and businesses in the town of Eugowra, about 3 hundred kilometers west of Sydney.

And in Queensland, the state bureau of meteorology said up to 27 centimeters of rain fell in a 24-hour period in some areas, flooding roads and stranding people who were on holiday.

Local Resident, Queensland, said, "The bridge is under, we can't go home, we can't go forward."

Ian Britts, Tourist, said, "We've just made it through the floods in Dalby (central Queensland state) last week and we had one day of dry weather and we've basically been stuck here for the last five days, almost a week now."

Inland towns are bracing for more flooding as heavy rain continues to fall across many parts of the state.

Some communities were put on flood alert as swollen rivers and creeks continued to rise.

Weather forecasts predict there will be more rain and thunderstorms near the coasts of Queensland and the Northern Territory on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a cold snap in Tasmania has brought snow flurries to the mountains, an unusual sight at this time of year.

Dense fog envelops Indian capital

12-28-2010 08:50 BJT

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Thousands of passengers are stranded by thick fog in the Indian capital New Delhi. The heavy mist is causing severe disruptions in flight and rail schedules. The poor visibility also hampers road traffic.

Heavy fog continues to hamper flights and train services in India's capital New Delhi.

Scores of passengers were left stranded at the airport as flights were delayed or cancelled.

Alok Nigam, Airline Passenger, said, "We had an Air France flight that has already been delayed by four hours. The airline should help all the passengers. The weather is terrible."

K.L.Bhatia, Airline Passenger, said, "Our flight was at half past eleven, it took off only at six thirty in the evening and reached here at around eight pm. We had to wait for seven hours."

The near-zero visibility at the airport led to the cancellation and diversion of as many as 80 international and domestic flights.

Trains are also delayed at the New Delhi Railway Station.

Passengers were left to fend for themselves and many complained about a lack of adequate information from the Indian Railways.

Naresh Chauhan, Train Passenger, said, "I enquired at around 9 pm and was told that the train is half an hour late. When we reached here, they first said it was two hours late, then three hours. Even now I am mot sure as to how much we will have to wait."

Railway officials say the fog had affected at least 55 trains, with many running as late as 27 hours.

Traffic on roads was also hampered as poor visibility forced most vehicles to slow to a crawl.

The Meteorological Department warns that the thick foggy conditions will continue in the days ahead.

New Iraqi oil minister plans to boost production

12-28-2010 08:50 BJT

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Iraq's new Oil Minister, Abdul Kareem Luaibi, has outlined plans to increase oil and gas output by improving its infrastructure including storage capacity and pipelines.

He was speaking at a handover ceremony where he was presented with the country's flag by his predecessor at the oil ministry headquarters in Baghdad.

Abdul Kareem Luaibi, Iraq's new Oil Minister, said, "The next phase of our work will see rehabilitation of infrastructure for the oil sector in line with the increase of production from oil fields, as projects of increasing export and storage capacity, extending oil and gas pipelines and work on the best investment of gas associated with the petroleum operations. We will move forward to support the oil companies which won in the three round bids and provide the appropriate investment ground for the oil sector."

Iraq sits upon some of the world's largest oil reserves. But it has been struggling to push output close to the 3 million barrels per day it produced in the late 1980s. Lingering insecurity and months of political limbo have delayed much-needed upgrades to the war-ravaged country's oil fields and export pipelines.

Luaibi says the country is on track to raise output capacity to 12 million per day in six to seven year's time. But skeptical analysts say 6-7 million per day is a more realistic target.

1st high-speed railway in northeast China to begin operation in 2012

12-28-2010 13:30 BJT

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After three and a half year's construction, the tracks have been laid for a new high speed railway between the northeastern Chinese cities of Harbin and Dalian. It's part of the region's first high speed railway.

The entire line will stretch over 900 kilometers, over half in Liaoning province, and the rest through the two provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang. Train speed will be 200 kilometers an hour. Investment has reached nearly 70 billion yuan to date. Operation is expected to begin in 2012.

Editor:Zhang Ning |Source: CNTV.CN