GROUNDBREAKING FACILITY: China's first deep underground laboratory is inaugurated at the Jinpin Hydropower Station in Sichuan Province on December 12, offering an independent cutting-edge underground scientific research and experimental platform in physics (ZHANG XIONG)

Tax Concern

Taxpayers have voiced hope taxes will be reduced on vehicles and boats as China's top legislature discontinued soliciting opinions for the draft law on vehicle and boat taxation.

The Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress said 97,295 comments, along with 40 letters, had been received as of November 30, after the draft law opened to public comments a month ago.

About 37 percent of the comments are in favor of the draft law, and some 55 percent hope the law will reduce taxes.

Some people voiced their concerns the draft law might result in price hikes and heavier burdens for auto and boat owners.

Others suggested tax reductions be broadened to vehicles with 2.0-liter engine capacities. The current draft law reduces taxes for vehicles of only 1.0 liter or lower engine capacities, which only covers a small number of vehicles.

Brain Gain

China has launched a fresh initiative to recruit around 2,000 outstanding young professionals from overseas in five years, according to a statement issued by China's central authorities on December 14.

Under the government-funded "Thousand Young Talents" program, each of the selected overseas young professionals will be offered a subsidy of 500,000 yuan ($75,153) to cover their living expenses and another subsidy of 1 million yuan ($151,500) to 3 million yuan ($454,500) for scientific research.

Applicants for the program should be professionals working in natural sciences or engineering fields and under age 40, according to the statement.

With doctoral degrees gained from prestigious overseas universities as well as more than three years of scientific research experience, targeted professionals should currently hold teaching or research positions in well-known overseas universities, institutions or companies, the statement said.

Xiamen Run

The Ninth Xiamen International Marathon, co-organized by the Xiamen Municipal Government and Chinese Athletic Association, will be held in the coastal city of Xiamen in southeastern Fujian Province on January 2, 2011.

As one of China's leading marathon races, the annual event is registered with the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races in 2004 and is held on the first Saturday of January. This 2011 event consists of full marathon, wheelchair half marathon, 10-km skating marathon and exhibitions on marathons. The event is expected to have 80,000 registered participants from more than 30 countries and regions, which will create records for the number of participants and their nationalities.

Photojournalists' Gala

The organizing committee of the Seventh China International Press Photo Contest announced in Beijing that the event will be held in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, from March 22 to 26, 2011. Photographers from around the world are invited to submit their pictures.

Zhao Derun, Jury Chair for the contest and Executive Chairman of the China Photojournalists Society, said at a press conference on December 12 that entries will be judged in eight categories of daily news, war disasters, non-war disasters, economy and technology news, nature and environmental protection news, culture and entertainment news, sports news and celebrities. Prizes, including one gold prize, one silver prize, one bronze prize and two awards of excellence, will be awarded for single photos and portfolios separately in each category. There is also a Photo of the Year award, which will bring the winner a prize of 100,000 yuan ($15,000).