Aug272017

The good things we can do as soon as we leave the EU – lets cut green taxes and much more

John Redwood MP

One of the extraordinary things about the main Opposition parties in the Commons and much of the UK establishment is their failure to engage in working out all the good things we will be able to do as soon as we can make our own laws, set our own taxes and spend our own money.

One of the areas I identified and pursued before the referendum was the question of tax cuts that are illegal under EU law. There seemed to be near universal support for the abolition of VAT on sanitary products, so I trust that repeal will go through the Commons easily as soon as we are free. There was no opposition to the idea that we should abolish VAT on green products. Currently we have to charge VAT on controls for boilers and heating systems, on draught excluders, insulators and much else that can cut fuel bills. I hope a Conservative Chancellor will propose an early removal of these charges which impede reducing needless fuel use and keep more people on low incomes struggling to pay the fuel bills. I am disappointed that the Green party does not make a bigger noise against these taxes on fuel saving.

A more expensive item is VAT on domestic heating fuel itself. We are not allowed to remove this all the time we remain in the EU. Given the political sensitivity about fuel bills and the general view in the country that they are too high, removing this tax charge would make a welcome inroad into this difficulty.

Then there is the question of spending levels. Both sides agreed there would be substantial savings of contributions when we left, though there was a long and largely pointless debate over whether you should look mainly at the gross or the net figure. I would like us to leave and cease all payments by the end of March 2019, and would like to see some of the savings announced as extra spending on health and social care in the March 2018 budget ahead of departure.

We can reform our fishing policy to reclaim and improve our fishing grounds. We can design a farming policy that promotes more home grown food. There are so many opportunities. It is high time we had a proper debate about the upside to becoming a self governing country.

Aug272017

Typhoon Pakhar triggers No. 8 Signal in Hong Kong

East Asia

Hong Kong issued a No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal Sunday morning in the face of severe tropical storm Pakhar.

The Hong Kong Observatory issued at 5:10 a.m. local time the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal, which means that winds with speeds of 63 km per hour or more are expected from the southeast quarter.

In a report updated at around 10:00 a.m., the observatory said Severe Tropical Storm Pakhar has made landfall in Guangdong province and is forecast to move north-northwest at 28 km per hour into inland Guangdong.

In the past hour, winds occasionally reached storm force in the southwestern part of Hong Kong and occasionally reached hurricane force on high ground of certain islands, it said, adding that the No. 8 Gale or Storm Signal is expected to persist for the whole morning.

An Amber Rainstorm Warning Signal was issued at the same time. The observatory said rainbands associated with Pakhar are bringing occasional heavy showers and squalls to Hong Kong and there may be flooding in low-lying areas.

This is the second time in this week that Hong Kong issued a No. 8 or above tropical cyclones warning signal.

A No. 10 Hurricane signal was issued Wednesday in the face of severe typhoon Hato.

After the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal was issued, classes of all day schools, public hospitals’ general out-patient clinics and some of the city’s public services were suspended.

The China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan and Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal in Tuen Mun were closed temporarily. The Airport Authority Hong Kong reported that a total of 140 flights had been canceled as at 6:00 a.m. Sunday.

According to the Hospital Authority, as at 8:35 a.m., a total of 17 people, including eight men and nine women, aged between 24 and 83 had sought medical treatment at public hospitals during the typhoon period.

The call center of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has received 85 reports of fallen tree as at 10:00 a.m.

As at 9:10 a.m., the Home Affairs Department of the HKSAR government had opened 27 temporary shelters in various districts and 218 people had sought refuge at the shelters.

Aug272017

Press Releases: Statement on the Assault on Media Freedom in Azerbaijan

United States • Democrats • OECD – United States • Republicans • White House

Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

August 26, 2017

We are deeply troubled by the August 24 arrest and three month pretrial detention of Mehman Aliyev, the prominent editor-in-chief of Azerbaijan’s only remaining independent media outlet, Turan Information Agency. Other restrictive actions against Turan, including freezing its bank accounts and initiating tax evasion charges against it, are also troubling. These actions by the government of Azerbaijan to curtail freedom of press and to further restrict freedom of expression are the latest in a negative trend that includes the government’s May decision to block access to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other independent media websites.

We urge the government of Azerbaijan to immediately release Mehman Aliyev, and all those incarcerated for exercising their fundamental freedoms, in accordance with its international obligations and OSCE commitments.



The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

Aug272017

Chinese publications attract overseas publishers

East Asia

Chinese publications have drawn much attention from overseas publishers during the ongoing Beijing International Book Fair, with many rights deals already being signed.

The Beijing International Book Fair is now in its 24th year. More than 2,500 exhibitors from 89 countries and regions are taking part in the fair, with overseas exhibitors accounting for 58 percent.

Around 40,000 books from over 300 major Chinese publishers are on display for overseas publishers and libraries. At the fair last year and the year before, the number of copyright trade agreements signed between Chinese and foreign companies exceeded 4,000 each year.

At this year’s fair, Chinese publishers are continuing their efforts to market their books both in paper and digital form.

“Keywords to understand China: the Belt and Road Initiative,” published by New World Press, has secured deals to publish in eight different languages.

The English version of Chinese novelist Jia Pingwa’s “Happy Dreams” will be published by Amazon both in paper and digital.

“We hope to introduce more wonderful Chinese books to more foreign readers, building a bridge connecting Chinese and Western cultures,” said Bruce Aitken, general manager of Amazon Reading China.

Tsinghua University Press agreed to cooperate with Royal Collions Publishing Group, working on the English translation of a series of cartoon books to introduce Chinese tales to children around the world.

The book fair is being held at the New China International Exhibition Center from Aug. 23 to 27.