Topic 1:

Beijing cabbies are expected to get 3 yuan (48 cents) more from the base fare for the first 3 kilometers, according to a plan released by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform on Tuesday. The taxi fare rise is an effort to address drivers' complaints over low income and thereby make it easier for the public to hail a cab. The base fare will go up from 10 yuan to 13 yuan for the first 3 km.

Majinhao: Under Beijing's current system, taxi drivers have to pay a large part of their incomes to taxi operating companies. To really address the income of cabbies, the only solution is to decrease the money they have to pay to operating companies. Simply increasing the taxi fares would only transfer the rising cost to customers.