The Beijing News
July 17, 2009

"Ethnic unity education" will be part of high school and college-level entrance examinations across the country, The Bejing News reports.

A joint announcement made by the Ministry of Education and the State Ethnic Affairs Commission on July 16 stipulates that ethnic solidarity-related questions will account for no less than 15% of the total points of politics part of the exam.

In grade schools, a new course titled "The Big Chinese Family" (中华大家庭) will be added to the curriculum third and fourth grade curriculum, while "Basic Ethnic Knowledge" (民族常识) will be taught to fifth and sixth graders.

At the top of the paper, the big headline announces that the average GDP growth rate in the first half year was 7.1%, including a 7.9% growth in the second quarter, "close to the projected 8%."

The photo shows workers laying steel beams to support the main structure of a "sky plaza," a suspended bridge-like platform that will cross Beijing's moat and the South Second Ring Road outside of Yongdingmen Gate. The plaza will serve as a public open space when it is completed in September.

Underneath the photo, a headline announces that Sinopec has denied that it spent 12 million yuan on an extravagant chandelier, as alleged by an anonymous Internet post. In addition, the company spokesperson condemned the media for "irresponsibly republishing the post without checking the facts."