The Beijing News, May 12, 2009

The top headline of today's Beijing News is about the consumer price index or CPI, a major indicator reflecting inflation level: The latest economic data suggests that China's CPI has reached a 18-month high. Corresponding to the inflation alarm, Beijing's average housing sales price has risen 21.5% compared to the same period last year.

Another headline is about school security. After a spate of knife attacks at schools including one in Nanping, Fujian in which nine elementary school students were knifed to death, campus security has become a government priority on the government's agenda.

In Beijing alone, the authorities have put over 2,000 police officers and a 20,000 strong civilian security force on duty around elementary schools and kindergartens to ensure children's safety. According to the Beijing police, seven crime attempts targeting students have been prevented and ten suspects have been arrested. The police also stated that high level of security around schools and kindergartens will be institutionalized and become a normal state of affairs.

The photo shows Zhao Zuohai, a man who was recently acquitted of murder. He received apologies from the party secretary of his hometown Shangqiu, Henan as well as other leaders of the local court, procuratorate and police for the misjudgment. They also brought Zhao an envelope with 10,000 yuan inside (see previous article for more on Zhao's mistaken conviction).