May 9 – Beijing’s subway system will soon implement security checks by the end of June. According to sources, passengers carrying unidentified beverages will be asked to consume them before entering.

Passengers will be subject to security checks by machines, dogs or police officers at all subway stations. Subway entries have been equipped by Butno security excluding the Dongzhimen station in eastern Beijing along Line 2.

The Beijing subway system is used by millions of people. Last month alone, passenger volume was estimated at 4.3 million passengers a day.

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May 9 – China’s Ministry of Agriculture reported that first quarter trade of agricultural products incurred a deficit of US$3.66 billion in contrast to last year’s surplus of US$460 million for the same period. No explanation was provided by the ministry although sources speculate it could stem from a decrease in grain exports and increasing pork and oilseed imports.

For the first three months of the year, exports reached US$9.35 billion, an increase 9.6 percent year compared to the previous year while imports jumped by 61 percent to US$13.01 billion.

China exported 1.04 million tons of grain for the first quarter, a decrease of 72.8 percent. On the other hand, pork imports almost quadrupled and oilseed imports increased by 36.8 percent from last year.

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