Society

An order banning migrant workers from claiming unpaid back pay has been revoked and local government bosses have apologized for any offence caused.

The new policy issued 12 days ago, which virtually prohibits migrant workers in Shenzhen from protesting unfair treatment, also threatened to bring criminal charges against those who organize collective protests or petitions.

The ban, which was to take effect from May 1 to September 30, was part of efforts by planning chiefs in the economic hub of South China to safeguard the city before the 26th Universiade in August.

But on Monday the Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development apologized for the improper wording of the original document after being engulfed by a wave of criticism from across the whole nation.

China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose 5.3 percent in April from a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Wednesday.

A customer looks at price tags in a supermarket in Hefei, Anhui province May 11, 2011. China's headline consumer price inflation slowed to 5.3 percent in the year to April from 5.4 percent in March, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on May 11, 2011.

The April figure was down 0.1 percentage points from March's 32-month high of 5.4 percent, according to the NBS.

According to Beijing Daily, the Forbidden City has been robbed and 7 Hong Kong private collections lost early on 8th May 2011.

Armed Policed stand behind security line on 10th May 2011.

Tornado attacks Foshan, Guangzhou Province 7th May, 2011.

Natural disasters in China left 34 people dead and caused 5.11 billion yuan (US$786 million) in direct economic losses in April of this year, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a Monday report.

Hailstorms proved to be the month's most deadly natural phenomenon, with 18 people killed in south China's Guangdong Province after hailstorms and strong winds rocked the region.

Other areas were damaged by droughts, floods, earthquakes, sleet, landslides, forest fires and pests, according to the report. However, the degree of damage done was not as serious as in past years, the report said.