China Digest

More than 5.12 million vehicles were officially registered in the capital by the end of last month, up nearly 50 per cent from 3.5 million at the end of 2008, the Yanzhao Metropolis Daily reports. The actual number of cars on Beijing roads is much higher, however, as many vehicles are registered outside the capital, such as in Hebei province.

Police arrested or detained more than 30,000 people in the first eight months of this year - a 5.2 per cent increase over the same period last year, the Beijing Times reports. The suspects were connected to about 60,000 criminal cases, including murders, kidnappings, drug trafficking and economic crimes. A total of 1,100 suspects were linked to 500 street muggings.