October 18-20, 2008

Top News of the Day
Media
China Extends Looser Rules for Foreign News Media
Los Angeles Times, October 18, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-fg-chimedia18-2008oct18,0,7782834.story

Related information:
中华人民共和国外国常驻新闻机构和外国记者采访条例 (Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Reporting Activities of Permanent Offices of Foreign News Agencies and Foreign Journalists)
State Council, October 17, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-10/18/content_10212670_1.htm

HRIC Calls for Press Freedom for All Journalists in China
Human Rights in China, October 17, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/69055

Related news:
Reporting Rules May Include HK Journalists
South China Morning Post, October 20, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=6845de928c51d110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

News
Bilateral Ties
China Extends Influence into Central Asia
The Telegraph, October 18, 2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/3217150/China-extends-influence-into-Central-Asia.html

Death Penalty
Beijing Olympics Building Chief May Be Executed for Corruption
New York Times, October 19, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/sports/olympics/20beijing.html

Court Upholds Death Sentence for Chinese Police Killer: Lawyer
Agence France-Presse (via Google), October 20, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jQCY1nAFR4_PTLSAqE_J9iORbn5w

中山劫殺港婦 兇手前日處決 (Jiangxi Man Sentenced to Death for 2005 Murder of HK Hostage)
Ming Pao, October 20, 2008
http://www.mingpaonews.com/20081020/ccd1.htm

Environment
Beijing Dangles Bonus for Firms to Cease High-pollution Production
Xinhuanet, October 19, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/19/content_10218175.htm

Food Security
China Milk Parents’ Complaints Quashed
Radio Free Asia, October 20, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/quashed-10172008105551.html

陕西法院拒绝为毒奶受害人立案 (Shaanxi Court Refuses to File Poisoned Milk Case)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/food_safety_milk-10172008112430.html

Labor
Unions Focus on Migrant Workers
Xinhua (via Shanghai Daily), October 20, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=377487

Land Policy
长沙村民质疑镇政府侵吞征地补偿 (Changsha Villagers Accuse Government of Misappropriating Land Compensation)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/rights_land-10172008115646.html

Protests and Petitions
China Toy Story Shows Buzz Has Left the Business
Reuters (via Boston Globe), October 17, 2008
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2008/10/17/hundreds_gather_at_shuttered_china_toy_plant/

Public Health
Hong Kong fears dramatic rise in HIV
Shanghai Daily, October 20, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=377484

Toddler Virus Flares up Again in China
Reuters, October 20, 2008
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE49I36720081020

Religion
张明选一家再次被当局赶出住所 (House Church Pastor Zhang Mingxuan's Family Again Expelled from Home, Son Severely Beaten)
Radio Free Asia, October 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/religion_christian-10172008115001.html

Rural Issues
China to Create Market for Land Rights in Effort to Boost Farmers' Prosperity
Financial Times, October 20, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122445498532148351.html

Related information:
中共中央关于推进农村改革发展若干重大问题决定 (Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Significant Issues in Promoting Rural Reform and Development)
Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, October 12, 2008
http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2008-10/19/content_1125094.htm

Society
China Begins Surveying Orphan Situation
Xinhua (via China Daily), October 17, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-10/17/content_7117431.htm

Taiwan
Taiwan Group Protests against Chinese Government Visit
Agence France-Presse (via Google), October 20, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gEbKUUnUkPLY9XKebWTulEmk8dAA

Tibet
China Releases Tibetan Film-making Monk - Report
Reuters, October 19, 2008
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-36041720081019

XUAR
Wary of Islam, China Tightens a Vise of Rules
New York Times, October 18, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/world/asia/19xinjiang.html