Government

內地71學者聯署倡改革 (71 Mainland Intellectuals Issue Joint Appeal for Reform)
Ming Pao, December 27, 2012
http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20121227/-2-2857562/1.html

Related:
改革共识倡议书 (Proposal for a Consensus on Reform)
December 25, 2012
http://zhangqianfan.blog.caixin.com/archives/50779
http://www.mingpaonews.com/download/ga20121227_1465.pdf

Chinese Scholars Demand Communist Leaders Relax Their Grip
Bloomberg News, December 27, 2012
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-26/china-scholars-demand-ruling-party-relax-its-grip-on-government.html

Human Rights Defenders

Activist Sent Back to Labor Camp
Radio Free Asia, December 24, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/labor-12242012182135.html

川震灾民李依乾被判刑五年 质疑控方证据将提上诉 (Quake Activist Li Yiqian Sentenced to 5 Years for "Disrupting Public Order" by Asking Where Funds to Rebuild following the 2008 Sichuan Quake Went)
Radio Free Asia, December 25, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/cz-12252012104257.html

拒認錯 旺陽戰友朱承志送檢察院 (Case of Zhu Chengzhi, Friend and Supporter of Activist Li Wangyang, Sent to Procuratorate, Now Awaiting Indictment)
Ming Pao, December 26, 2012
http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20121226/-2-2856850/1.html

Related:
朱承志——社会的良知！
Zhu Chengzhi as the Conscience of Society
Fan Yanqiong, June 20, 2012
CH: http://canyu.org/n52154c6.aspx
EN: http://underthejacaranda.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/zhu-chengzhi-as-the-conscience-of-society/

Internet

全国人大常委会立法推网络实名制
Policymakers Float Tighter Internet Regulations
Caixin, December 25, 2012
CH: http://china.caixin.com/2012-12-24/100476192.html
EN: http://english.caixin.com/2012-12-25/100476735.html

Law

Courtroom Participants Forbidden to Broadcast Trials
Xinhua News Agency, December 25, 2012
http://english.cri.cn/6909/2012/12/25/2724s740126.htm

Related:
关于适用《中华人民共和国刑事诉讼法》的解释 (Judicial Interpretation on the Applicability of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China)
Supreme People's Court, December 20, 2012
http://www.chinacourt.org/article/detail/2012/12/id/807033.shtml

Police

公安部規定明年嚴禁刑訊逼供 避免冤錯案件 (Ministry of Public Security Regulations Prohibit Extortion of Confessions by Torture Beginning 2013)
Xinhua News Agency, December 27, 2012
http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20121227/-9-2857819/1.html

Related:
公安机关办理刑事案件程序规定 (Regulations on the Procedures for the Handling of Criminal Cases by Public Security Organs)
Ministry of Public Security, December 13, 2012
http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n1282/n3493/n3823/n442421/3486957.html

Religion

Come to China During Christmas to Enjoy Religious Freedom!
Global Voices Online, December 27, 2012
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/12/27/come-to-china-during-christmas-to-enjoy-religious-freedom/

Related:
Clampdown on Memorials, Christians
Radio Free Asia, December 26, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/clampdown-12262012130754.html

Environment

What Happened in China in 2012?
2012中国环境大事记
ChinaDialogue, December 20, 2012
EN: http://www.chinadialogue.net/blog/5530-What-happened-in-China-in-2-12-/en
CH: http://www.chinadialogue.net/blog/5530-What-happened-in-China-in-2-12-/ch

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Activist Arrested 6 Months after Hu Protest
Agence France-Presse, December 23, 2012
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1244221/1/.html

Human Rights Defenders

12異見人士獲美言論自由獎 (12 Dissidents and Activists amongst Awardees of American Free Speech Prize)
Ming Pao, December 22, 2012
http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20121222/-162-2854280/1.html

Internet

Great Firewall 'Upgrade' Hits China Internet Users
Agence France-Presse, December 21, 2012
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/tech/15695445/great-firewall-upgrade-hits-china-internet-users/

Related:
Chinese Ambassador to UK Doesn't Understand What You Mean by Censorship
Shanghaiist, December 23, 2012
http://shanghaiist.com/2012/12/23/ambassador-liu-xiaoming-censorship.php

Law

涉黑美籍华人胡炜升今审判 (Chinese-American Vincent Wu to Be Tried Today on Various Criminal Charges)
Sing Pao, December 24, 2012
http://www.singpao.com/xw/nd/201212/t20121224_409676.html

Related:
Chinese-American Faces Trial in China
The New York Times, December 22, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/world/asia/chinese-american-faces-trial-in-china-over-business-dispute.html

Protests and Petitions

京上訪村售習近平「通信錄」 訪民自製 6元一本 (Beijing Petitioning Village Sells Home-made "Address Book" for Leadership)
Ming Pao, December 22, 2012
http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20121222/-9-2854285/1.html

Religion

龚圣亮牧师狱中病危 家人呼吁释放 (Family Calls for Release of House Church Pastor Ill in Prison)
British Broadcasting Corporation, December 23, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/chinese_news/2012/12/121223_china_gongshengliang.shtml

Rural Issues

China Pledges Rural Reforms to Boost Incomes, Consumption
Bloomberg News, December 24, 2012
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-23/china-pledges-rural-reforms-to-boost-incomes-consumption.html

Taiwan

Ministry of Justice Lifts the Veil on Executions
Taipei Times, December 23, 2012
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/12/23/2003550811

Related:
廢死聯盟：死刑非萬靈丹 (Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty: the Death Penalty Is Not a Panacea)
United Daily News, December 21, 2012
http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NATS1/7582691.shtml

Tibet

Torture Rampant at Chushur
Radio Free Asia, December 21, 2012
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/torture-12212012151636.html

Children

China’s Stolen Kids
Global Times, December 21, 2012
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/751473.shtml

Ethnic Minorities

Factoids: Endangered Tongues in the People’s Republic
Ethnic ChinaLit, December 20, 2012
http://www.bruce-humes.com/?p=7574

Related:
四成少数民族语言面临濒危 保护需多方努力 (40% Minority Languages Facing Immediate Danger)
Morning Post, December 19, 2012
http://www.chinanews.com/cul/2012/12-19/4421347.shtml

Hong Kong

香港法治正处于危急存亡之秋 (Rule of Law in Hong Kong in Critical Peril)
Radio France Internationale, December 20, 2012
http://www.chinese.rfi.fr/中国/20121220-香港法治正处于危急存亡之秋

Internet

新闻出版总署就网络出版服务管理办法征求意见 (GAPP Seeking Input on Management Rules for Online Publishing Services)
Legal Daily Online, December 19, 2012
http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/2012-12-20/18257907780.shtml

Related:
新闻出版总署立规强化网络出版监管
Draft Would Bar Firms with Foreign Links from Net Publishing
Caixin, December 20, 2012
CH: http://china.caixin.com/2012-12-20/100474834.html
EN: http://english.caixin.com/2012-12-20/100474987.html

新闻出版总署关于《网络出版服务管理办法》（修订征求意见稿）等规章公开征求意见的通知 (Notice of the General Administration of Press and Publication on Public Solicitation of Opinions on Measures for the Administration of Internet Publishing Services (Revised Draft) and Other Rules)
GAPP, December 18, 2012
http://www.chinalaw.gov.cn/article/cazjgg/201212/20121200379100.shtml