Headlines from the Chinese press
DECEMBER 22 NEWSPAPERS

The Economic Observer 经济观察报
Can Carrefour open a new store?
家乐福们能否再开新店？
A new law has recently come out, dividing foreign retail businesses into three categories. 'Level A'
means the business has not committed any legal offenses, 'B' is for companies that have infringed some rules, 'C' indicates companies that operating in violation of the law that have not yet corrected their problems. Level B companies are banned from opening new stores for a one year period. Level C companies will be banned from opening a new stores. After their recent run-ins with various regulatory authorities (the retail sector is still -- more or less, in some way or other, somehow, will the real law please stand up and tell us what is going on! -- will Carrefour be allowed to open new stores?

Beijing Morning Post 晨报
Beijing West Railway Station destroys four 'gangsters'
北京西站捣毁四大“黑帮”
A group of policemen arrested four ticket scalpers who cheated people. Railway tickets start to become a hot button issue in the weeks leading up to Spring Festival.

Beijing Youth Daily 北京青年报
Legal 'strom' seen from Liu Yong case
刘涌案透视律政风暴
The Liu Yong case shows how gangsters usually have strong 'protection umbrellas', i.e. corrupt officials. They make people hate but dare not to say. The article points out that power which is given by the people must be used to serve the people.

People's Daily 人民日报
Tianjin: Golden dragon dances, Hai river prospers
天津：金龙起舞兴海河
The article talks about apartment construction along the Hai river and in the cit.

11 AM INTERNET
Sina
Supreme court announces death sentence for Liu Yong this morning
高法今天上午终审判处刘涌死刑

Sohu
Supreme court sentences Liu Yong to death today
最高人民法院今宣判刘涌死刑

DECEMBER 21

Beijing Evening News 北京晚报
Five causes of diseases from 'hospital origins'
五大因素导致医源性疾病
A common problem in Chinese hospitals (and one of the serious issues being dealt with in the wake of SARS) is patients who being treated for one disease getting infected with another disease by contact with other patients. The article looks at various causes of the problem from incompetent doctors to unsanitary conditions in dispensaries.

Shanghai Xinmin Evening News 新民晚报
Spend less, buy better medicine
钱花得少了 药买得好了
'Economic' drug stores appear in Shanghai.