Seven people allegedly involved in plotting terrorism have been sentenced to death for robbery and murder in China’s far western region of Xinjiang, state-run media reported.

A CHINESE official has been arrested on suspicion of taking bribes after his steamy diary describing casual sex, drinking parties and corruption appeared online.

China’s highest court again stressed the limited use of the death penalty, telling lower courts to use “justice tempered with mercy”.

Two men were executed today for their part in China’s poisoned milk powder scandal which killed at least six children and made more than 300,000 ill.

Lawyers for more than 200 families who claim their children fell ill or died after drinking tainted infant formula said today that they were turning to China’s highest court to sue the dairy firms responsible in a bid to receive higher compensation and lifelong treatment.

China’s top judge urged courts to focus on maintaining social stability to deal with the fallout from the global economic slowdown, state media said today amid growing fears of impending social tumult.

China’s legislature today approved a change in the death penalty law to allow only the country’s highest court to approve death sentences, state media said.

China will begin holding jury trials next year as part of court reforms that will also increase the number of judges, it was reported today.

China says it plans to make it easier to jail producers of counterfeit movies, music and other goods, responding to pressure from other governments to toughen penalties against rampant product piracy.