CHINA: FORMER VICE MAYOR'S DEATH PENALTY APPEAL DENIED

former vice mayor of China's eastern resort city of Hangzhou, Xu Maiyong, was denied an appeal for his death sentence, the Higher People's Court of Zhejiang Province confirmed. Xu was also stripped of his political rights for life and all of his personal property was confiscated. Xu, 52, was convicted of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power on May 12 at the Intermediate People's Court of Zhejiang's city of Ningbo.