CHINA'S TOP COURT APPROVES DEATH PENALTIES

China's Supreme People's Court approved the death penalty of three men, it said in a statement. Sun Yujun and Yin Jianli raped three women and stole more than 100,000 yuan across Henan and Anhui provinces from April to August, 2007. They were sentenced to death by the Intermediate People's Court of Shangqiu City, Henan Province, which was upheld. Wang Yihai was involved in 23 rape cases Linquan and Funan counties from autumn of 2005 to March, 2008. Wang also stole 2,200 yuan. He was sentenced to death by the Intermediate People's Court of Fuyang City in eastern Anhui Province and a higher court upheld the death penalty.