NY Times researcher to be freed by China

A New York Times researcher convicted in China of fraud is expected to be released from prison this weekend. Zhao Yan was jailed for three years on a fraud charge last year, having been acquitted of a more serious charge of revealing state secrets. He has always denied committing fraud, and it is thought he fell foul of the authorities because of an NY Times report on the plans of the then-Chinese presidentto relinquish his post as head of the military. (Via Boston Globe)