New dog law tells tale of two cities

Many Shanghainese like to refer to their city as China's New York and the two metropolises have indeed become more alike with their huge number of skyscrapers and long subway systems. But new laws being mooted by the two cities set them clearly apart.

In New York, the City Council passed a bill last week banning smoking in all the city's parks and beaches. The law, expected to be signed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will make New York a haven for non-smokers.

New York banned smoking in bars and restaurants as early as 1993, and at $5.85 a pack, the city now levies the highest taxes on smokers in the United States.