Chinese paper slams spoiled rich kids

China's People's Daily newspaper has criticised children of the country's successful, well known figures, who are used to getting everything they want. Source: Supplied

THE newspaper of China's Communist Party has lamented a generation who had never tasted "hard work" after a general's son was held for suspected involvement in a gang-rape, as hundreds of thousands expressed outrage online.

Li Guanfeng, the teenage son of General Li Shuangjiang - a popular military singer and household name in the country - was held last Thursday in the latest allegation against privileged children of officials to spark public anger.

The news has dominated Internet message boards, online news portals and state-run newspapers in China, where crimes by the offspring of the country's elite cause particular fury among ordinary people.

"Family education" among successful, well-known figures in China needs to be "cautious", said the People's Daily, the ruling party's official organ, in an editorial on the case.

"Many of these children have not experienced the hard work needed in their parents' struggle to achieve success, but are shown the results of this success.

"Used to getting everything they want and having all their problems handled, they will use their father's name as an excuse, take flaunting wealth for granted and regard defying the law as brave behaviour."

Li is among five suspects detained over allegations of a sexual assault on February 17, the state-run China Daily said.

The newspaper quoted a Beijing police source as saying the group were accused of gang-raping a woman in a hotel room after a night of drinking.

It is not the first time the 17-year-old has come to public attention.

He was sent to a government correctional facility for one year in 2011 for beating a couple while their young child looked on.

Then he was known as Li Tianyi, but his parents changed his name on his release. Some domestic media reports said the move was intended to help his rehabilitation, but others called it an attempt to cover up his criminal record.

Hundreds of thousands of people went online to express their outrage at the 2011 incident, when the general apologised for his son's actions.

Internet users in China have returned to the web in force following news of the teenager's detention. Overnight the Global Times said the case had triggered more than 927,000 posts.

Many recalled an interview with Li's mother Meng Ge, who is also a famous military singer, in which she said she hoped her son would one day win a Nobel Prize.

"From what I know, going to prison is not a prerequisite for winning a Nobel Prize," said one poster on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter.

"Looks like Meng Ge's hope that her son will win a Nobel Prize will not happen now," said another. "Li Shuangjiang has shown boundless tolerance to a son who is prone to terrible mistakes."

In one of the highest-profile scandals to involve the offspring of top officials, the son of a police chief tried to use his father's status to escape a fatal car accident he had caused in 2010.

Li Qiming, 22, ran over a student in the northern province of Hebei, and shouted: "Sue me if you dare. My father is Li Gang!" He was later sentenced to six years in prison.

Last March the son of senior Communist Party official Ling Jihua reportedly died when he crashed a Ferrari in the capital, leaving two women passengers - one said to have been naked - injured.

23.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

British cardinal quits amid allegations

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, 74, leader of the Scottish Catholic Church, has been reported  to the Vatican over claims of inappropriate behaviour. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

CARDINAL Keith O'Brien says he will be skipping the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI after resigning as archbishop in the wake of misconduct allegations.

The cardinal said in a statement issued Monday that he will not attend because he doesn't want media attention focused on him during the important session in Rome.

The Vatican confirmed Cardinal O'Brien had resigned as archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. It was accepted under the code of canon law for reasons of his age; he turns 75 - the normal retirement age for bishops - on March 17.

He said in a statement that he is in "indifferent health" and that he had offered his resignation last November.

"Looking back over my years of ministry: For any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologize to all whom I have offended," he said.

Cardinal O'Brien has said through his spokesman that he is contesting allegations made Sunday in a British newspaper that three priests and a former priest have filed complaints to the Vatican alleging that the cardinal acted inappropriately with them.

The Observer newspaper did not give the names of the priests, but it said their allegations date back to the 1980s. There were no details about the alleged inappropriate behavior.

The one-sentence Vatican statement issued overnight made no reference to the allegations.

Pope Benedict gives his last Sunday address to thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City as he prepares to leave his post this week. Jessica Gray reports.

A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said on Sunday the complaints had been channeled through the office of the papal nuncio - the Vatican's ambassador - in London.

"The pope has been informed, and the question is in his hands," Lombardi said.

23.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bailed Pistorius reports to authorities

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius at his bail hearing on Feb. 22, 2013. Pistorius has reported to authorities as part of his bail conditions, a spokeswoman said. Source: AP

OSCAR Pistorius has reported to South African authorities under bail terms in the murder case against him, said a spokeswoman for the Olympic athlete.

The double-amputee runner visited correctional officers in the capital, Pretoria, said Lunice Johnston.

"Oscar did present himself to the necessary authorities this morning," Ms Johnston said.

Pistorius, who was released on bail Friday, is staying at the home of his uncle, Arnold, in the affluent suburb of Waterkloof in Pretoria.

Pistorius is accused of murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in the early hours of February 14. Prosecutors say the pair had an argument before Steenkamp was killed; Pistorius says he mistook her for an intruder and shot her accidentally.

Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair had set bail at 1 million rand ($109,000). The 26-year-old track star was also ordered to hand over his passports, turn in any guns he owns and keep away from his upscale home in a gated community in Pretoria, which is now a crime scene.

The brother of Oscar Pistorius, Carl has been charged with culpable homicide over a car accident in 2008.

He cannot leave the district of Pretoria without his probation officer's permission and is not allowed to consume drugs or alcohol, the magistrate said.

Pistorius' longtime coach, Ampie Louw, had said when the runner was in detention that he wanted to put him back into training in the event that he was granted bail.

Ms Johnston, however, said she knew of no immediate plans for him to return to the track.

Pistorius' next court appearance is on June 4. Pistorius faces life imprisonment if convicted.

Yesterday, it was revealed Oscar's brother Carl Pistorius was charged over the death of a woman who died when her motorbike collided with his car outside Johannesburg in 2008.

His lawyer Kenny Oldwage said in a statement that Carl had been involved in a car accident "in which a woman motorcyclist sadly lost her life". He said that "there is no doubt that Carl is innocent and the charge will be challenged in court".

The elder brother of athlete Oscar Pistorius was supposed to have gone on trial for culpable homicide on Thursday - the day before the Olympian got bail, according to South African media reports.

Mr Oldwage said that "Carl deeply regrets the accident" and that a blood test showed he was not drunk at the time. "It was a tragic road accident after the deceased collided with Carl's car."

Tests showed no alcohol in his blood at the time of the accident in Vanderbijlpark, 60km south of Johannesburg.

He said the charges had initially been dropped, only to be reinstated later.

23.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

Doctor testifies in gang-rape case

The Mount Elizabeth hospital in Singapore, where an Indian gang-rape victim was treated before her death. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

A SINGAPORE doctor who performed the autopsy on an Indian gang-rape victim has testified via videolink in the trial of five men accused of her murder, a defence lawyer said.

The 23-year-old student who was raped and attacked with an iron bar in December died of massive internal injuries after the Indian government airlifted her to a top Singapore hospital in a last-ditch bid to save her life.

"The doctor who conducted the post-mortem on the woman at the Singapore hospital has deposed before the trial court judge," lawyer V.K. Anand said, without commenting further.

Despite huge public interest in the case, the judge has barred reporting of the proceedings of the trial.

Mr Anand said two other doctors from Mount Elizabeth Hospital would also testify in the trial which is being held in a new "fast-track" New Delhi court established to hear the case.

Post-mortem testimony in murder trials is vital to establish the cause of death, as well as help to determine whether the death was intentional, lawyers say.

Indian protestors hold placards as they shout slogans during a protest demanding better security for women in New Delhi. Picture: AFP

The physiotherapy student was attacked on a New Delhi bus while returning home after watching a film at a mall, in a brutal assault which outraged the nation and triggered angry protests.

Five men are on trial for murder, rape and robbery and other charges, while a sixth defendant, who is a juvenile, is being tried separately.

Although sexual harassment is commonplace in India and gang-rapes far from rare, the case has touched a nerve in the country, leading to an outpouring of criticism of the police and attitudes toward women in Indian society.
 

Indians participate in a vigil for the young victim of the recent brutal gang-rape in a bus in New Delhi.

23.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman scales Everest twice within days

Nepalese climber Chhurim Sherpa, who holds the world record for women climbing Everest twice in one season, poses with her Guinness certificate in Kathmandu on February 25, 2013. Source: AFP

ANEPALESE climber was confirmed overnight as the first woman to scale Mount Everest twice in a single season, Guinness World Records said, after she made the second summit within days of the first.

Chhurim Sherpa, 29, reached the 8,848-metre peak on May 12 last year before returning to base camp for a well-earned rest and then repeating the stunning feat a mere week later.

"I am very happy for this recognition. I was determined that the record should be held by a Nepalese woman and I'm proud to be one," said Ms Sherpa, from Nepal's eastern hills.

Another Sherpa, Pasang Lhamu, died on her descent after becoming the first Nepalese woman to reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain in 1993.

Her feat was followed by 21 Nepalese women but no female climber in the world had ever managed two ascents in one season before Chhurim Sherpa.

"Climbing Everest turns out to be very tough for women like me because there are no toilets. Five of us had to share a tent," she told reporters at a ceremony in the capital Kathmandu to hand her the official record certificate.

Around 3,000 people have made it to the top of Everest since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first conquered it in 1953.

The summit season on Everest begins in late April when a small window between spring and the summer monsoon offers the best conditions for making the ascent.

23.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tunisia cracks down on 'Harlem Shake'

Participants in a flashmob dance do "The Harlem Shake" in front of the Berlin cathedral. Source: AFP

TUNISIAN authorities have ordered a probe into the staging of a "Harlem Shake" show in a Tunis suburb by students who dance wildly and imitate sexual acts, after a video recording went viral on the internet.

"The ministry of education has demanded an investigation and the department will take appropriate measures," Education Minister Abdellatif Abid said on private Radio Mosaique.

He said there could be possible "expulsions" of students or "sacking" of educational staff who were behind the staging of the dance.

Video footage, which shows participants smoking, dancing wildly in uncoordinated manner and simulating sexual acts, has spread on the internet, with dozens of different versions attracting millions of views.

The dance was purportedly staged by students from Menzah 6 district of Tunis in a school compound, with some dancing in shorts and others wearing fake beards and tunics showcasing proponents of radical Salafist movement.

The secular opposition regularly accuses Tunisia's ruling Islamist party Ennahda of allowing a slow Islamisation of the society.

The education minister is a member of Ettakatol, a centre-left secular ally of Ennahda.

The incident comes as more and people around the world emulate the "Harlem Shake" craze, which was sparked by a group of Australian teenagers who uploaded a 31-second clip "The Harlem Shake v1 (TSCS original)" onto YouTube earlier this month. It has since been viewed almost 16 million times.

23.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hollywood parties on Oscars night

Model Heidi Klum flaunts her figure as she arrives at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party in LA. Source: Getty Images

BRITNEY SPEARS' new hair colour, Heidi Klum's boobs, Kim Kardashians' baby bump and Jim Carrey's bizarre footwear all came out to party on Oscars night.

The stars hit Elton John's famous AIDs Oscars fundraising bash and pulled out all the stops to get some attention on Hollywood's biggest night.

Singer Britney Spears arrives at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party in Los Angeles, California. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Spears, who recently parted ways from her job as X-Factor judge and split with finance Jason Trawick, showed up at the party with a new brunette hairstyle, perhaps signalling her fresh start.

And reality star Kim Kardashian rocked her growing baby bump in a snug white Donna Karan dress that showed off every curve.

Kim Kardashian chats with actor and model Molly Sims at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in West Hollywood. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Kardashian and her sister Khloe, both without their respective loves, rapper Kanye West, and basketball player Lamar Odom, chatted up fellow guest Chris Brown, who was at the party without his girlfriend, Rihanna.

Khloe Kardashian showed off her curves in a bright neon number, while Kim Kardashian covered up her baby bump in a white Donna Karan dress. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Kim said she was also looking forward to catching the show by the night's featured performer, soulful Scottish singer Emeli Sande.

"I love her!" she exclaimed.

Asked how late she would stay up celebrating, given her pregnancy, Kardashian considered the question for a moment.

"I don't know, hmmm," she told AP. "I always end up going to bed early!"

Model and Project Runway host Heidi Klum poured her famous assets into a shimmering gold gown, baring her chest in the daring, low-cut frock.

Model Heidi Klum arrives at the 2013 Elton John Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo's model girlfriend Irina Shayk also wore a low-cut gown to the Vanity Fair Oscars party, but even that couldn't distract onlookers form her dark, overwhelming eye makeup in one of the night's fashion misses.

Model Irina Shayk arrives at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California. Source: Getty Images

Truman Show actor Jim Carrey showed up wearing shoes that looked like huge, bare feet and tiny, fluffy angel wings sprouting from his shoulders.

Jim Carrey shows off his "strangel" wings to American Idol judge Randy Jackson and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler. Carrey tweeted his new accessories were symbolic of his spiritual journey. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

"Elton's party was fun. My big feet and little angel wings were an expression of my somewhat awkward spiritual journey. I'm a #Strangel" the comedian tweeted.

Actor Jim Carrey shows off his huge shoes that look like bare feet with Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, American Idol judge Rany Jackson, musician Dave Grohl and host Elton John at his Oscars viewing party. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

23.45 | 0 komentar | Read More

Horse meat found in Ikea's meatballs

Ikea's Swedish branch has halted sales of meatballs after Czech authorities found horsemeat in frozen meatballs. Source: AP

SWEDISH furniture giant Ikea was drawn into Europe's widening food labeling scandal Monday as authorities said they had detected horse meat in frozen meatballs labeLled as beef and pork and sold in 13 countries across the continent.

The Czech State Veterinary Administration said that horse meat was found in one-kilogram packs of frozen meatballs made in Sweden and shipped to the Czech Republic for sale in Ikea stores there. A total of 760 kilograms of the meatballs were stopped from reaching the shelves.

Ikea spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson said meatballs from the same batch had gone out to Slovakia, Hungary, France, Britain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Ireland.

Ms Magnusson said meatballs from that batch were taken off the shelves in Ikea stores in all those countries. Other shipments of meatballs were not affected, including to the US, even though they all come from the same Swedish supplier, Ms Magnusson said.

"Our global recommendation is to not recall or stop selling meatballs," she said.

Ikea has pulled meatballs from 13 European countries after they were found to contain horsemeat.

However, the company's Swedish branch announced on its Facebook page that it won't sell or serve any meatballs at its stores in Sweden out of concern for "potential worries among our customers."

Ms Magnusson said Ikea saw no reason to extend that guidance globally. She said Ikea was conducting its own tests of the affected batch "to validate" the Czech results. She also said that two weeks ago Ikea tested a range of frozen food products, including meatballs, and found no traces of horse meat.

"But, of course, we take the tests that Czech authorities have done very seriously," Ms Magnusson said. "We don't tolerate any other ingredients than those on the label."

European authorities have said the horse meat found in lasagna and other prepared dishes is a case of fraudulent labelling but does not pose a health risk.

The contaminated meatballs were supplied by Swedish frozen-food company Gunnar Dafgard AB, Ikea said.

Ikea's trademark blue-and-yellow stores typically feature a restaurant that serves traditional Swedish food, including meatballs served with boiled or mashed potatoes, gravy and lingonberry jam. Meatballs - "Kottbullar" in Swedish - are also available in the frozen foods section.

Ms Magnusson said all of the meatballs are supplied by Gunnar Dafgard AB, a family-owned frozen foods company in southwestern Sweden. Calls to the company were not immediately returned, but it posted a brief statement on its website saying "the batch in question has been blocked and we are investigating the situation."

Sweden's food safety authority said it wasn't taking any action but was waiting for Czech authorities to specify the quantity of horsemeat detected.

"If it's less than 1 percent it could mean that they handled horsemeat at the same facility. If it's more, we assess that it's been mixed into the product," said Karin Cerenius of Sweden's National Food Agency.

The EU will meet to discuss stricter food labelling rules after horsemeat was found in a range of frozen lasanga and burgers.

European Union officials were meeting Monday to discuss tougher food labeling rules after the discovery of horse meat in a range of frozen supermarket meals such as burgers and lasagna that were supposed to contain beef or pork.

The Czech authority also announced Monday that it found horse meat in beef burgers imported from Poland during random tests of food products.

Spanish authorities, meanwhile, announced that traces of horse meat were found in a beef cannelloni product by one of the brands of Nestle, a Switzerland-based food giant.

In a statement on its website, Nestle Spain said that after carrying out tests on meat supplied to its factories in Spain it was withdrawing six "La Cocinera" products and one "Buitoni" product from store shelves.

It said it was taking the action after the traces of horse meat were found in beef bought from a supplier in central Spain. Nestle said it was taking legal action against the company, adding that the products would be replaced by ones with 100 per cent beef.

Some EU member states are pressing for tougher labeling rules to regain consumer confidence.

The 27-nation bloc must agree on binding origin disclosures for food product ingredients, starting with a better labeling of meat products, German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said.

"Consumers have every right to the greatest-possible transparency," she insisted.

Austria backs the German initiative; but others like Ireland say existing rules are sufficient although Europe-wide controls must be strengthened to address the problem of fraudulent labeling.

The scandal has created a split between nations like Britain which see further rules as a protectionist hindrance of free trade under the bloc's single market, and those calling for tougher regulation.

Processed food products - a business segment with traditionally low margins that often leads producers to hunt for the cheapest suppliers - often contain ingredients from multiple suppliers in different countries, who themselves at times subcontract production to others, making it hard to monitor every link in the production chain.

Standardized DNA checks with meat suppliers and more stringent labeling rules will add costs that producers will most likely hand down to consumers, making food more expensive.

The scandal began in Ireland in mid-January when the country announced the results of its first-ever DNA tests on beef products. It tested frozen beef burgers taken from store shelves and found that more than a third of brands at five supermarkets contained at least a trace of horse. The sample of one brand sold by British supermarket kingpin Tesco was more than a quarter horse.

Such discoveries have spread like wildfire across Europe as governments, supermarkets, meat traders and processors began their own DNA testing of products labeled beef and have been forced to withdraw tens of millions of products from store shelves.

More than a dozen nations have detected horse flesh in processed products such as factory-made burger patties, lasagnas, meat pies and meat-filled pastas. The investigations have been complicated by elaborate supply chains involving multiple cross-border middlemen.

23.45 | 0 komentar | Read More