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Social network LinkedIn blocked in China

Social network LinkedIn blocked in internet crackdown in China
Networking site falls victim as government stifles online calls for a pro-democracy uprising in wake of Middle East upheaval

LinkedIn has become the latest major social network to fall victim to China's renewed crackdown on the internet, as the ruling Communist party stifles online calls for a pro-democracy uprising.
The networking site for business professionals – which has more than 1 million users in China – was blocked for the first time in the country on Thursday. Internet searches on the Chinese Twitter equivalent are also being heavily censored.
Authorities have tightened control of the internet in recent days in the wake of the political uprising sweeping the Middle East. Activists have described the situation as "one of the worst crackdowns on the mainland's activists in recent years".
Hani Durzy, a spokesman for LinkedIn, said on Friday: "We can confirm that access to LinkedIn is being blocked for some in China. This appears to be part of a broader effort in China going on right now, involving other sites as well."
LinkedIn has been allowed to grow largely unhindered in China, unlike more popular Western social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube which remain blocked.
China's tight grip on the internet is thought to involve one of the world's most sophisticated online censorship systems.
But the creator of "The Great Firewall", Dr Fang Binxing, recently admitted that it could be subverted by using technology called virtual private networks (VPNs). "So far, the GFW [Great Firewall] is lagging behind and still needs improvement," he told a Chinese newspaper.

Brit pensioner fights off 6 thugs with handbag

Six sledgehammer-wielding robbers, who were smashing their way into a jewellery store, got the shock of their lives when a Brit pensioner clobbered them with her handbag.
The unidentified brave woman in her 70s ran across the street when she saw them attempt a smash and grab raid on Michael Jones Jewellers in Northampton on Monday morning, reports the Daily Mail.
The attack captured on video by a passer-by clearly shows the woman bashing the stunned raiders with her large black handbag as they tried to escape on mopeds.
In the mobile phone footage, the fearless woman is seen attacking the robbers who towered over her, knocking them around the head and shoulders with her bag as they grabbed handfuls of watches and designer jewellery from the store's cabinet displays.
Startled, they dropped their haul on the ground and attempted to bid a hasty retreat as terrified staff inside the jewellers seized the opportunity to lower the store's security shutters.
But the brave woman continued her onslaught as the hapless gang attempted to get away on mopeds.
She clobbered one of the thieves on the back of the moped leading to the driver to crash to the ground.
Other shoppers witnessing the attack detained one of the robbers after wrestling him to the ground.
The rest of the mob managed to escape, but three were arrested shortly afterwards.
The four arrested men are aged 18, 22, 25 and 39. Police are now seeking a further two other people who are believed to have been involved and have appealed for witnesses.
"She was absolutely amazing. We were terrified but we looked out of the window to see her running down the road with her handbag in the air. She did not seem scared or ruffled at all," said Sarah-Jane Brown, who works at a salon next to the jewellery shop. (ANI)

Muse reveal plans for gig in space

Devon trio consider approaching Richard Branson about performing on a Virgin Galactic suborbital spaceship.

 

Space cadet ... Matt Bellamy of Muse dreams of soloing in suborbit. Photograph: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Could Muse bring Starlight to the stars? The Devon trio have had "coherent conversations" about bringing their anthemic rock to suborbital spaceships, and hope to talk to Richard Branson about a collaboration with Virgin Galactic.

"Maybe I've seen The Jetsons too many times," frontman Matt Bellamy told the Sun. Muse have had several discussions "about playing in space", he said, "sometimes very coherent conversations and sometimes very late at night, but it's for real." While countless bands have had drunkenly imagined zero-gravity guitar solos, Muse are in the uncommon position of being increasingly successful at a time when the prospect of space travel is increasingly close. Virgin Galactic, Branson's model for tourist-friendly spaceflight, could launch later this year.

"I'm thinking of approaching Richard Branson to see if we could do it on his spacecraft," Bellamy said. "I do think it will be possible in the future and I'm sure it will happen in my lifetime. We'd love to be part of that." Although no one has ever crowd-surfed in a space shuttle, such a stunt would follow in the footsteps of Korn, who plotted a gig in an airplane, and Fall Out Boy, who aimed to perform in Antarctica. Only one of them was successful.

"We do have a lot of equipment, so I guess we'd have to use pods to carry our stuff and we'd scale back the shows a lot," Bellamy said. "I don't think the spacecraft is like a Tardis, where we could get everything in we usually have." A gig in a time machine? Now there's an idea ...

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2011

Jordan Rice

Australia floods: teenage victim died after asking rescuer to save brother first

Father of Jordan Rice tells Toowoomba Chronicle of teenager's sacrifice as floods kill at least 18 people in Queensland city

Jordan Rice died in the Queensland floods with his mother Donna. Photograph: Lucyrc Photography/Newspix

A 13-year-old victim of the devastating floods that swept through the Australian city of Toowoomba earlier this week died after asking his rescuer to save his little brother first.

Jordan Rice and his mother, Donna, were killed on Monday afternoon after being carried off by the floodwaters that had risen around their stranded car.

At least 10 people lost their lives in what police in the Queensland city described as an "inland instant tsunami". Another 18 are feared dead.

Details of the teenager's sacrifice emerged today after his father spoke to the local paper.

John Tyson told the Toowoomba Chronicle that Ms Rice and their sons, Jordan and Blake, were on their way back from a trip to buy school uniform when the waters rose up around their car as they drove through the city's central business district at around 2pm on Monday.

After the engine cut out, Rice, 43, managed to get through to the emergency services, who told the family to stay where they were.

But as the waters grew higher, the three had to climb on to the roof of the car.

"All these people were just standing around until an old scrawny guy grabbed a bit of rope, wrapped it around himself and jumped in," said Tyson.

"Jordan can't swim and is terrified of water. But when the man went to rescue him, he said, 'Save my brother first'."

Although the rescuer managed to save 10-year-old Blake, the rope broke when he tried to tie it around Rice and Jordan, and mother and son were swept downstream.

After holding on to a tree for a little while, the pair were carried off by the floodwaters.

Tyson began to cry as his spoke of the bravery his son had shown in his final moments.

"I can only imagine what was going on inside to give up his life to save his brother, even though he was petrified of water," he told the Chronicle. "He is our little hero."

The father described his partner and Jordan as "the unsung heroes of my life", adding: "She was my soulmate."

Tyson also thanked the man who had risked his own life to help his family and save Blake.

Golden-Voiced Homeless Man Captivates Internet

This clip speaks for itself -- literally. The Columbus Dispatchdiscovered a homeless man along Ohio's I-71 claiming to have "the God-given gift of voice," and what began as your everyday viral video has exploded into a life-changing experience for one man. Yesterday morning he was a panhandler; today he's the most in-demand voice personality in the world, thanks to offers from countless radio stations, voiceover gigs and even the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His name is Ted Williams, and he's an ex-radio announcer according to the note he scrawled on a piece of cardboard that he used to solicit change from drivers. And wow, does Williams ever deliver for a dollar. Williams tells the Dispatch about his struggles, but thankfully "alcohol and drugs and a few other things" haven't diminished Williams' velvety vocal cords, and he says he's two years clean now.

"I have a god given gift of voice. I'm an ex-radio announcer who has fallen on hard times. Please! Any help will be greatfully appreciated. Thank you and God bless. Happy holidays," reads Williams' roadside sign for help.

[Video: Homeless man hailed as hero for good deed]

Like Williams, the radio industry has fallen on hard times in the past decade, but given the viral power of this video, Williams was quickly approached by more than a few morning show appearances. In fact,Reddit reported that Ted was tracked down by Columbus area radio show the Morning Zoo and appeared on this morning's program, and even found time for an interview with CBS' "The Early Show":

As evidenced by Williams' new haircut, what a difference a day makes. A mere 24 hours after the video went viral, Williams says he's already been offered a bunch of employment opportunities, including one that's a Ohio citizen's dream job. "The Cleveland Cavaliers just offered me a full-time job and a house," Williams revealed. The Cavs will reportedly have to compete against MTV, the NFL and likely countless more suitors for Williams' services.

While Williams' sudden and lucky twist of fate could bring any man to tears, he gets most choked up when discussing how an invitation to do the gamut of TV shows in New York has opened the door for him to visit his 92-year-old mother in Brooklyn for the first time in years. "One of my biggest prayers that I sent out was that she would live long enough to see me rebound," Williams said. "There's so many words. I've already been compared to Susan Boyle... I'm just so happy."