Monday 28 February 2011
Sunday 27 February 2011
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.
Tuesday 15 February 2011
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)
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)
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