| Teen sells kidney to buy iPad 2 Posted: A Chinese teenager was so desperate to acquire the new iPad 2 that he sold one of his kidneys for just �2,000 (Rs 1.5 lakh) to pay for it, according to reports.
The 17-year-old boy named Xiao Zheng, wanted the gadget but did not have money. He then found out online that he could sell his kidney for fast cash.
Three men, believed to be members of an organ selling syndicate, met the boy at a hospital in Chenzhou, Hunan, on April 28 to have his kidneys removed.
Xiao Zheng's mother found out what had happened three days later when he returned home with a laptop and an iPad.
After he told her what had happened, she brought him back to Chenzhou and lodged a police report.
The boy regretting his actions said his health had deteriorated ever since. 
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| China denies Gmail hack Posted: State authorities refute charges that the country was behind hacks into accounts of top US government officials
Chinese cyber warfare experts have denied charges their country was behind a fresh wave of cyber attacks on Gmail accounts, and say that it is China that stands "naked" against American internet intrusions.
Zhang Jiadong, at Fudan University's US Study Centre, said China's cyber warfare capacities were so insignificant compared with the US that the country was "not even qualified to talk about cyber war."
Chinese cyber warfare experts claim that their capacities are insignificant compared to US
"We are standing naked in front of the United States," said Professor Zhang. "It can check what we are up to from the back door any time, anywhere."
Yesterday, Google outlined new allegations that Chinese hackers have targeted hundreds of Gmail users, including senior US government officials.
Hackers in China, allegedly gained access to Gmail passwords by tricking users into responding to phishing e-mails, allowing them to plant malware.
The Google revelations came one day after the US government officially confirmed for the first time that a cyber attack could be considered an act of war, triggering a military response.
The official statement of US military deterrence follows a stream of reports about an increase in the number and severity of Chinese intrusions into the information networks of foreign governments, multinational technology, defence and resource contractors, human rights advocates and even the personal computer of the Dalai Lama.
The personal computers of senior Australian leaders have reportedly been penetrated while the large Australian mining companies face persistent cyber assaults.
Cyber experts believe many attacks originate with hackers inside military intelligence units of the People's Liberation Army, the Ministry of State Security or individual hackers with links to Chinese intelligence.
China has played down its capacities for cyber warfare, shrugged off the Google and US government announcements and suggested it } would now respond by bolstering its own cyber defence capacities. 
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| Former Russian spy Anna Chapman turns editor Posted: Former Russian spy Anna Chapman, who was detained for espionage and deported from the US, has been appointed editor-in-chief of a small newspaper in Russia.
In a statement published on the website of the Venture Business News newspaper, Chapman promised to "significantly increase" the circulation and improve multimedia and overall content of the newspaper.
I've become the chief editor. It's a small newspaper," Chapman said, admitting she has no plans yet about her future job.
Anna Chapman will be in charge of a new column Field News that would discuss major events in the venture and investment business in Russia
As editor-in-chief, Chapman will be in charge of a new column Field News that would discuss major events in the venture and investment business in Russia and abroad.
The former spy said she would like to head the newspaper to "promote a positive image of young entrepreneurs, innovators, and technological business managers".
Chapman and 10 other Russians were arrested in the US in June 2010 on suspicion of espionage.
In July, they were sent back to Russia in exchange for four men accused by Moscow of spying for foreign intelligence services in Russia.
Chapman had earlier become an advisor for Fondservicebank President Alexander Volovnik. She also joined the Public Council of Young Guard youth movement of the United Russia party.
Later, she became a TV host of REN TV's World Mysteries with Anna Chapman show.
Femme Fatale
the stunning 28-year-old secret agent turned heads across the globe after nearly going nude for her country's edition of Maxim magazine in 2010. On the cover, Chapman wielded a gun and made a Bond-like pose in her underwear. She was also on Maxim's list of 100 sexiest women. 
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| William & Kate dubbed parasites Posted: Outspoken Canadian politician compares Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to circus performers ahead of their forthcoming tour of the country
Prince William and Kate were dubbed "parasites" yesterday as an outspoken Canadian politician plunged their first overseas tour into controversy.
Prince William and his new bride Catherine chose Canada for their first official trip abroad as a married couple, which is due to take place between June 30 and July 8.
But a month before their arrival a member of the National Assembly of Quebec launched a derisive attack on the Royal couple, complaining that Canadians would have to foot much of the bill.
Amir Khadir said the visit by William and Kate was a waste of public funds and dismissed claims that their visit would promote tourism in the country
Amir Khadir, an Iranian-born member of the left-leaning Quebec Solidaire party described monarchy as "a parasitic system that was inherited from ancient times".
He said, "A nation worthy of the 21st century has no need for a monarchy or people with a bloodline."
Dismissing claims from the Quebec government that the couple's visit would help promote tourism, he added, "If this is a tourist attraction, I would at least appreciate it if the stakeholders involved knew that we are bringing them here kind of like we do with circus tours."
He then told a newspaper, "What a waste of public funds - all of this to welcome these parasites. If we were welcoming someone because they had great ideas or because they did remarkable things, fine. But it galls me that we're doing this for someone with blue blood in their veins."
Outrage
His comments were immediately condemned by senior officials in the French-speaking province, with deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau demanding Khadir apologise.
The province's Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau added, "Being at odds does not excuse being impolite."
The Duke and Duchess are due to visit Quebec for two days as part of their trip, which Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore said would cost Canadian taxpayers just under $2 million (Rs 9 crore).
Moore said security would be beefed up for the visit, with Quebec nationalists expected to stage protests
In the past
In November 2009, Prince Charles and Wife Camilla Parker Bowles also went on a visit to Canada. The two toured the country for 11 days and 12 cities including St. John's, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria. During her cisit, the Duchess of Cornwall received great praise and gifts from the people of Canada.
Wills-Kate will also visit the Calgary Stampede "Rodeo's richest, roughest ride". They can enjoy the thrill of bucking bronco and bull riding contests while touring Canada. 
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| Chinese teen sells kidney for 2,000 pounds to buy iPad 2 Posted: A 17-year-old Chinese boy has sold one of his kidneys for just 2,000 pounds to pay for Apple's tablet computer iPad 2. The boy, identified as Zheng from Guangdong Province, said that he had sold the kidney after spotting an online advertisement offering cash to anyone prepared to become an organ donor. "I wanted to buy an iPad 2, but I didn't have the money. When I surfed the internet I found an advert posted online by agent saying they were able to pay 20,000 renminbi (1,880 pounds) to buy a kidney," The Telegraph quoted Zheng, as saying. After negotiations, the boy travelled to Hunan Province, where the kidney was removed at a local hospital which discharged him after three days. He was paid 22,000 renminbi (2,070 pounds) for the organ. Zheng, who has suffered complications following the surgery, returned home, but was unable to keep what he had done from his mother. "When he came back, he had a laptop and a new Apple handset. I wanted to know how he had got so much money and he finally confessed that he had sold one of his kidneys," his mother said.
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| Act on Krittika case, Clinton told Posted: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should act on the case of an Indian diplomat's daughter who is suing New York city for a whopping $1.5 million for false arrest to avoid retaliation from other countries, said lawyer Ravi Batra. Batra, lawyer of Krittika Biswas, sent a letter to Hillary Clinton June 1 that said: "I urge you to act and avoid possible retaliatory-reciprocity from foreign nations." Krittika Biswas, student of John Bowne High School and daughter of Debashish Biswas, vice consul (administration) at the Indian Consulate General in New York, filed a notice of claim of $1.5 million May 6. She said her claims of diplomatic immunity were ignored when she was handcuffed and locked up for more than 24 hours Feb 8 after a "shoddy" probe by administrators into alleged obscene emails sent to two teachers in her school.
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| A Jharkhand school where all students failed in board exams Posted: Amid all the buzz over encouraging board exam results all over India, Jharkhand's Deoghar district has a school where all its 147 students have failed in their secondary board examination The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) announced the results of the secondary board examinations Tuesday. A total of 69.31 percent students passed in the examination. However, the students of the Kothia High School were in for a rude shock as not one of them managed to pass the examination. Angry, the students Wednesday demonstrated against the school management and demanded a reason behind their poor show. "It is shocking that we could not pass the board examination. I was expecting more than 70 percent," said Ramesh, a school student. The issue was brought to the attention of District Education Officer (DEO) J. Pandit Thursday. He said the students failed due to a technical fault. "Principals of all the schools were asked to submit the marks of practical papers to the JAC by May 12. The principal of the said school failed to submit the marks on time. This is fault of the school, and we will take suitable action against the principal," Pandit told IANS. "We have submitted the practical marks to the JAC and requested them to issue new results of the students based on the marks," he added. A total of 354,802 students appeared in the secondary board examination in the state. Palamau district topped with 80.76 percent students passing the examination. The 2011 results were discouraging in comparison to 2010 as a total of 74.37 students had passed out last year as compared to 69.31 percent this year.
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| Beijing airport China's first to ban smoking Posted: The international airport in Beijing has become the country's first to shut down all its smoking rooms, a statement said. The Beijing Capital International Airport has closed up to 36 smoking rooms in all of its three terminals, the People's Daily reported, citing an airport statement. Airport officials said the latest anti-smoking measures were introduced to create a healthy travelling environment for passengers. The airport said it has prepared no-smoking notices and promotional materials to carry out the anti-smoking campaign. The shut smoking rooms will not reopen to public again, airport officials said.
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