Violating China’s new Internet guidelines may lead to jail
London: China has issued new Internet guidelines under which users trying to spread rumours online could be sentenced to jail for up to three years.
Chinese officials said Internet users posting defamatory comments that are visited by more than 5,000 users or reposted 500 times will be prosecuted, the BBC reports.
According to the report, anyone who posts information that leads to protests or ethnic unrest could also face prosecution.
The new guidelines were released by the country”s highest court as part of an official campaign to stop online rumours.
Other guidelines cover posts that cause suicide or self-mutilation, as well as extortion and provoking online arguments, the report added.
The move comes in after Internet users have increasingly started online exposes and campaigns against government officials. (ANI)
‘Denmark ‘happiest nation’ on earth’
Washington: Denmark has been reportedly ranked the ‘happiest nation’ by the United Nations’ World Happiness Report 2013.
According to the report, while Denmark topped the list, African nation of Togo ranked last on the happiness quotient.
Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Director of the SDSN, Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs said that the UN report offers rich evidence that the systematic measurement and analysis of happiness can teach a lot about ways to improve the world’s well-being and sustainable development, the New York Daily News reports.
The UN team discovered that the countries with the ‘highest levels of happiness’ are Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Sweden.
The researchers asked an average of 3,000 residents of each country to rank their life satisfaction and identified major categories of happiness that included income, health, social support, and freedom.
Meanwhile, residents of African nations like Central African Republic and Benin ranked at the bottom of the happiness survey while the US came 17th less happy than Canada, with a drop of three percent over the past five years.
Middle East residents’ happiness quotient dropped 11.7 percent overall, the report added. (ANI)
Prince William vows to protect African wildlife
London: The Duke of Cambridge has revealed that he plans to fight for the survival of the wildlife in Africa, the continent he fell in love with as a child.
While talking about elephants being killed for their ivory in an upcoming documentary, Prince William, who is a patron of charity Tusk, said that it’s absolutely horrifying, the Daily Star reported.
The new father asserted that it’s hard to put into words the depth of sadness he would feel if elephants became extinct.
The second in line to the throne, 31, confessed that his love of Africa was inspired by his late mum Princess Diana, who campaigned against Aids and landmines.
William added that wildlife is incredibly vulnerable and he feels that fatherhood has heightened his protective instincts and desire to stand up for the vulnerable. He further added that elephants, rhinos and many other animals that are persecuted don’t have a voice.
The documentary, titled ‘Prince William’s Passion: New Father, New Hope’, will be screened on ITV and CNN. (ANI)
‘Superheroes’ edge over firefighters to rescue cat from burning house
New York: Two men dressed as superheroes saved a cat that was trapped in fire.
John Buckland, who was dressed as the Caped Crusader, and his friend Troy Marcum playing Captain America, were teaching kids ‘positive lessons’ at the American Legion post in Milton, West Virginia, when they saw smoke coming out of a house, the New York Post reported.
According to WCHS-TV8, they reached the scene of the burning house and jumped into action.
The duo shattered a window of the house, which was empty as the homeowners were out of town, and Buckland grabbed the unconscious cat. (ANI)