French carmaker Citroen has withdrawn an ad featuring a doctored portrait of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, after complaints it was an insult.
In the ad, carried in Spanish newspaper El Pais, Mao scowls at a hatchback.
"It's true, we are leaders, but at Citroen the revolution never stops," reads the text below the portrait.
Citroen apologised for the "inappropriate" ad, which Chinese chatroom users had complained "hurts our national pride".
"This is no small thing," said one visitor to a chatroom about the ad - based on the famous portrait of Mao which hangs in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
"It has an influence on the whole country. It damages the whole Chinese people."
Reverence
Another writer pointed out that other national leaders - such as US President George W Bush - had also been made fun of in the media.
The ad was based on this original, which hangs in Tiananmen Square
"But our traditions and customs must nonetheless be respected," the writer added.
Nearly 32 years after his death, Chairman Mao remains revered by some Chinese, despite his promotion of policies such as "Great Leap Forward" which ended in the deaths of millions, and the profound social and economic changes China has since seen.
In a statement, Citroen said it regretted any "displeasure" caused, and said it had ordered the advert to be pulled immediately.
"We repeat our good feelings towards the Chinese people, and confirm that we respect the representatives and symbols of the country," said the statement in Chinese.
First they down our planes, then they try to suppress the freedom of press outside of their own borders. The communist invasion has started! McCarthy was right, we need to restart HUAC now!
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- Authorities in Vietnam seized more than a ton of snakes that were smuggled in on an airplane from Thailand, officials said Friday.
Thousands of the nonvenomous rat snakes were shipped as cargo in 60 boxes on a Vietnam Airlines flight from Bangkok to Hanoi's Noi Bai airport Thursday, said airline spokesman Trinh Ngoc Thanh.
Thanh said the shipment had been declared as live fish.
Many of the snakes, which were surrounded by plastic filled with ice water, have died, said Nguyen Ba Oanh, director of the Wild Animal Rescue Center near Hanoi where the snakes were taken.
The reptiles each weighed between 200 grams (0.44 pounds) to 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds). The official Vietnam News Agency reported that the snakes, which are protected animals, may have been headed to another country.
Given that she describes herself as a human pet – and is happy to walk around on a lead – Tasha Maltby is used to odd looks and even odder remarks.
But nothing had prepared her for the reaction of the bus driver who allegedly told the self-styled Goth and her boyfriend: "We don't let freaks and dogs like you on."
Miss Maltby and her fiance Dani Graves were so angered they have complained to the bus company of being "victimised".
"It is definitely discrimination, almost like a hate crime," 19-year-old Miss Maltby said yesterday.
The music technology student had this defence of her lifestyle.
"I am a pet, I generally act animal like and I lead a really easy life," she said.
"I don't cook or clean and I don't go anywhere without Dani. It might seem strange but it makes us both happy. It's my culture and my choice. It isn't hurting anyone."
The bus driver, however, has obviously not been listening.
He has repeatedly refused to allow Mr Graves, 25, and his "pet" on to his bus in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
Last month, with Miss Maltby on a leash as usual, the couple tried to board a bus at the bus station.
The driver, who was off duty, was standing near the door.
Mr Graves alleged: "He shoved me off the bus. He called us freaks and he called Tasha a dog.
"He said, 'We don't let freaks and dogs like you on'.
"He basically grabbed my T-shirt and slammed me backwards.
"I got a bit angry and called him a fascist pig."
In a separate incident, police were called when the driver, who has not been named, refused to allow other passengers on board after the couple ignored his orders and sat down.
The couple, who live on benefits in a council house and plan to start a family, have been friends for years.
They started going out together in July and became engaged in November.
Paul Adcock, of bus company Arriva Yorkshire, said: "We take any allegations of discrimination seriously.
"Mr Graves has already contacted us directly and as soon as our investigation has concluded we will inform him of the outcome."
A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and propulsion and could hit the Earth in late February or March, government officials said Saturday.
art.earth.gi.jpg
A senior government official says lawmakers and other nations are being kept apprised of the situation.
The satellite, which no longer can be controlled, could contain hazardous materials, and it is unknown where on the planet it might come down, they said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.
"Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council.
"Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause."
He would not comment on whether it is possible for the satellite to be perhaps shot down by a missile. He said it would be inappropriate to discuss any specifics at this time.
A senior government official said that lawmakers and other nations are being kept apprised of the situation.
The largest uncontrolled re-entry by a NASA spacecraft was Skylab, the 78-ton abandoned space station that fell from orbit in 1979. Its debris dropped harmlessly into the Indian Ocean and across a remote section of western Australia.
In 2000, NASA engineers successfully directed a safe de-orbit of the 17-ton Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, using rockets aboard the satellite to bring it down in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.
In 2002, officials believe debris from a 7,000-pound science satellite smacked into the Earth's atmosphere and rained down over the Persian Gulf, a few thousand miles from where they first predicted it would plummet
Comments
First they down our planes, then they try to suppress the freedom of press outside of their own borders. The communist invasion has started! McCarthy was right, we need to restart HUAC now!
Starring Jean Claude Van Damme
Coming July 2009.
Tremble.
Were they trying to kill them or do they just have no idea how cold blooded animals work?
I wonder who's gonna get it first.
This is "somewhat amusing"?!?
Meh?
It is until it lands in a populated area, then it becomes "fucked up".
Universe will eventually implode on itself