Real-Life Love Stories That Will Remind You True Love Does Exist

     A long time ago, someone told me one of the truest love stories. It was this: the real value of your life is how well you loved and were loved back. In an age where people, places and moments are too easily replaced, societal norm has acclimatized to a kind of social media dating that is anything but normal. I have often pondered what impact this modern re-invention of romance would have on me if I were 10-years-old today. I grew up where liking a boy meant a stomach of fluttering butterflies if he looked at me. At 10-years-old, my idea of romance or love stories was the way your reflection danced into someone’s eyes and how that made you feel. I have never stopped believing that or living by that.

Here are some inspiring love stories to restore that faith in love that the 10-year-old you had:

1. True love knows no obstacles or distance.

     Despite abject poverty and social stigmas of his “untouchable” caste, Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia1 earned a place as a student at the College of Art in New Delhi. Following his painting of Indira Gandhi, many people wanted him to draw them. One of those was Charlotte Von Schedvin, who was traveling in India. They soon fell in love and got married. Charlotte, however, had to return home to Sweden. She offered to pay for Pradyumna’s plane ticket, but he had too much pride to accept and promised he would make the money on his own. After a year, he had still not saved enough. Selling all of his possessions, he made enough to buy a bicycle. He then cycled for four months and three weeks, covering 4,000 miles across Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Germany, Austria, and Denmark to get to Sweden. They are still happily married 40 years later, and live in Sweden with their two children. Pradyumna became a well-known artist and is a cultural ambassador. When asked about his arduous journey, his reply was, “I did what I had to, I had no money but I had to meet her. I was cycling for love, but never loved cycling. It’s simple.”

2. You are never too old to find love.

         In 1946, Anna and Boris had only been married for 3 days in Serbia when he left for the army.2 Afterwards, Anna and her family were exiled and despite both their frantic searching, the two were unable to find each other. Years passed and they both married other people, yet neither forgot their first love. When their spouses had died and after 60 years, they coincidentally visited their hometown at the same time. When Boris saw her, he ran up to her and said: ‘My darling, I’ve been waiting for you for so long. My wife, my life…’”

They remarried not long after.

3. Love as first sight does exist.

        Nacho Figueras is universally recognizable as the polo player with the striking model looks, featured in many of the “Polo by Ralph Lauren” adverts.3 He first saw Delfina Blaquier in their native Argentina when they were just teenagers. He knew immediately that he would marry her and decided to pursue her properly. Every night, he would travel for almost 2 hours to see her, after working all day at a ranch. He would sit with her on her porch and play his guitar to her for a short while, before going home to sleep for another long day at work. The couple married in 2004 and have since had four children

4. True love means loving each other until the very end.

         Princess Charlotte was the daughter of George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) and Caroline of Brunswick.4 She was the future heir to the throne and was adored by the people, which was a stark contrast to the rest of the Royal family who were loathed. Her upbringing was turbulent amidst her warring parents. At 17-years-old, Charlotte was pressured into agreeing to marry a Prince she didn’t like, until she met the handsome and dashing Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Her father finally relented and permitted her to marry the impoverished Leopold.

Following their wedding and two miscarriages, Charlotte again became pregnant with the entire country elated.

       In 1817, at 21-years-old and after two days of a difficult labor, Charlotte delivered a stillborn 9-pound son by breech birth. Prince Leopold was so worried that he refused to leave his wife’s side and insisted on helping her–something that was unheard of at the time. After the third day, Charlotte’s condition seemingly improved. Leopold was urged to take an opiate to rest, as he had not slept for 3 days. Unfortunately, Charlotte’s condition worsened and it was not possibly to rouse the sleeping Leopold as she died.

      Her death elicited international grieving on an even bigger scale than Princess Diana’s. Britain ran out of black cloth because everyone wore black–even the homeless found black scraps to tie around his or her arms. Prince Leopold plunged into depression and eventually took a mistress who resembled Charlotte. Years later, he remarried and named his daughter Charlotte. The Princess’ final wish before dying was for Leopold to be buried beside her when his time came. Shortly before he died, he asked Queen Victoria for this wish to be fulfilled but it was denied. His last words were: “Charlotte Charlotte”.

5. Remembering your love stories will keep love alive.

      Jack and Phyllis Potter met in 1941.5 Jack frequently wrote in his diary about their story and continued to do so for his whole life. After seventy years together, Phyllis had to be moved to a nursing home as her dementia became too much for Jack to deal with alone. Unperturbed, Jack visited her daily and read to her each day from his diaries to help her to remember their love and life.

6. Young romance can stand the test of time.

       Kate Middleton was just 19-years-old in 2001 when she first met Prince William, where they both studied at St. Andrews University.6

        Unfortunately, the pressures of the media and a long distance relationship caused them to split up in 2007. They, however, decided to get back together later in the same year. Prince William eventually proposed in 2010 with the late Princess Diana’s famous sapphire engagement ring. And in 2011, millions all across the world watched their wedding ceremony that culminated with “that kiss” on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

7. Love stories that are worth it, are worth the wait.

       In the 1974, Irina and Woodford McClellan got married in Moscow.7 Woodford, an American, had to return to the USA when his visa expired. He was repeatedly denied returning to Russia, and she was likewise refused entry to the USA. It took 11 years of phone calls and letters to each other and unwavering endeavors before they were in 1986 in the United States. Final Words: Live, Laugh, and Love For those who have found love, remember the beauty of being in love is finding new ways to keep falling in love with that person.

       For those who are still looking for love, don’t let the cynicism of the social media generation to cloud your hopes. It’s true that love happens when you are not looking and when you least expect it. Have faith in yourself and in the love that you deserve. After all, you owe it to your 10-year-old self.

REFERENCES

Featured photo credit: Stocksnap via stocksnap.io

[1] BBC NEWS: The man who cycled from India to Europe for love

[2] Telegraph: Russian couple reunited after 60 years apart

[3] This Glamorous: great love stories № 02 | nacho figueras & delfina blaquier

[4] QAB: The Tragic Life Story of Princess Charlotte

[5] ABC News: Jack Potter Reads 75 Years of Diaries to Wife With Dementia

[6] Express: William and Kate: The story so far

[7] People: Kept Apart by An Iron Curtain for a Dozen Years, the Mcclellans Overcome the Trauma of Reunion

Click here: http://dialynewsonline.blogspot.com/

5/08/2017 09:11:00 PM ·   0

South Africa's Zuma makes U-turn over Nkandla revamp money

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has made a U-turn in court over his refusal to repay some of the $23m (£15m) of state money used to upgrade his home.

His lawyer admitted he was wrong to ignore an anti-corruption watchdog's report to pay back money spent on features such as a swimming pool.

The opposition brought the case, hoping it will open the way for impeachment proceedings against the president. Thousands of people protested outside court, shouting "Zuma must fall".

Police put up a strong show of force, as the protesters, led by Julius Malema's left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), marched to the court in the main city, Johannesburg.

The protest was against "corruption and cronyism" in government, the EFF said. The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) also organised its own demonstration.

The governing African National Congress (ANC) denounced the marches as a "political exercise".

'Unlawful enrichment'

The opposition parties want the Constitutional Court to rule that Mr Zuma flouted the constitution by ignoring a 2014 report by the anti-corruption watchdog, known as the Public Protector, that he should repay the money, as he had "unduly benefited" from the upgrade.

At the time, the police minister defended the expenditure as necessary security upgrades, saying the swimming pool was, in fact, a fire pool that could be used in the event a fire broke out at the residence in Mr Zuma's home village of Nkandla. An amphitheatre, cattle enclosure and chicken run were also built.

Mr Zuma's lawyer Jeremy Gauntlett conceded in court that the report was "binding" on the president, and he was prepared to repay the money within 90 days. However, he denied that Mr Zuma had violated the constitution.

---

Analysis: Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Johannesburg

The admission by Mr Zuma's lawyer was shocking: The president was legally bound to accept the findings of the Public Protector's report, entitled Secure in Comfort.

This was a massive U-turn, as Mr Zuma had until now argued that the report contained mere recommendations, lacking the status of a court order.

Looking at Mr Malema, I could only conclude that he was rubbing his hands with glee as the drama unfolded in court.

The EFF now smells blood - it hopes South Africa's highest court will go as far as to rule that the president breached the constitution and therefore violated his oath of office. The opposition would then no doubt demand the president's impeachment.

For now, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko's position is most tenuous. He was at the forefront of the campaign to rubbish the Public Protector's report. It is difficult to see how he can remain in the post.

The saga has become a major political scandal, at one point sparking scuffles inside parliament.

EFF lawyer Wim Trengrove told the court the president had defied the Public Protector to unlawfully "enrich himself", South Africa's private News24 website reports.

"His conduct at the time and response to the report was in violation of the constitution," Mr Trengrove is quoted as telling the judges.

The case comes at a difficult time for Mr Zuma, who has also been under fire over his handling of the finance ministry, after he sacked two ministers in a week last year.

Many South Africans also accuse his government of not doing enough to tackle corruption and poverty.

2/15/2016 06:09:00 AM ·   0

Star Wars prosecuted over Harrison Ford injury

The production company behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens is being prosecuted over the incident in which Harrison Ford broke his leg.

The actor was struck by a hydraulic metal door on the Pinewood set of the Millennium Falcon in June 2014.

The Health And Safety Executive has brought four criminal charges against Foodles Production (UK) Ltd - a subsidiary of Disney.

Foodles Production said it was "disappointed" by the HSE's decision. Following the incident, Ford was airlifted to hospital for surgery.

Following an investigation, the HSE said it believed there was sufficient evidence about the incident which left Ford with serious injuries, to bring four charges relating to alleged health and safety breaches.

A spokesperson added: "By law, employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers - this is as true on a film set as a factory floor."

Foodles Production is the company responsible for producing Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, and as such is culpable under health and safety law.

Representatives of the production company will appear at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 12 May.

A spokesman for Foodles Production said: "Cast and crew safety is always a top priority. We provided full co-operation during HSE's investigation into the on-set accident that occurred in June 2014 and are disappointed in HSE's decision."

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. The eagerly anticipated movie is the most successful film ever at the UK box office and has taken more than $2bn worldwide.

Production of Star Wars: Episode VIII has already got under way at Pinewood, and is due for release in December 2017.

2/15/2016 06:04:00 AM ·   0

New Zealand cliffs collapse in Christchurch earthquake

Cliffs have collapsed in New Zealand during an earthquake in the city of Christchurch on the South Island.

No serious damage or fatalities were reported in the Valentine's Day quake that struck at 13:13 local time (00.13 GMT).

Beaches to the east of Christchurch were busy with swimmers and surfers when rocks began to fall into the sea.

The 5.7 magnitude quake occurred days before the anniversary of a deadly one in 2011. That destroyed the city centre and killed 185 people.

New Zealand lies on the notorious Ring of Fire, the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.

New Zealand's seismological body GNS Science classified Sunday's earthquake as "severe", recording that it took place at a depth of 15km (nine miles) and 15km to the east of the city.

Resident Stephen O'Dwyer said he was on the beach with his wife walking their dog when the cliff in Sumner started to collapse.

"The ground started to go soft. Water was coming up under the sand and people were sinking down to the ankles as the ground went soft. It shook for about 20 seconds," he told the CBD.

The quake sent large clouds of dust billowing over the suburb.

"I have to say that it was business as usual 15 minutes after the fact," said local Richard Loffhagen, who took a photograph of the dust and debris rising from Scarborough Beach.

During the tremor, which was reportedly felt across the South Island, some shops in Christchurch were evacuated and photos on social media showed items that had fallen off shelves.

A Polish couple posted a clip on YouTube showing the cracks their house suffered, saying it was their first experience of an earthquake in Christchurch and they had not expected it to be so intense.

2/15/2016 06:01:00 AM ·   0

Germany train crash: Inquiry focus 'on signalling error'

A signal controller is at the heart of the German investigation into a Bavarian train disaster which claimed 10 lives, media reports say.

German police have so far rejected as speculation the reports that the controller turned off an automatic safety system shortly before the crash.

But unnamed sources have told German media that a human signalling error may have led to the two passenger trains colliding on a single track on Tuesday.

The trains crashed head-on while both were travelling at about 100km/h (62mph) east of Bad Aibling, a spa town about 60km south-east of Munich.

A teenage girl as well as both train drivers and two train guards were among those killed.

Eighteen people were seriously hurt.

Investigators will have to find out why a train that left Holzkirchen travelling east to Rosenheim was on the single track at 06:48, four minutes after it was due to reach its next stop at Kolbermoor, where it would have met the westbound train on a double track.

The westbound train from Rosenheim to Holzkirchen would have left Kolbermoor at 06:45 and would have been expected to be on the single track at the time of the accident.

The controller's role was initially highlighted by newspaper group RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), which quoted sources suggesting the safety system had been switched off to allow the eastbound train through on the single track line because it was several minutes late.

That would also have made the automatic braking system inactive. That braking system, known as PZB, is supposed to kick in when a train runs through a red light and was installed after a 2011 disaster at Magdeburg in which 10 people died.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, citing a well-informed source, alleged that when the signal controller had realised his mistake it was too late.

A police spokesman rejected the theory as "pure speculation".

"Discard that, we reject that," a spokesman told local broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.

What we know

• The accident occurred on a single-track route between Rosenheim and Holzkirchen at 06:48 local time (05:48 GMT)
• Officials say they assume both train drivers had no visual contact before the crash as the site is on a bend - and therefore crashed into each other largely without braking
• The stretch of line had an automatic braking system designed to halt any train that passed a stop signal. It is not yet known why this failed to stop the crash
• Two of the three data recorders or "black boxes" on board the trains have been recovered

---

Police said the controller had been questioned on Tuesday as part of the inquiry but insisted there was no immediate suspicion towards him.

However, as the investigation was in its early stages, nothing could be ruled out. It has also emerged that the automatic system was tested last week.

Investigators have so far found two "black box" data recorders and are looking for a third.

Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters on Wednesday that the first black box had already been analysed. No technical fault or evidence of driver error had been found on the westbound train, he said.

But the eastbound train's data recorder may be of more importance, as it was travelling late when the two trains crashed head-on.

Police said on Wednesday that the search for victims in the wreckage had been completed. None of those being treated in hospital was in a life-threatening condition, they added.

The trains collided in a hilly and densely wooded region near the Mangfall river, and the difficult terrain made the rescue operation difficult.

A 160-tonne crane arrived at the scene of the disaster on Wednesday, as salvage workers prepared to remove the two mangled trains from the track. The work was expected to last at least two days.

---

Germany's rail safety mechanism

In case signals fail, German railways are fitted with a final safety guard to prevent crashes.

Cab signalling known as PZB (Punktfoermige Zugbeeinflussung - or "intermittent train control") will set off an alarm in the driver's compartment when the train approaches a red light. If the driver does not respond by pressing a button, the train will brake automatically.

Who operates the signals ?

Other fatal German train crashes

• January 2011: 10 killed at Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt when commuter train collides with goods train after driver runs through two signals
• February 2000: Nine dead when overnight train from Amsterdam to Basel crashes near Cologne
• June 1998: 101 killed when a high-speed train with a broken wheel derails and smashes into a bridge at Eschede in Lower Saxony

2/13/2016 09:28:00 PM ·   0

Norway seeks to diversify its economy as oil earnings plunge

Looking out across the Oslo fjord, with its islands and sandy beaches, it is easy to forget that the Norwegian economy is in difficulty.

As oil prices have collapsed, it's become clear that Norway has caught what used to be called the Dutch disease - an overreliance on one industry, in this case the oil and gas sector.

With its upmarket waterfront restaurants and the Barcode office blocks, the Sorenga dockside development serves as a poignant reminder of how prosperous Norway had become while the going was still good.

"Where once there was a container port, there is now housing," says Vibecke Lyse Augdal, managing director of property rentals company Utleiemegleren, as she takes in the view from a luxury flat at this natural extension to the east of Oslo's Fjord City development.

"We're just a few yards from the central station and the opera quarter, and soon we'll have the Munch museum and the Oslo public library here too."

As the Norwegian economy bounced back following the 2008 financial crisis, the Norwegian people enjoyed enviable prosperity.

Hence, at a time when much of the rest of the world was undergoing a prolonged period of painful economic austerity, Norway had money to burn on prestigious waterfront developments such as Sorenga.

Unbalanced economy

Buoyed by its all-important oil and gas sector, Norway seemed invincible during the boom years, as Brent crude oil prices surged from less than $40 a barrel in late 2008 to a peak of more than $120 in early 2011.

In the years that followed, Brent continued to trade between $100 and $120 a barrel, and Norway was repeatedly crowned as the world's most prosperous nation by the Prosperity Index.

Then, as oil prices started to fall in 2013, it became apparent that beyond the glitz, the Norwegian economy had become incredibly unbalanced.

"The oil and gas industry became too strong in our economy, especially during the last four or five years, reflects Prime Minister Erna Solberg in an interview with the BBC News website.

"Most of the growth came from that sector, and our strong currency left some of our traditional industries behind."

Wake-up call

In the last couple of years, the price of oil has tumbled to around $30. During this period, the Norwegian energy giant Statoil, along with others in the industry, has axed thousands of jobs and scaled back contracts with suppliers.

In 2015 Statoil's earnings plunged, and it recorded a net loss of 37bn kroner($4.3bn; £2.98bn).

The pain has spread. Economic growth has slowed dramatically, and this "has led to an increase in the rate of unemployment, which went above 4% of the labour force in early 2015", according to a recent OECD report.

Investment levels throughout the economy have fallen too, by about a third since oil prices collapsed.

"This will be a long-term situation", laments Mrs Solberg. "We will not go back to the high investment level that we had three to four years ago."

Well-oiled exuberance

Some regions, especially Stavanger where Statoil is based, have been hit harder than others, such as Oslo.

But even here, there is a growing realisation that the prosperity enjoyed in recent years may have been temporary.

Three years ago, the Norwegian krone peaked at a 13-year high against key currencies, as the strong oil-fuelled economy provided a safe port for investors fleeing an international economic storm.

It made many Norwegians feel very wealthy indeed. Both holidays abroad and imported consumer goods seemed cheap, especially for the many dual-income households in this egalitarian nation, where salaries rose at a rate of 3-4% per year to reach an average of $33,492 in 2014, well above the OECD average of $25,492.

Both consumer spending and lending exploded during the boom years. House prices rose by about a third during the last six years.

Household debts have reached more than 200% of annual disposable income, making the Norwegians one of the most indebted people in Europe.

Much of this was fuelled by favourable tax rules for mortgages and historically low interest rates. But with most mortgages being floating rate, that could have a "significant macroeconomic" impact once interest rates start rising, the OECD has warned.

Diversification needed

The recent reversal in the Norwegian people's fortunes has already resulted in consumer sentiment weakening. House prices have all but stalled.

As yet there is little evidence of this in Oslo. House prices are holding up, as mortgage payments remain affordable thanks to historically low interest rates.

And on the High Street, most people are still spending - even those who have lost their jobs remain solvent thanks to generous benefits, and spending by the wealthy remains strong.

"Demand remains strong, so we haven't seen an impact yet," says one of the partners in an upmarket clothing and accessories shop. "It's worse on the purchasing side, as everything's become much more expensive because of the weak krone."

Ordinary people are also responding to a fall in the mighty krone to levels not seen in four decades, by taking holidays at home rather than going abroad.

Nevertheless, it is clear that Norway can no longer rely on oil to fuel growth in its economy. "None of us can be sure where the oil price will go," Mrs Solberg says. "The Norwegian economy has to diversify."

Broad consensus

At last month's Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise conference in Oslo, participants were left in no doubt about the seriousness of the situation.

The confederation's director general, Kristin Skogen Lund, broke with tradition and invited the leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, Gerd Kristiansen, to join her on stage.

"We have the highest unemployment levels since 1995, and many of those out of work are young," observed Mrs Skogen Lund.

"We agree that we must face the challenges together," Mr Kristiansen said.

The government and the central bank are also doing their bit to prevent a hard landing for the Norwegian economy.

Norges Bank reduced its key interest rate three times last year to just 0.75%, with further cuts on the horizon, and the government raided the country's seven trillion kroner ($820bn; £560bn) oil fund to pump cash into the economy.

"With growing unemployment, we need to use stimulus from the oil fund," Norway's prime minister tells the BBC, justifying the decision to fund investment and tax cuts by taking more money from the oil fund than it will put in from oil revenues, for the first time since the sovereign wealth fund's birth in 1998.

Economic stimulus

With business and labour on side, and Norges Bank committed to low interest rates, the government is orchestrating a transformation of the economy.

"Through the oil and gas sector, we have built a large services sector that can be used to support other sectors in the future," Mrs Solberg says,

She predicts growth in the aluminium industry, the healthcare sector and, not least, in fish farming and fisheries, at a time when a 4.5kg salmon, once packaged and processed, is worth more than a barrel of oil.

"In the long-term, Norway will have an economy that is more diversified, and that is greener," she says.

2/13/2016 09:25:00 PM ·   0

Krispy Kreme criticised over 'doughnut mountain'

Doughnut chain Krispy Kreme has been criticised for dumping a "mountain" of unwanted doughnuts outside one of its stores in Bristol.

Dozens of bags discarded sweet treats were photographed piled-up outside a shop in Avon Meads on Monday morning.

Chris Clewes said he was so disgusted by the "heaps of wasted doughnuts" - he took a picture and posted it online.

Krispy Kreme said there had been a problem with their recycling process which has since been resolved.

Mr Clewes said he had been getting a coffee when he spotted around 50 bags of "waste doughnuts" stacked up on top of a pallet and four large bins.

"I was absolutely flabbergasted. I reckon there were about 200 doughnuts in each bag - if not more," he said.

"I've done some quick maths and I reckon there were about 15,000 doughnuts being wasted there."

'Not waste'

Hattie Parke, from the charity FoodCycle in Bristol - which creates community meals from surplus food - said she was not surprised by the "mountain of doughnuts" as firms "put in such strict quality standards".

"We're getting all of this food that's deemed waste but it's not waste, it's food and should be eaten," she said.

"I would like to see Krispy Kreme working with charities to redistribute this food."

Krispy Kreme said it sends its unsold doughnuts to be recycled into "animal feed" but recently it had changed its processes and now takes waste directly to Portbury Docks for recycling.

"Initially, due to the security protocols at the docks, we were unable to gain access this weekend," the spokesperson said.

"As a result the waste in the photograph is from Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This has now been resolved so that our drivers will be able to access the recycling facility over the weekend."

2/13/2016 09:23:00 PM ·   0

The kowtow of a Chinese son and the debate about respect

Stark images of a Chinese man kowtowing to his elderly parents at a railway station has moved many online to debate the concept of filial piety and its place in modern China.

A virtue advocated by the ancient Chinese sage and philosopher Confucius, it promotes absolute respect to elders, particularly parents and ancestors.

On 10 February, Qilu Evening Post, a regional paper in eastern Shandong Province, shared pictures of 46-year-old Zhang Jinli, who works for a pharmaceutical company in Beijing, virtually prostrate on the station floor at his parents' feet.

He was apparently begging his parents, who are both in their eighties, for forgiveness. The paper reported that Mr Zhang was "emotional, did not think that he had been a filial son, and believed that he had been unworthy to his parents".

Such an overt and profound display of filial piety was praised as a "touching scene" by many social media users, but some chimed in asking whether it was "a bit much".

More than 7,500 users of Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese social media forum, used the hashtag #StationManKneelstoParents, discussing the importance of showing respect to your elders.

Filial piety

The concept of filial piety goes back to 400 BC and is a core virtue of Confucianism, described in the early works of China's best-known philosopher.

Respect towards parents, elders and ancestors are considered key values in Chinese society and culture, and are commonly the subject of debate on Chinese social media.

In September, the hashtag #SaveMotherOrGirlfriend trended, with thousands of Sina Weibo users debating who they would save if one of the two were drowning.

The majority of users said that they would save their mother, saying that you can "always find another girlfriend", or your partner might not be "the one", showing how important the concept remains in contemporary Chinese society.

But it has also been heavily contested following a string of incidents earlier in the year, which saw Chinese elders reacting violently to younger people not giving up their seats on public transport, with social media users asking whether the concept can be followed blindly without question.

In August, a middle-aged woman beat and stripped a younger girl on the Wuhan subway for not letting her sit down.

And in July, an elderly man in Harbin hit a young girl for not giving up her seat on a bus.

It has also has been a recurring theme in Chinese soap operas and dramas, with relationships tested because a mother cannot approve her child's fiancée, and the boyfriend or girlfriend having to win their future in-law's respect.

Online debate

Despite the Qilu Evening Post reporting that Zhang had not visited his parents in four years, by kneeling to his parents, he warmed the hearts of Chinese social media users.

Popular comments said that his conduct was a "good move" and commended him for his actions, which they said showed "the greatest courtesy".

"You can miss the train, but filial piety cannot wait!" said one user, receiving more than 800 likes.

Another user said his behaviour was "indescribably sad". "No one wants to leave home and their parents. We love them, really love them." But he added that because the pressures of modern life to move away "life is not easy".

Other users contested his behaviour and asked whether his behaviour was a bid to grab attention.

"Filial piety can be expressed," said one user, "but doing this in a large area with a crowd, I inevitably suspect him of grandstanding".

2/13/2016 09:22:00 PM ·   0

Trident lets UK punch above weight - US defence secretary

Britain must keep its Trident nuclear weapons system if it wants to play a significant role in the world, the US defence secretary has said.

Ash Carter told the BBC it was an "important part of the deterrent structure of Nato" and allowed the UK to punch above its weight.

MPs are expected to vote this year on whether to back government plans to renew the UK's four Trident submarines. Labour is currently reviewing its support for the weapons.

Renewing the Trident fleet, which is due to become obsolete by the end of the next decade, is estimated by the government to cost £31bn, although opponents claim the final bill will be far higher.

Asked whether the UK should be investing in a new fleet of submarines amid stretched defence resources, Mr Carter replied unequivocally that it should.

He said Trident aided the UK's "special relationship" with the US and helped it "continue to play that outsized role on the global stage that it does because of its moral standing and its historical standing".

"It's important that the military power matches that standing and so we're very supportive of it," he said.

Underwater drones claim

Mr Carter said the UK and US each had independent authority to use Trident but were "dependent upon one another industrially".

"We depend upon the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom depends on us, that's part of the special relationship," he told the BBC. "We build joint strike fighters together, we build Trident missiles together."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is a longstanding opponent of nuclear weapons and has commissioned a review by shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry.

But some of the party's MPs and peers have threatened to resign if it reverses its decades-long support for the missiles. Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, who backs renewal, recently indicated it may be "impossible" for Labour to reach an agreed position on Trident.

The US defence secretary was asked about Ms Thornberry's suggestion that underwater drones could be able to detect submarines in future, making them vulnerable to attack and obsolete.

Mr Carter, who this week attended a meeting with Nato defence ministers in Brussels, said the ability of submarines to "operate stealthily" was proven.

"We are, in fact, making large investments in undersea forces because of their survive-ability, as well as their power," he said.

What is Trident?

Image copyrightMOD

Since 1969, according to government documents, a British submarine carrying nuclear weapons has always been on patrol, gliding silently beneath the waves, somewhere in the world's oceans.

The logic is to deter a nuclear attack on the UK because, even if the nation's conventional defence capabilities were destroyed, the silent submarine would still be able to launch a catastrophic retaliatory strike on the aggressor, a concept known as mutually assured destruction.

Four UK submarines carry up to eight Trident missiles; each can be fitted with a number of warheads.

2/13/2016 09:20:00 PM ·   0