CNN Apologizes to China for 'Goons' Remark

Chinese Americans upset over pundit's remarks

(NEWSER) - Thousands of protesters demonstrated in Hollywood today over recent anti-China remarks by CNN commentator Jack Cafferty, the Los Angeles Times reports. The crowd chanted "Fire Cafferty" and sang Chinese songs outside the CNN building in Hollywood. "We understand free speech," one protester said. "But what if Cafferty said this about other racial groups? I think he would be fired." More»

The big names who've gotten in hot water overseas

(NEWSER) - Robin Williams’ comment to David Letterman last week that “Australians are basically English rednecks” set off quite a chain reaction—the Australian prime minister is mad at Williams, and the Alabama governor is mad at the Australian PM for implying Alabamians are the real rednecks. The Daily Beast rounds up a dozen more diplomatic scandals in the celebrity world:

• Adam Carolla: The Filipino people weren’t too happy last week when the comedian railed about boxer Manny Pacquiao being the only thing the country has to offer: “They got this and sex tours, that’s all they have over there. Get your shit together, Philippines. Jesus Christ. I mean, again, it’s fine to be proud of your countrymen. But that’s it? That’s all you got?”
• Richard Gere: When he kissed Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty in 2007, protesters in India shouted “Death to Shilpa Shetty!” and burned effigies of Gere.

Would-be pol threatens to discuss hit-and-run bust...whoops

(NEWSER) - CNN’s Jack Cafferty sneered at Alec Baldwin’s possible entry into politics yesterday, noting that while newly sworn-in Sen. Al Franken is “Harvard educated,” Baldwin’s “credentials are questionable”—and the NYU grad is having none of it. “Perhaps New York University should print on its undergraduate drama degrees ‘Warning: the bestowing of this degree precludes you from seeking any public office per Jack Cafferty,’ the actor writes for the Huffington Post. More»

Beijing accuses Pentagon of 'Cold War thinking'

(NEWSER) - A Pentagon report on China's military power that warned of "disruptive" new nuclear, space, and cyber programs has provoked angry criticism from Beijing, who accused the defense department of "Cold War thinking," reports Reuters. The report says that China has been successfully expanding its weapons arsenal, though its ability to wage war remains limited. That led the Chinese foreign ministry to blast the Pentagon for "a gross distortion of the facts." More»

Angry Internet users postpone hacking; isolated incidents cause little trouble

(NEWSER) - A group of cyberattackers called off a planned virtual onslaught of CNN's main webpage yesterday as excess publicity caused confusion, ComputerWorld reports. A group called Revenge of the Flame wrote that "Our original plan for 19 April has been canceled because too many people are aware of it and the situation is chaotic," but threatened a renewed offensive sometime soon. More»