Watch your mobile phone!

About 27 percent of smartphones have been equipped with malicious software, but their owners are unaware, Zaobao.com reported. Statistics from Frost & Sullivan, a survey company, showed at the end of June 2010 more than 1,600 pieces of malicious software had been intercepted in China, and the number could amount to 2,200-2,400 by the end of this year. It was said that a "black industry chain" has been formed and is developing gradually. Insiders estimate that money obtained from malicious software in mobile phones or the transmission of mobile-phone viruses could hit 1 billion yuan annually. Frost & Sullivan also predicted that by 2014 China would have become the largest mobile phone safety market, with 434 million Chinese mobile phone users adopting protective software to ensure safety.

East China braces for typhoon

Three tropical cyclones are gathering around the coastal area of East China and are threatening heavy rainstorms to several provinces, including Zhejiang, Shandong, Jiangsu and Fujian, according to Global Times, which cited the China Meteorological Centre.

Tropical storm No.7 Kompasu moved toward the East China Sea at a speed of 25 kph Tuesday, which will result in torrential rainstorms for Shanghai. Fujian Province was bracing itself to fight two tropical storms at the same time. No.8 Namtheun landed in northern Fujian last night, and No.6 Lionrock is expected to hit the border of Fujian and Guangdong provinces late tomorrow.

Excitement over Blair memoir

The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's memoir, A Journey, is stirring political passions even before it hits bookstores Wednesday, AP reported. Preview excerpts reveal that he has cried for soldiers and civilians killed in Iraq but still thinks it was right to invade and topple Saddam Hussein. But British booksellers are reporting heavy interest in the book, for which Blair was paid an estimated 4.6 million pounds. Billed by publisher Random House as a "frank, open" account of life at the top, A Journey is being published in a dozen countries, alongside an e-book and an audio version read by Blair himself.

Farmer on hunger strike dies

The 49-year-old Venezuelan farmer Franklin Brito died Monday at a Caracas military hospital where he had been taken against his will, Reuters reported. After some 59 acres of yucca and watermelon plantations on his land in southern Bolivar state were seized and occupied by neighbors in 2003, Brito began a series of protests. Before being taken to the military hospital at the end of last year, Brito camped for months outside the Caracas office of the Organization of American States, sewed his mouth shut for a hunger protest and even chopped off a finger in front of television cameras. The government has in the past said Brito was mentally unstable and that he had rejected their efforts to guarantee his land rights.

Tornado of fire in Hawaii

A tornado of fire tore through brush on Hawaii's Big Island; a terrifying combination of strong winds and brush fires have combined to create this extremely rare phenomenon, the Daily Mail reported. A camera captured swirls of thick, black smoke spinning in a vortex as flames soar more than 20ft from the ground. The brush fire destroyed around 1,400 acres and is still burning on parts of the island after the Department of Land and Natural Resources managed to contain 60 percent of the wildfires. No injuries have been reported by the blaze, but firefighters were forced to retreat a safe distance after the fire whirl was created.

Older people laugh at youth

Reuters reported that older people like reading negative news stories about their younger counterparts because it boosts their own self-esteem, according to a new study. German researchers said older people tend to be portrayed negatively in society. Although they are often described as wise, they are also shown as slow and forgetful. "Living in a youth-centered culture, they may appreciate a boost in self-esteem. That's why they prefer negative stories about younger people, who are seen as having a higher status in our society," said Dr. Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick of Ohio State University.

Deep-fried beer invented

A chef in Texas has created what he claims is the world's first recipe for deep-fried beer.

A chef in Texas has created what he claims is the world's first recipe for deep-fried beer, the Daily Telegraph reported. The beer is placed inside a pocket of salty, pretzel-like dough and then dunked in oil at 375 degrees for about 20 seconds, a short enough time for the confection to remain alcoholic. Inventor Mark Zable said a patent for the process is pending.

Hotel aims for better sex

A 3-star hotel in Qionghai City, Hainan Province, redecorated to cater to young couples who want a better sexual experience, local media reported. Rooms with queen-sized beds as well as double rooms got painted pink, and mirrors went up on walls. Rooms also feature special waterbeds, sex toys and adult videos.

Gmail starts to prioritize inbox

Google's Gmail launched a new "priority inbox" service Tuesday, according to the Daily Telegraph. The search giant uses a complex set of algorithms to analyze a user's email behavior and rank emails depending on their perceived importance in three categories from top to bottom: unread and important, starred and everything else.

Male prostitutes arrested in Spain

Spanish police have broken up a sex trafficking ring that brought Brazilian men to Spain to work as prostitutes, the BBC reported. Authorities arrested 14 people on suspicion of running the group and 17 alleged male prostitutes. The victims and their clients were supplied with cocaine, viagra and other recreational drugs. The victims had to work 24 hours a day and were moved from province to province.

Puerto Rico defeats China in hoops

AP reports that Puerto Rico Tuesday used a strong transition game to overcome China's size advantage to earn its first win at the basketball World Championship 84-76. China (1-2) relied heavily on seven-footers Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi to stay in the game, as the duo scored 20 of the team's 21 first-quarter points. But the quicker Puerto Ricans countered with fast breaks, and gained the upper hand. Yi finished with 24 points while Wang had 17.

Venice film festival opens

The 67th Venice International Film Festival opened Wednesday, Reuters reported. The thriller Black Swan, directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, officially kicked off the annual celebration of cinema, which will last for 11 days. Festival director Marco Mueller has opted for youth in his choice of directors of the 23 competition films, and he said he hopes the presence of Hollywood mavericks can make up for the expected shortage of A-list celebrities this year. The average age of filmmakers in the main competition is an unusually low 47. Hark Tsui's Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame is the only Chinese language film in the competition unit.

Shia LaBeouf earns studios most money

For the second straight year, Transformers star Shia LaBeouf topped a Forbes.com list of Hollywood's Best Actors for the Buck, Reuters reported. Based on the site's own calculations, for every US$1 the studios spent on LaBeouf, his films return about US$81 of profit. Anne Hathaway took the No. 2 spot, earning the studios US$64 off of her films for every dollar they spent for her. Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe was No. 3 this year, while Iron Man's Robert Downey Jr. nabbed fourth. Behind them, Cate Blanchett came in fifth and Meryl Streep and Jennifer Aniston were tied in sixth place.

(China.org.cn September 2, 2010)