STORY TO BE TOLD

BEIJING (AFP) - A Chinese manufacturer has been faking the production date on its food to make it appear fresher than it really is, state media said on Thursday, in the latest safety scare to hit China's food industry.

The Douqule Food Factory used chemicals to erase the production date from packaging before printing a new, later one, making stale foods appear fresh, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Authorities only discovered the scam after two female employees who burned their hands using paint thinner to change the date printed on the packaging sued the company for compensation, the report said.

'Many people - from big enterprises to small vendors - know very well that the shelf life of foods could be changed (that way),' a food packaging machine maker in Beijing told the agency.

Source: The Straits Times

-- PHOTO: FACEBOOK

A High Court suit is set to be a test case for whether gifts in cash and kind are returnable after a romantic relationship hits the rocks.

The suit in question involves gifts ranging from sparkly baubles and tech toys to condominium deposit payments and even investments in the production of music videos.

Widower Chan Kok Sang, an accountant in his 60s, reckons he must have spent about $400,000 on divorcee Caroline Tong during their courtship, in the belief that she would marry him.

BACKGROUND STORY

Amount he spent on her

TOTAL: $397,182.42

WIDOWER Chan Kok Sang, an accountant in his 60s, courted real estate agent Caroline Tong (left) in style. Now the couple have split up, he is suing her for a sum reflecting the value of the gifts and other expenditures. The following were the items he bought her, and their cost:

Property purchase deposits: $74,095.56
Cost of producing her VCDs: $79,200
Dental charges: $3,000
Money transfers: $11,638.35
Loan for purchase of Mercedes: $21,324.67
Beds and cupboards: $8,367.40
Watches: $34,003.70
Spa treatments: $4,911.80
Notebook, iPad and similar items: $6,686
Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Gucci goods: $21,430.25
Jewellery: $90,688
Miscellaneous items, including clothes from boutiques and facials: $41,836.69
BACKGROUND STORY

COUNTER-CLAIM

Ms Tong is making a counter-claim for half the proceeds from the sale of a $1.24 million condominium unit in Keppel Bay, a property registered in both their names.

Now that she is not going to do so, he considers what he gave her to be 'friendly loans' which are to be repaid. Ms Tong, a real estate agent in her 40s, denies the claims. Her argument is that the items were unconditional presents given during their relationship.

Source: The Straits Times

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Prosecutors say an Alaska woman committed child abuse by squirting hot sauce in the mouth of her adopted Russian son in a case that came under international scrutiny after a Dr Phil episode.

Cynthia Franklin told a jury on Wednesday that Jessica Beagley was punishing the boy for lying about getting in trouble in school. Ms Franklin also says Beagley made the boy stand naked in a cold shower for getting in trouble.

Beagley is charged with misdemeanour child abuse. Her lawyer says she was not being cruel when punishing her son, but was desperate to address difficult behaviour.

Dr Phil viewers alerted Anchorage police after an episode aired that included a videotape of Beagley punishing her son

Source: The Straits TImes