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| US accused over Afghan casualties An Afghan MP has accused US troops of killing ten civilians - mostly schoolchildren - in an attack at the weekend. news.bbc.co.uk |
KFC accused of racism over Australian ad KFC advert showing Australian cricket fan placating West Indies supporters with chicken has caused anger in AmericaThe Australian arm of the fast-food chain KFC has been accused of racial insensitivity over a television commercial showing an outnumbered white cricket fan handing out pieces of fried chicken to appease a dancing, drumming and singing group of black West Indian supporters.Aired as part of a series called "KFC's cricket survival guide", the 30-second clip depicts an uncomfortable looking man named Mick wearing a green and yellow Australian cricket shirt, surrounded on all sides in a cricket stand by high spirited Caribbean fans."Need a tip when you're stuck in an awkward situation?" Mick asks. He then passes round a bucket of KFC chicken, the drumming stops and he remarks: "Too easy."Although intended only for an Antipodean audience, the clip has quickly found its way around the world on the internet, prompting stinging criticism in the US where fried chicken remains closely associated with age-old racist stereotypes about black people in the once segregated south.A writer at one US newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, questioned whether the ad was a spoof, remarking: "If it is a genuine KFC advertisement, it could be seen as racially insensitive."Another on-line commentator, Jack Shepherd of BuzzFeed, asks: "What's a white guy to do when he finds himself in a crowd full of black folks? KFC has the answer."KFC Australia has come out fighting, saying that the commercial was a "light-hearted reference to the West Indian cricket team" that had been "misinterpreted by a segment of people in the US."The company said: "The ad was reproduced online in the US without KFC's permission, where we are told a culturally-based stereotype exists, leading to the incorrect assertion of racism."We unequivocally condemn discrimination of any type and have a proud history as one of the world's leading employers for diversity."In the Australian media, the reaction has been mixed, with some commentators accusing Americans of "insularity". Brendon O'Connor, an associate professor at the University of Sydney, told 9 Network News that the association between fried chicken and ethnic minorities was a distinctly US issue: "They have a tendency to think that their history is more important than that of other countries."The flare-up comes three months after another racial controversy between Australia and the US in which the American singer Harry Connick Jr, appearing as a judge on an Australian television talent show, reacted strongly to a skit in which a group of singers appeared with blacked up faces to emulate the Jackson Five.On the show, called "Hey, Hey It's Saturday", Connick gave the group zero points and demanded an apology from the broadcaster, remarking: "If they turned up looking like that in the United States, it would be like 'hey, hey, there's no more show'."Food & drink industryAdvertisingRace issuesAustraliaUnited StatesAndrew Clarkguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Cadbury attacks track record of Kraft bosses Confectioner mounts last-ditch defence against hostile £10.8bn takeoverCadbury launched a renewed onslaught on Kraft Food's hostile £10.8bn bid for the UK confectionary company today, criticising the predator's financial and management track record.The attack came on the last day that Cadbury was able to bolster its defence against Kraft, which revealed its interest in a takeover in early September, but on terms that the British company has always described as "derisory".Roger Carr, Cadbury chairman, said that since Kraft's flotation in New York nine years ago, the shares had underperformed its global peer group by 42%. Since 2004, Cadbury's revenues had risen 50% faster than Kraft's and that while Kraft's underlying trading profit between 2004 and 2008 had been "basically flat," Cadbury's had grown by 31%. Kraft's margins had declined, while Cadbury had made solid progress, he claimed.He said: "Kraft's track record does not fill you with confidence; they have promised much but delivered less."Cadbury yesterday published 2009 figures which showed that sales were up around 5% on 2008, while margins and trading profits had also improved. It promised that the 2009 dividend would jump by 10% against 2008.Kraft said: "Cadbury's final defence document is underwhelming. They have said little that is new and have ducked the issue of profitability in 2010. We continue to believe the certainty and upside potential provided by our offer remains the best option for Cadbury's shareholders."Separately, Professor Chris Bones, dean of Henley Business School, raised the vexed question of whether a takeover of the iconic British chocolate factory, founded by Quakers nearly 200 years ago, was in the national interest. Bones flagged up the danger of Kraft closing Cadbury's research and development operation at Reading University during a submission to the parliamentary business, innovation and skills committee.He said: "This centre interacts with the university's world-renowned food science and agriculture departments and through joint research and other activities has contributed to the creation of a centre of excellence for the UK."Last week Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, repeated his warning that the government might not sit idly by if the reason for Kraft's takeover of Cadbury was merely to make "a fast buck".Carr was tight-lipped about the possibility of a "white knight" bid for Cadbury by Hershey of the US or Ferrero of Italy. Both Ferrero and Hershey are said to have lined up funding for a possible bid, but neither has decided whether to push ahead with a formal offer.They are expected to wait until after 19 January, the deadline for Kraft to increase its offer to meet concern among Cadbury's City shareholders that it is attempting to acquire the firm on the cheap.CadburyKraftMergers and acquisitionsUnited StatesRichard Wachmanguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Evolution goes from foot to hand The evolution of human hands was a "side-effect" of evolutionary changes in our feet, according to research. news.bbc.co.uk |
'Inglourious Basterds' wins SAG film award LOS ANGELES (AP) -- While Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock's chances for Academy Award gold were advanced with their trophies at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the blockbuster "Avatar" may have felt a touch blue.... hosted.ap.org |