Journalists sued for £2m over Apple factory story

Now here's a bizarre globalisation tale that is also very worrying. Two Chinese journalists have had their assets frozen after being sued for 30m yuan (£2m) in a defamation case filed by an Apple iPod manufacturer. The saga began in June with the publication of a story in China Business News which alleged that low-paid workers in a Shenzhen factory run by Foxconn were subjected to harsh conditions. The Taiwanese company immediately denied the allegations, and an Apple Inc. investigation also exonerated Foxconn. Though the journalists have not even received a summons, a court froze their assets pending a full hearing. It would take an average Chinese reporter 600 years to earn 30m yuan. (Via Xinhuanet.com)