Today's Links: Web addiction, Olympic pigs and Neanderthals

• China's growing web addiction [CBNnews.com]
  The Internet has revolutionized the way that millions in China communicate with the outside world. But for some Chinese teenagers the thrill of using the Internet came with a high price: addiction.


• China bloggers stew about Olympic pigs [Wall Street Journal]
  In recent weeks, news that hogs are being specially raised to feed the athletes at the next year's Beijing Olympics has spurred an outcry on the Internet. The pigs are reportedly being fed an organic diet and getting daily exercise, treatment that has China's bloggers variously mocking, lamenting and raging online.


• Neanderthals 'reached doorstep of China' [IOL]
  European Neanderthals, modern man's ill-fated cousins who died out mysteriously 28 000 years ago, migrated much farther east than previously thought, according to a study released on Sunday.


• Schwarzenegger leaves town during special session and goes to China [LA Times]
  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger jetted to Shanghai on Monday to help promote an event dear to his wife's family, taking a four-day break from the special legislative session that he called to address California's healthcare and water problems and leaving more than 600 bills awaiting action on his desk.


• Myanmar shopping in China continues [AP]
  Even as Myanmar's military government suppresses pro-democracy demonstrators, a steady stream of shoppers and traders flows from the Southeast Asian nation into Ruili, China.


• Philippine president visits China amid bribery scandal surrounding broadband contract [IHT]
  President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines left for a two-day visit to China Tuesday to boost trade and political ties amid a high-profile bribery scandal that led to the suspension of a broadband contract with a Chinese company.


• China’s southwest a safe haven for Myanmar’s Muslims [Daily Times, Pakistan]
  An amendment to the citizenship laws in 1982 deprived the Rohingyas of citizenship, suddenly making them illegal immigrants in their own home.


• China lawyer says he was beaten by thugs [AP]
  Li Heping, an outspoken Chinese lawyer said Wednesday he was abducted and beaten for hours, and accused of causing unrest by representing clients with complaints of official corruption and police abuse.

Photo from Mike Chen