10 officials lose jobs over sex-video scandal

Ten mid-ranking Chongqing officials have been sacked amid reports that more may be implicated in the sex-video scandal involving former Beibei district party chief Lei Zhengfu . The city's official news portal said last night the fired officials included Jiulongpo district party boss Peng Zhiyong, Bishan county party chief Fan Mingwen, Changshuo district government head Han Shuming and state-owned Southwest Securities' board director Luo Guang. The city government said on weibo that businessman Xiao Ye and others had been arrested on suspicion of blackmailing. Choi Chi-yuk

Banned author on Man Booker Prize shortlist

Banned author Yan Lianke is on the list of 10 nominees for this year's Man Booker International Prize, awarded every two years to a living author with a work of fiction originally published or generally available in English. Around 150 authors were considered for the prize, to be awarded in London on May 22, the judging panel said. Reuters

Life term confirmed for KMT rally gunman

Taiwan's Supreme Court ruled that a man who opened fire at an election rally, killing one person and injuring former vice-president Lien Chan's son, must serve a life sentence. The court confirmed a decision last year by the High Court, which convicted Lin Cheng-wei, 48, of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms. Lin claimed he was targeting a Kuomintang candidate with whom he had a dispute, but accidentally shot Sean Lien Sheng-wen in the face in 2010. The same bullet fatally hit a man in the crowd. AFP