World Briefs

A Chinese student is hoping to become a heroine for women around the world by launching an occupy movement of her own – in the men’s toilets.

Fed up with long queues for ladies’, Li Tingting made headlines when she and 20 women marched into a men’s public toilet in Guangzhou carrying colourful placards calling for equal waiting times for both sexes. Now, she plans to take her occupy protest to Beijing, where China’s leaders will gather next month for the annual meeting of the country’s rubber-stamp Parliament.

Local media reported after the protest that provincial officials in Guangzhou had responded by agreeing to increase the number of women’s toilets by 50 per cent.

Queen’s jubilee pottery collection

Queen Elizabeth may wish to add another crown to her collection after a ceramic piece to celebrate her diamond jubilee was unveiled yesterday.

Designed to hold sweets and other treats, the red and blue crown is part of a new Emma Bridgewater pottery collection designed to celebrate the historic event.

Decorated with bright colours, corgi dogs waving Union flags, lions, and the straplines “60 years a Queen” and “steadfast and true”, the collection arose from a love of Great Britain and the royals, Ms Bridgewater said.

Ms Bridgewater’s husband Matthew said,”It’s only happened once in recent history. In fact it’s only happened once before that someone’s been on the throne for 60 years – and that’s quite an extraordinary position. The position of the Queen now is quite different from Queen Victoria in 1897 – it’s a very different outlook and a very different Queen, and I think it’s worth celebrating.”

Prince Charles turns train driver

The Prince of Wales got the chance to drive a train yesterday at the Bombardier plant as part of a visit to Derbyshire to support British manufacturing.

Prince Charles visited Litchurch Lane in Derby, where he saw the full scope of the manufacturing process, including the design, construction and test areas. He chatted to staff including engineers, designers, project and manufacturing team members. After being shown around an S-Stock (sub surface) London Underground train on the assembly line, he was led to the test track to drive a model bound for the Metropolitan line in London.

The Prince sped down the track at 45mph with the help of driver Rag Gahonia. Mr Gahonia said: “I showed him how to drive and he followed all the instructions and was really good. Did it perfectly. Stopped nice and smoothly.”

University slammed over award

An Australian university has faced online criticism since it gave an honorary degree to the Malaysian Premier’s wife who has been ridiculed over reports of her excessive shopping sprees.

Western Australia’s Curtin University awarded Rosmah Mansor, wife of Prime Minister Najib Razak, an honorary degree for what it said were her contributions to early-childhood education.

But Rosmah is a controversial figure in Malaysia, where she is routinely portrayed as out of touch with ordinary Malaysians amid reports of her extravagant tastes.

Recent accusations include reports that Ms Mansor had spent tens of thousands of ­dollars on clothes from an Australian designer and bought a $24 million diamond ring and a $200,000 designer handbag.