Indian news anchor sacked for calling Chinese president "Eleven Jinping"

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Indian TV news anchor fired after calling Xi Jinping 'Eleven'

Newsreader mistakes Chinese president's name for Roman numerals following his visit to India to boost economic ties


Chinese President Xi Jinping at a welcome ceremony in New Delhi. Photograph: Xinhua/Landov/Barcroft Media

An Indian TV news anchor has been sacked after she referred to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, as Eleven Jinping, apparently confusing Xi's name with the Roman numerals XI, a senior official at the state television channel said on Friday.

Xi left India on Friday after a visit to boost trade and economic ties that have been marred by a longstanding border dispute. The blooper occurred on Doordarshan News on Wednesday.

"It is an unpardonable mistake," the official said. "We have debarred her from newsreading for a few months."

The official said the anchor had been employed on a casual basis, after a shortage of newsreaders forced the channel to run some news bulletins with casuals.

The incident comes at a time when Doordarshan News is trying to reinvent itself to compete with private broadcasters. Its programmes are often a matter of public ridicule for their poor production quality.

The gaffe led to a wave of sarcastic comments on social media. "The silver lining: at least the anchor knows Roman numerals," @kanikagahlaut posted on Twitter.



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