TheNuze.com

Beijing - Chinese State Television has confirmed that Northern Irish music legend Van Morrison was arrested late yesterday and held on charges stemming from a 1972 warrant.  British Ambassador to the PRC, Lord Whilton-Hume, and a Northern Ireland special envoy met through the night with leaders in Beijing in an attempt to resolve the situation.  As part of the deal to secure his freedom, Morrison agreed to release the following statement.  "I deeply regret any pain and suffering that I may have caused to the people of this great land and I hereby undertake never again to use the phrase 'all the tea in Chiney', in Tupelo Honey or any other song, or to use any similarly playful mispronunciation in reference to China, her people, or her beverage seasonings."