World News Thread & Breaking News!!

[Equation]

The Contractor must have really sharpened his pencil. And they're blaming it on the Girls weight. She doesnt look overweight at all

Girl falls through pavement in China - video

Girl falls through pavement in China - video | World news | guardian.co.uk

A taxi driver rushed to the rescue of a girl who fell through a pavement while walking down a street in northern China. The pavement caved in under the teenager's weight as soon as she stepped onto a section of the walkway, surveillance camera footage shows. The cab driver stopped immediately at the scene and climbed into the six-metre deep pit to help the girl

It looks like she felled through a service man-hole or underground tunnel for civil maintenance facility. You see where the hole where she has fallen was made? It happens in the center of the section of what looks like a concrete panel when not supported by steel rebars or even some kind of beams. It's just thin concrete slab. I'm glad to see they got her out and kudos to the taxi driver for noticing it.

[Schumacher]

And they call Japan a rich and developed country. Maybe a rich country that still puts saving face above saving lives.
Expect the true figure to be many times higher than 1618 given the history of cover-ups.

Indirect disaster deaths reach 1,618 : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)

Indirect disaster deaths reach 1,618

The Yomiuri Shimbun

More than 1,600 people died in Tokyo and nine prefectures for reasons related to, but not as a direct result of, last year's Great East Japan Earthquake, according to the Reconstruction Agency.

Of the 1,618 people who died for disaster-related reasons as of March 31, Fukushima Prefecture topped the list with 764, followed by Miyagi Prefecture with 636 and Iwate Prefecture with 179. The three prefectures were hit hardest in the March 11, 2011 disaster.

Ibaraki Prefecture came in fourth with 29 people while three people died in each of Chiba and Nagano prefectures. Tokyo and three other prefectures--Yamagata, Saitama and Kanagawa--each reported one death from reasons associated with the disaster.

No specific criteria have been set to determine disaster-related deaths, but the 1,618 include people who died because they could not receive proper medical treatment after being forced to evacuate and those whose chronic diseases worsened while they were living in temporary housing. Suicides are also included in the number.

According to the National Policy Agency, the number of people who were killed or remain missing in the disaster was 18,914 as of Wednesday. This figure does not include those who died from reasons not directly related to the disaster.

Municipal governments tallied death tolls as of late March based mainly on the number of people who died from disaster-related injuries and whose families became eligible for condolence money.

After the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, out of 6,402 deaths in Hyogo Prefecture, 919 people were recognized as having died from quake-related reasons during a 10-year period after the disaster.

At a press conference after a Cabinet meeting Friday, Reconstruction Minister Tatsuo Hirano said, "We're working hard to keep survivors alive. We take [the figure] seriously."

"We'll investigate the cause of their deaths and step up measures [to prevent further deaths among] people in temporary housing," he added.
(Apr. 28, 2012)

[airsuperiority]

And they call Japan a rich and developed country. Maybe a rich country that still puts saving face above saving lives.
Expect the true figure to be many times higher than 1618 given the history of cover-ups.

Indirect disaster deaths reach 1,618 : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)

Indirect disaster deaths reach 1,618

The Yomiuri Shimbun

More than 1,600 people died in Tokyo and nine prefectures for reasons related to, but not as a direct result of, last year's Great East Japan Earthquake, according to the Reconstruction Agency.

Of the 1,618 people who died for disaster-related reasons as of March 31, Fukushima Prefecture topped the list with 764, followed by Miyagi Prefecture with 636 and Iwate Prefecture with 179. The three prefectures were hit hardest in the March 11, 2011 disaster.

Ibaraki Prefecture came in fourth with 29 people while three people died in each of Chiba and Nagano prefectures. Tokyo and three other prefectures--Yamagata, Saitama and Kanagawa--each reported one death from reasons associated with the disaster.

No specific criteria have been set to determine disaster-related deaths, but the 1,618 include people who died because they could not receive proper medical treatment after being forced to evacuate and those whose chronic diseases worsened while they were living in temporary housing. Suicides are also included in the number.

According to the National Policy Agency, the number of people who were killed or remain missing in the disaster was 18,914 as of Wednesday. This figure does not include those who died from reasons not directly related to the disaster.

Municipal governments tallied death tolls as of late March based mainly on the number of people who died from disaster-related injuries and whose families became eligible for condolence money.

After the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, out of 6,402 deaths in Hyogo Prefecture, 919 people were recognized as having died from quake-related reasons during a 10-year period after the disaster.

At a press conference after a Cabinet meeting Friday, Reconstruction Minister Tatsuo Hirano said, "We're working hard to keep survivors alive. We take [the figure] seriously."

"We'll investigate the cause of their deaths and step up measures [to prevent further deaths among] people in temporary housing," he added.
(Apr. 28, 2012)

There's no direct causation or logic to your claims. Yes it's true that lack of proper attention to certain areas had led to the deaths of some, but there are still too many reasons for which could've caused these fatalities. Furthermore, the Japanese government had been notorious for impotency, but none of these stand for the claim that Japan isn't developed nor rich. All countries make mistakes; not all lives can be saved, so deal with it. Lastly, more problem lies within the government for their immature and ill-handling of events, but the regime shouldn't equate to Japan as a whole.

---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 PM ----------

It looks like she felled through a service man-hole or underground tunnel for civil maintenance facility. You see where the hole where she has fallen was made? It happens in the center of the section of what looks like a concrete panel when not supported by steel rebars or even some kind of beams. It's just thin concrete slab. I'm glad to see they got her out and kudos to the taxi driver for noticing it.

I wanna see how bashers will explain this incident where someone did actually offer a helping hand.

---------- Post added at 11:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 PM ----------

Nevertheless, putting a thin, unsupported pavement on what is pretty much a HOLE is beyond irresponsible. Whoever did this should be prosecuted for endangering the public.

The positive aspect is that the cab driver stopped immediately to help the girl. It's a welcome change from the indifference that we've seen in the recent past.

Newsflash: Don't walk in China.

[AssassinsMace]

This is why China should not abolish the death penalty.

South Korea seizes capsules containing powdered flesh of dead babies | The Sideshow - Yahoo! News

South Korea seizes capsules containing powdered flesh of dead babies


By Eric Pfeiffer


A baby in China wears a protective face mask (AP/Kin Cheung)

The South Korean government revealed Monday that it recently seized thousands of capsules filled with the powdered flesh of dead babies. Reportedly, some people believe the powder has medicinal purposes and was created in northeastern China.

South Korea has reportedly been reluctant to criticize China directly over the incident, out of fears of creating diplomatic friction with the country. But the process by which the powder is allegedly created is one of the most disturbing stories imaginable.

According to the Korea Customs Service, the bodies of dead babies are chopped into small pieces and dried on stoves before being turned into powder. The customs officials have refused to say exactly where the babies come from or who is responsible for making the capsules.

China has already been in the spotlight over activist Chen Guangcheng, whose work involves protesting the government's sterilization and forced abortion policies. It was recently reported that China is working to "soften" its one-child policy slogans, though not the actual policy itself.

Last year, Chinese officials ordered an investigation into the manufacturing of drugs made from dead fetuses or newborn babies. Nonetheless, South Korean officials said in a statement they have discovered 35 smuggling attempts since last August, during which 17,450 capsules labeled as "stamina boosters" were discovered. Rather than containing any inherent medicinal properties, the capsules are said to contain dangerous bacteria and other harmful, unspecified ingredients.



Amazingly, none of the smugglers have been arrested in the various confiscations because the South Korean customs officials said the amounts of human flesh contained in the capsules were too small and were not intended for direct sale. The smugglers claimed to have no knowledge of the human flesh content, saying they believed the capsules were ordinary stamina-boosting pills.

Reluctant to bring it up because it might cause Sino-Korean friction? More like it'll make Koreans look bad.

SKorea finds smuggled capsules contain human flesh - Yahoo! News

SKorea finds smuggled capsules contain human flesh
By HYUNG-JIN KIM | Associated Press – 1 hr 32 mins ago...


SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea has seized thousands of smuggled drug capsules filled with powdered flesh from dead babies, which some people believe can cure disease, officials said Monday.

The capsules were made in northeastern China from babies whose bodies were chopped into small pieces and dried on stoves before being turned into powder, the Korea Customs Service said.

Customs officials refused to say where the dead babies came from or who made the capsules, citing possible diplomatic friction with Beijing. Chinese officials ordered an investigation into the production of drugs made from dead fetuses or newborns last year.

The customs office has discovered 35 smuggling attempts since August of about 17,450 capsules disguised as stamina boosters, and some people believe them to be a panacea for disease, the customs service said in a statement. The capsules of human flesh, however, contained bacteria and other harmful ingredients.

The smugglers told customs officials they believed the capsules were ordinary stamina boosters and did not know the ingredients or manufacturing process.

Ethnic Koreans from northeastern China who now live in South Korea were intending to use the capsules themselves or share them with other Korean-Chinese, a customs official said. They were carried in luggage or sent by international mail.

The capsules were all confiscated but no one has been punished because the amount was deemed small and they weren't intended for sale, said the customs official, who requested anonymity, citing department rules.

China's State Food and Drug Administration and its Health Ministry did not immediately respond to questions faxed to them Monday. Chinese media identify northeastern China as the source of such products, especially Jilin province which abuts North Korea.

The Jilin food and drug safety agency is responsible for investigating the trade of such remains there. Calls to the agency and to the information office of Jilin's Communist Party were not answered Monday.

The South Korean customs agency began investigating after receiving a tip a year ago. No sicknesses have been reported from ingesting the capsules.

___

Associated Press researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report.

Last year there was a big stink from the Korean-American Community when California legislation worded acupuncture as being Chinese medicine. It is! I'll bet they want to label this as Chinese medicine. Apparently the media has already and somehow this is linked to the Chen Guangcheng saga. Now that Chen has said himself he's confident the Chinese government will keep their end of the bargain, the media can't seem to milk it enough.

[Equation]

This is why China should not abolish the death penalty.

South Korea seizes capsules containing powdered flesh of dead babies | The Sideshow - Yahoo! News



Reluctant to bring it up because it might cause Sino-Korean friction? More like it'll make Koreans look bad.

SKorea finds smuggled capsules contain human flesh - Yahoo! News



Last year there was a big stink from the Korean-American Community when California legislation worded acupuncture as being Chinese medicine. It is! I'll bet they want to label this as Chinese medicine. Apparently the media has already and somehow this is linked to the Chen Guangcheng saga. Now that Chen has said himself he's confident the Chinese government will keep their end of the bargain, the media can't seem to milk it enough.

Especially when it was ethnic Koreans that made that stuff in China, the news still spin it as Chinese under the current government as some sort of uncivilized nations.

[bladerunner]

Now what sort of dirt do Amerian Airlines by hiring P.E.'s hope to dig up so they can invalidate life time tickets.

Unlimited travel deal bleeds airline dry

Unlimited travel deal bleeds airline dry - Totaltravel

A decision to offer lifetime first class travel for a whopping US$250,000 seemed like a good idea when American Airlines ran the promotion back in 1985.

But now the airline is regretting the deal – big time.

Those who had the money handed it over happily – and then took advantage of their special pass at every opportunity.

Passengers who have virtually been living off the unlimited tickets – some have been known to fly from the US to Japan for lunch and back the same day - are sucking the company dry.

One traveller reportedly costs the airline $1 million a year, and passenger Jacques Vroom has made the equivalent to more than 1600 round-the-world trips.

The deal was US$250,000 for one adult, and an extra US$150,000 or a companion.

American Airlines has since hired private detectives and is pursuing legal action to try to back out of the lifetime deal.

"We thought originally it would be something that firms would buy for top employees," American Airlines former chief executive Bob Crandall told the LA Times.

"It soon became apparent that the public was smarter than we were."

[Equation]

That's American Airlines fault for promoting such a deal in the first place. Is this the reason why they're still charging for bags (luggage)?

[AssassinsMace]

China forces Al Jazeera to close Beijing news bureau - Yahoo! News

China forces Al Jazeera to close Beijing news bureau

China refused to renew the visa for Al Jazeera's China reporter. This is the first time an accredited foreign correspondent living in China has been ejected since 1998.
By Peter Ford | Christian Science Monitor – Mon, May 7, 2012...


China has expelled the English language correspondent of Al Jazeera, prompting the Qatar-based channel to close its Beijing bureau, an Al Jazeera spokesman said on Tuesday.

Melissa Chan’s expulsion marks the first time an accredited foreign correspondent living in China has been ejected since 1998.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately answer a faxed request for an explanation of the expulsion, but Chinese officials are known to have expressed their anger at a documentary the channel aired last November on the alleged use of slave labor by prisoners in Chinese jails.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told Scandinavian correspondents at a recent private dinner that the documentary had been “fabricated” according to two of the reporters present.

Ms. Chan played no role in making the program, which was produced by Al Jazeera’s London bureau, according to a spokesman for the channel.

During talks between Chinese and Al Jazeera officials earlier this year, the Chinese also accused Chan of unspecified violations of Chinese law. A spokesman for the channel said that Al Jazeera had repeatedly asked for clarification of the nature of these violations but had not been given one.

Chan had made a reputation for herself with a number of investigative reports on issues about which the Chinese authorities are sensitive, such as the violent confiscation of farmers’ land for development projects and the incarceration of citizens protesting such behavior in illegal “black jails” in Beijing.

The Chinese government’s refusal to renew Chan’s accreditation beyond the end of March or to accredit a replacement correspondent left Al Jazeera with “no choice other than to close its Beijing bureau,” the channel said in its statement.

Protesting the expulsion, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) said Chan’s ejection fit “a recent pattern of using journalist visas in an attempt to censor and intimidate foreign correspondents in China.”

In a survey of its members last year, the FCCC said, it had found 27 cases throughout the previous two years in which the Chinese authorities had made foreign reporters wait more than four months for visa approval, and 28 cases in which permanent postings or reporting visits had been canceled because requests for the required visas had been rejected or ignored by the Chinese authorities.

In six cases, reporters said they had been told by Foreign Ministry officials that their bureaus’ visa applications had been rejected or put on hold due to the content of the bureaus’ or the applicant’s previous coverage of Chinese affairs.

The FCCC said it “believes that foreign news organizations, not the Chinese government, have the right to choose who works for them in China, in line with international standards.”

“Just as China news services cover the world freely, we would expect that same freedom in China for any Al Jazeera journalist,” the channel’s director of news, Salah Negm, said in a statement about Chan’s expulsion. He said Al Jazeera would “continue to work with the Chinese authorities in order to reopen our Beijing bureau.”

Chan was refused a standard one-year foreign correspondent’s accreditation – without which reporters are not allowed to live in China – at the end of last year. Instead she was given a two month credential that was extended until the end of March.

On Monday evening she left China for the United States, where she has been offered a Knight Fellowship at Stanford University.

Editor’s note: Peter Ford is the Vice President of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China, whose statement is quoted in the above article.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh yeah like how Chinese news reporters by law aren't allowed to cover NASA events? I love how now Al Jazeera is considered legitimate news. Just because they now hire Westerners to make it look mainstream? You see these very same critics question all these Westerners that do news for CCTV. Pretty hypocritical.

[getready]

Ironically in the past this very same agency were being discredited by western media as illegitimate muslim propaganda tool

[In4ser]

I wonder how much they report on human rights and oppression in say...Saudi Arabia or UAE?

[Schumacher]

Japanese openly asks for removal of 'comfort women' monument.
What are the Japanese thinking ? Is it total shamelessness or a total lack of guilt or remorse ?
They could have easily just ignored the monument, I doubt it's very well-known but looks like even this small monument is too much for them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/ny...ef=global-home

New Jersey Town’s Monument Irritates Japanese Officials
By KIRK SEMPLE

Two delegations of Japanese officials visited Palisades Park, N.J., this month with a request that took local administrators by surprise: the Japanese wanted a small monument removed from a public park.

The monument, a brass plaque on a block of stone, was dedicated in 2010 to the memory of so-called comfort women, tens of thousands of women and girls, many Korean, who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese soldiers during World War II.

But the Japanese lobbying to remove the monument seems to have backfired — and deepened animosity between Japan and South Korea over the issue of comfort women, a longstanding irritant in their relations.

Authorities in Palisades Park, a borough across the Hudson River from Manhattan, rejected the demand, and now the Japanese effort is spurring Korean groups in the New York region and across the country to plan more such monuments.

“They’re helping us, actually,” said Chejin Park, staff lawyer at the Korean American Voters’ Council, a civic group that championed the memorial in Palisades Park, where more than half of the population of about 20,000 is of Korean descent, according to the Census Bureau. “We can increase the awareness of this issue.”

Korean groups have been further motivated by a letter-writing campaign in Japan in opposition to a proposal by Peter Koo, a New York city councilman and Chinese immigrant, to rename a street in Flushing, Queens, in honor of comfort women. .................................................. .........

[solarz]

Japanese openly asks for removal of 'comfort women' monument.
What are the Japanese thinking ? Is it total shamelessness or a total lack of guilt or remorse ?
They could have easily just ignored the monument, I doubt it's very well-known but looks like even this small monument is too much for them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/ny...ef=global-home

Wow, hardly any mention of the Chinese in that article.

[Equation]

LOL...maybe the Japanese would be better off stop producing hentai or manga (animation porn, yes they do exist) instead!

[Norfolk]

Japanese openly asks for removal of 'comfort women' monument.
What are the Japanese thinking ? Is it total shamelessness or a total lack of guilt or remorse ?
They could have easily just ignored the monument, I doubt it's very well-known but looks like even this small monument is too much for them.

That's pretty messed up.

[delft]

I just heard on BBC World Service an item on racist violence against African immigrants in Israel. It was said that it is supported/sponsored by governing politicians and that 700 people will soon be deported.