| Putin Favors Ban on US Adoption of Russian Kids Posted: 28 Dec 2012 09:21 AM PST | Russian President Vladimir Putin says he sees no reason not to sign a bill into law that would ban Americans adopting Russian children. Full story: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he sees no reason not to sign a bill into law that would ban Americans adopting Russian children. He promised measures to improve the care of his country's orphaned youngsters. Although Putin said he would need to study the final text of the bill, the comments were the strongest indication yet that he will approve the adoption ban. The news has strained US-Russia relations. Parliament gave its final approval on Wednesday to the bill that would also bring in other adoption measures. Critics say it's in retaliation for new US legislation designed to punish Russians accused of human rights violations. [Vladimir Putin, Russian President]: "So far I see no reason not to sign it, although I have to review the final text and weigh everything. You know, after all in the world there are probably a lot of places where the quality of life is better than here, but so what? Are we going to send all the children there? Maybe we should move there ourselves. We need to support the proposal which is directed at doing everything in our own country in order to provide for a worthy future for all of our children." Critics of the bill say Russia is playing politics with the lives of children. Child rights advocates say children in Russia's crowded and troubled orphanage system will have less of a <b>...</b> | Views: 1 0 ratings | | Time: 01:21 | More in News & Politics |
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| Indian Gang Rape Victim Commits Suicide Posted: 28 Dec 2012 08:05 AM PST | A 17-year-old Indian girl who was allegedly gang raped in northern India in November commits suicide. Full story: A 17-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in November, committed suicide on Wednesday after police failed to take action against the accused. Indian media said the girl from the northern Indian state of Punjab consumed poison at home and died later in hospital. Police sources said three men adducted the girl on the night of the festival Diwali on November 13 in Badshahpur village of Patiala district. She was then raped several times and dumped on the road. The victim tried to report the case but local police did not register it, instead trying to force a settlement between the rapists and the girl's family. In her suicide note the girl said that after the police had finally registered the case, they repeatedly called her back to the police station and humiliated her by asking uncomfortable questions related to the incident. After the suicide police hastily arrested the accused, two men and a woman, on Thursday. [Paramjit Singh Gill, Patiala Police Chief]: "She mentioned three people in her suicide note. They are Balwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Tejender Pal Kaur. These are the same people who were involved in the rape case. She held them responsible for her death. All three of them have been arrested in the case." He added that the police station's head officer has been sacked for negligence. [Paramjit Singh Gill, Patiala Police Chief]: "Until November 27 <b>...</b> | Views: 34 4 ratings | | Time: 01:47 | More in News & Politics |
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| Snow Sculptors Create Massive Horse Sculpture in NE China Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:16 AM PST | And before we go today, we take you to northeastern China's Jilin province where a massive horse sculpture is underway. These sculptors are forging ahead despite temperatures being -22 degrees Fahrenheit. With numb toes and hands, they work over nine hours a day to finish what they hope would be the largest horse snow sculpture in the world. When most would choose to stay indoors in these freezing conditions, this sculptor explains why he's out here at the Jingyue Snow World festival. [Li Shenglong, Snow Sculptor]: "Just because I love it. I am full of passion as soon as I grip the shovel's handle. It is beyond words." The workers have another motivation though. Their sculpture will be the main attraction at Jingyue park, when the Vasaloppet International Ski Festival begins here on New Year's Day. The Jingyue Snow World festival is an annual tourist attraction with new snow sculptures made from compacted snow featured every year. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 1 0 ratings | | Time: 00:56 | More in News & Politics |
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| Aquarium Explodes in Shanghai Shopping Center Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:12 AM PST | On December 18th an almost 37 ton aquarium burst at a shopping center in Shanghai. The footage, captured by surveillance camera, was recently released. The explosion injured 16 people with some suffering serious cuts and bruises. [Witness]: "I was just walking by and heard the explosion of this water tank. I heard a bang, then water flushed out." Most of the marine life in the tank, including sharks, fish and turtles were killed in the explosion. An investigation into the cause of the breakage is underway but officials say it was probably due to poor construction. [Shen Weizhong, Deputy Director, Shanghai Safe Production Bureau]: "According to experts' preliminary investigation, the main cause of the incident is that the material used to make the aquarium ruptured under low temperatures after long-time use." The fish tank has been a popular exhibit at the Orient Shopping center since it was installed two years ago. However after the accident the mall has decided not to replace it. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 200 8 ratings | | Time: 01:17 | More in News & Politics |
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| American Woman Finds Letter from Notorious Chinese Labor Camp Posted: 28 Dec 2012 12:07 AM PST | Oregon native Julie Keith has found herself in the middle of one of China's biggest controversies, the persecution of the Falun Gong meditation practice. It all started more than a year ago when she purchased a 17-piece graveyard kit at a local Kmart. It was sitting in storage for a year until this past October. She was just about to donate it because it was collecting dust, but decided to use it for her daughter's fifth birthday party, which falls right before Halloween. [Julie Keith, Portland, Oregon]: "And as I opened some of the Styrofoam headstones, a note popped out. I opened the note and it was from this person pleading for help in the labor camp in China and wasn't sure what to do with it." The letter, written at the Masanjia Labor Camp in Shenyang, northeast China, paints a grizzly picture. "If you occasionally buy this product, please kindly resend this letter to the World Human Right Organization. Thousands people here who are under the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party Government will thank and remember you forever." The letter claims detainees work 15-hour days and are paid less than $2 USD a month for forced labor. It says thousands are held there, and that many are persecuted Falun Gong practitioners. And it doesn't end there. It goes on to say , "People who work here, suffer punishment 1-3 years averagely, but without Court Sentence (unlaw punishment). Many of them are Falun Gong practitioners, who are totally innocent people only because they <b>...</b> | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 02:48 | More in News & Politics |
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| UN Peace Envoy Leaving Syria Amid Refugee Exodus Posted: 27 Dec 2012 10:13 AM PST | International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi ends his visit to Damascus calling for real change as Syrian refugees continue to arrive in Jordan. UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says the international community must help Syria end its current crisis. Speaking to reporters at the end of his visit to Damascus, Brahimi said last year's Geneva conference could help provide a solution. Syrian points of view must be brought closer, he added. "If the Syrians are unable to do that by themselves, the international community, their neighbors and all people must help them." Brahimi's four -day visit included meetings with besieged President Bashar al-Assad as well as a number of opposition figures. His new plan focuses on a transitional government but leaves Assad's role vague. Refugees continue to pour into neighboring Jordan as the brutal conflict enters its 22nd month. At least half a million Syrians are now registered as UN refugees and the number is growing by 3000 every day. This man says the daily raids left them living in a state of constant fear. "They don't let anyone sleep or have any peace," he says. "We see bodies and blood in the streets, no one can live in these circumstances." More than 250000 Syrians are now registered as refugees in Jordan. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntdtv.org Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 19 1 ratings | | Time: 01:16 | More in News & Politics |
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| China's RMB 400 Billion High-Speed Rail Line Opens Posted: 27 Dec 2012 05:48 PM PST | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com The Jingguang high speed rail line from Beijing to Guangzhou recently made its first trial run. It is viewed as the world's longest high-speed railway line, with an 8-hour journey at a speed of 300 km per hour. This provides a saving over 12 hours in comparison to alternatives. However, it has reportedly cost nearly 400 Billion yuan, arousing the public's suspicion of intense corruption. Huge annual loan interest expenses will make rail service a continuous red-ink for the next decade. Expensive fares have made ordinary people cry out, "we can't afford it." On December 26, Jingguang high- speed rail line held its first trial run. It traveled over 2300 kms from Beijing to Guangzhou in eight hours. The route is expected to begin operating during the 2013 Chinese New Year. The table for prices of tickets shows that the second class is the cheapest available at 865 yuan. Business class is most expensive at 2727 yuan. For Jingguang high-speed trains identified with "D", its second-class ticket costs 712 yuan. A second-class ticket costs 530 yuan for the Beijing-Wuhan high-speed rail. For the "D" -train on the same route, it costs 381 yuan. Many citizens complained that they cannot afford it. Duan Shaoyi, tutor for MBA students, Beijing Normal University: "People spend money to take the high-speed train to save time. If the fares are too cheap, it will make a loss; but too costly will scare ordinary <b>...</b> | Views: 47 2 ratings | | Time: 04:13 | More in News & Politics |
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| Political Reform Proposed by Chinese Scholars Posted: 27 Dec 2012 08:47 PM PST | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com Recently, more than 70 mainland well-known scholars and lawyers urged the new CCP' (Chinese Communist Party) leader to pursue a moderate political reform. This included the separation of CCP from the government. Nevertheless, the proposal avoids referring to the ending of the one-party dictatorship. Scholars who signed the proposal said, they represent the progressive reformists. However, some scholars point out, the reason for CCP's inability to meet the basic requirements for democracy and freedom is the fact that 'CCP wants to govern forever.' This reform proposal is drafted by Professor Zhang Qianfan from Peking University' Law School and was published on his microblog. The proposal called on the CCP to govern the state according to the Constitution, to protect the freedom of speech, to encourage the private enterprises, to allow judiciary independence, and for the CCP to not interfere with people during elections of their representatives at all levels. Zhang Qianfan said, the mainland is of urgent need to change in order to better deal with the variety of problems. These include, the social injustice, abuse of government power, and corruption. He said, 'Without a change, there would be a risk of revolution or disorder in China.' This proposal is relatively moderate in its request to CCP' leadership to govern according to the existing laws. Zhang Qianfan told the Associated Press: "This is <b>...</b> | Views: 27 0 ratings | | Time: 04:17 | More in News & Politics |
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