To Hell With Sanctions and Warning -- N Korea Ready for Further Nuclear Tests This Year

Pyongyang, North Korea (Fri, Feb 15) – They’re not gonna stop even after the worldwide condemnation and threats following third nuclear test, after nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, that was conducted by isolated nation – North Korea, earlier this week on Tuesday (Feb 12).

To Hell With Sanctions and Warning -- N Korea Ready for Further Nuclear Tests This Year

"North Korea is moving to become an existential threat to the U.S.," said by former senior US official on Pyongyang's nuclear test this week. It was the most powerful of North Korea's three nuclear tests so far, providing a bomb of perhaps half the strength of that which devastated Hiroshima in World War II.

North Korea has reportedly been preparing for their fourth and fifth nuclear test very soon even after warnings from Washington and others that more sanctions would be imposed on the isolated state.

According to Reuters citing an anonymous source related to the issue; in effort to force U.S. into diplomatic talks with Pyongyang, North Korea reportedly tells their key ally China about their preparations for the one or possibly two nuclear test in this year.

"It's all ready. A fourth and fifth nuclear test and a rocket launch could be conducted soon, possibly this year," the source said, adding that the fourth nuclear test would be much larger than the third at an equivalent of 10 kilotons of TNT.

Further nuclear tests will be carried out, the source said, except Washington holds talks with North Korea and dumps its policy of what Pyongyang assumes as an attempt of regime change in the country.

The North is banned under United Nations sanctions from developing missile or nuclear technology after its 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests. The U.N. Security Council has only just tightened sanctions on Pyongyang after it launched a long-range rocket in December.

Washington already took Tuesday’s nuclear test very seriously and issued warnings that more sanctions would be imposed on North Korea. It will be interesting to see how U.S. will react to the latest development in the region?

Report Tags:

North Korea, North Korean Nuclear Test, North Korea Threat, North Korea Sanctions, North Korea Further Nuclear Tests, Nuclear Tests, Pyongyang,

VIDEO: Dozens killed in fireworks explosion on Chinese Highway

BEIJING, China (Fri, Feb 01) – Reported by madn3wz

Dozens killed in fireworks explosion on Chinese Highway

At least 26 were reported killed in China early in the morning on Friday when a truck loaded by fireworks was exploded and destroyed part of an elevated highway in central province, causing vehicles plunging about 30 meters to the ground.

China National Radio had put the number of dead at 26 but the report appeared to have been removed from websites.

According to details; the truck was carrying fireworks ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations when a huge blast not only destroyed the truck but an 80-metre stretch of highway outside the city of Sanmenxia in Henan province. The official Xinhua News Agency said at least 25 vehicles were smashed and buried in the collapse.

If the details of the cause of tragedy are believed to be correct, then the incident hints yet again towards badly constructed bridges and an abundance of badly regulated fireworks.

In the same kind of tragedy about two weeks back, a firework explosion destroyed a two-storey home in Hebei Province killing three people and injuring eleven.

Watch Video report below:

Report Tags:

China Blast, Fireworks Truck Blast, China Firework, Henan Province, Explosion in China, Video, Youtube

"America is the most corrupt nation.": Jackie Chan

HONG KONG (Sat, Jan 12) – Reported by madn3wz

"America is the most corrupt nation.": Jackie Chan

Famous martial art hero Jackie Chan becomes a controversial personality by showing his anti-American sentiments in his recent interview on a Hong Kong television show.

According to details; “Rush Hour,” star said in his interview that America is “the most corrupt country in the world” and that the Chinese people should be proud of their country.

Chan’s anti-Americanism may come as a shock to his American fans but the Washington Post describes that the Hong Kong star often found himself entangled into the political discussion in China. Chan usually saves his political comments for a small and controlled audience but he was not reluctant to show his anti-Americanism.

In the recent interview; Chan discussed China’s recent progress, eliminating dishonesty from its government; while calling America "the most corrupt [country] in the world." Chan then maintains, blaming US for the world's troubles.

Chan said (with some translation help from the Post):

“If you talk about corruption, the entire world, the United State, has no corruption? (The United States) is the most corrupt in the world. Where does this Great Breakdown [financial crisis] come from? It started exactly from the world, the United States. When I was interviewed in the U.S., people asked me, I said the same thing. I said now that China has become strong, everyone is making an issue of China. If our own countrymen don’t support our country, who will support our country? We know our country has many problems. We [can] talk about it when the door is closed. To outsiders, [we should say] “our country is the best.”

This interview is most likely not so startling to Chinese viewers. Chan has been thrilling disagreement for a few years now for criticizing Taiwan and Hong Kong as models of what can go wrong when you have “too much freedom.” 

Report tags: Jackie Chan, Jackie Chan Anti-America, Anti-American Sentiments, America, USA, Anti-Americanism, Jackie Chan's Anti-Americanism

China: Viewers of Guangdong TV shocked by presenters' indecent exposure during Euro 2012 telecast

Beijing, China (Thu, Jun 14) – What would be your reaction if bikini-clad models presenting the weather forecast on a National Television? 

China: Viewers of Guangdong TV shocked by presenters' indecent exposure during Euro 2012 telecast

As far as I’m concerned, I’d feel awkward sitting with my family and kids watching TV and suddenly the above-illustrated situation happens, leaving me furious over the unethical behavior of the channel’s management. 

The same thing happened in China when two bikini-clad models had to cover themselves up, after the sharp reactions from viewers. The models were hosting a late-night weather forecast programme on Guangdong TV show, reported by 'Shanghai Daily'.

According to details; the channel was trying to promote its bikini contest to be held after the ongoing Euro 2012 football championship, when two of the contestants came in their skimpy swimsuits to present the weather forecast, it invited immediate online reactions. 

Some viewers in Guangdong province, who had tuned in to watch the Euro 2012 soccer tournament but instead came across the girls telling about weather conditions at the stadiums, said they were "dressed too sexy". 

Report Tags: Bikini-clad Models, Euro 2012, Weather Forecast, Guangdong TV, Guangdong TV weather forecast, Shanghai Daily, Bikini Contest, China, Bikini Contest in China,

Hundreds arrested in China after increasing self-immolation by Tibetans

In a strive to stop the increasing unrest in the country's ethnic Tibetan areas; the Chinese law enforcement agencies have reportedly arrested hundreds of Tibetans in Lhasa – capital of Tibet - after the latest self-immolation by two Buddhist monks last week in protest against China's rule over the Himalayan region.

Hundreds arrested in China after increasing self-immolation by Tibetans

Al Jazeera reported quoting the Tibetan advocacy group Free Tibet and Radio Free Asia that at least 600 Tibetans had been held since the Tibetan men set themselves on fire on Sunday. One of those men died after the act. 

The arrests were made while another Tibetan woman had set herself on fire Wednesday afternoon in Aba prefecture, in southwestern Sichuan province. 

China has already labeled the self-immolators as "terrorists" and criminals, and has held exiled Tibetans and the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, responsible for inflaming the unrest through self-immolations.

According to Tibetan rights groups; 27 deaths have been reported out of about 35 self-immolation attempts by Tibetans since March 2011 in protest against China's 60-year rule over their homeland.

The number could not be independently confirmed because foreign journalists are not allowed to enter in Tibet.

Report Tags: China Unrest, Self-immolations, Dalai Lama, Tibet Dispute, Lhasa, Free Tibet, Radio Free Asia, Political Unrest, Tibetan Arrested, Tibetan self-immolations, terrorism

Nuclear-capable ICBM Agni V test fire by India -- Security threat for Pakistan: Hameed Gul perspective

NEW DELHI, India (Thu, Apr 19) – India joins today the exclusive club of ICBM (Inter-continental Ballistic Missile) capable nations by successfully testing Agni-V ballistic missile, with a strike range of over 5,000 km, from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast at 8.07 am on Thursday. 

Nuclear-capable ICBM Agni V test fire by India -- Security threat for Pakistan

"The mission was successful. The missile hit the target in Indian Ocean in a perfect way," chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), VK Saraswat said.

The nuclear-capable Agni-V ballistic missile, which will bring the whole of China as well as other regions under its strike range, will become fully operational by 2014-2015 after "four to five repeatable tests" and user trials.

Now let’s come to the question which stings the mind of every Pakistani, like me, after hearing the missile test-fire news. What kind of national security threats for Pakistan can be aroused by India’s latest missile expedition?  

I heard this news in the morning on Dawn News and soon I found the answer to my above-mentioned question on the same news channel when Ex-chief of ISI, General Hameed Gul, was taken on phone line to answer the same question.

According to General Hameed Gul, if somebody has to worry about India’s ICBM test-fire that could be China not Pakistan. Why? I wonder after the answer from ex ISI chief, and he replied, because India doesn’t need 5000-kilometer-ranged missile to target any point in Pakistan. The Agni-V can’t be manufactured without the technological assistance from United States, he said further, and U.S. has done it to keep China under pressure. 

The answer of Mr Gul was logical enough to satisfy at least me; but I’m shocked with the silence and double standards from the whole world. Only few days back, many will remember, how harshly North Korea was criticized by the whole world for launching the rocket but no one has reacted over the India’s test fire of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, Agni-V.

On the other hand; reacting cautiously to India's test of Agni-V missile, China today said the two countries are not rivals and enjoy "sound" relations though the sources in the Chinese establishment feel that the launch can give rise to another round of arms race in the region.

India has become the sixth member of ICBM club after U.S., Russia, China, France and UK as its members already.      

Report Tags: ICBM, Agni-V ballistic missile, Agni 5, India, Missile Technology, Hameed Gul, Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO, VK Saraswat, intercontinental ballistic missile

An Yanshi from China believes to produce world's most expensive tea from Panda Dung

CHENGDU, China (Jan. 12) – ‘Panda Tea’ is what might be the upcoming craze for the health and fitness conscious people around the globe; but behold it will not be available for a those who can’t afford to spend almost 220,000 yuan ($35,000) for 500 grams (18 ounces).

An Yanshi from China believes to produce world's most expensive tea from Panda Dung

According to details; a Chinese citizen An Yanshi believed that panda poo is the key ingredient to produce the world’s most expensive tea, what he called ‘Panda Tea’ whose logo features a smiling panda wearing a bow tie and holding a steaming glass of green tea.

An yanshi, 41, has purchased 11 tonnes of Panda dung from a panda breeding centre to fertilize a tea crop in the mountains of Sichuan province in southwestern China, home to the black and white bears.

An Yanshi - a calligraphy teacher at Sichuan University – has left his job to dedicate himself for this project for which he has planted the tea crop on just over a hectare (2.5 acres) of land. An not only hopes to make money from the tea but he aims to convince the world to protect the environment and replace chemical fertilizers with animal extracts, before it is too late.

Continue reading below:

Your Health Partner

Outcry in China over Death of 15 Students in School Bus Accident

BEIJING, China (Dec. 13) – The death toll in a school bus accident in eastern China has reached to fifteen with three more students confirmed dead in hospital early Tuesday, the local government said.

Death toll climbed to 15 in China school bus mishap

Reportedly, a school bus carrying total 29 primary students overturned Monday on an icy country road into an irrigation ditch in Fengxian county of Xuzhou city, east China's Jiangsu Province. The tragic mishap has highlighted serious problems with child safety following a similar disaster last month.

Eight other children were injured, one of them seriously, a spokesman for the Jiangsu provincial government said Tuesday. News reports suggest that the bus slipped off the road after swinging over to avoid another vehicle.

An outcry erupted across China in early November after 19 students and 2 adults were killed when a coal truck slammed into their overcrowded school van in northwestern China.

China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao pledged that new rules on school bus safety would be drafted within a month.

At Least 7 Killed, Dozens Injured in Restaurant Blast in Xian, China

BEIJING, China (Nov. 14) – At least seven people were reported killed and dozens of other wounded today (Monday, Nov. 14) as a result of a huge blast in a fast-food restaurant in northern Chinese city of Xian.

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear but the blast was so powerful that it shattered glass windows up to 3km away, officials and state media said. However, the official Xinhua news agency quoted a witness as saying it appeared to be a gas explosion at a first-floor restaurant.

According to local media reports, most of the victims were children who were passing by the building on their way to school at the time of the blast.

Few photographs posted online claimed to be showing post-blast destroyed cars, shattered glass and other debris outside a modern high-rise building.

China Mine Accident (Thursday, Nov. 10) -- 20 Killed, 23 Still Trapped at Sizhuang Coal Mine in Yunnan Province

BEIJING, China (Nov. 10) – Breaking News: In latest of the accidents in the recent string of mining mishaps; at least 20 miners are reported killed today (Thursday, Nov. 10), Xinhua news agency reported.

The accident took place early today in southwest China causing another setback to China’s huge industry of mining. The accident at the privately run Sizhuang Coal Mine comes days after a rock blast in a coal mine in the central province of Henan trapped dozens of workers underground.

The accident in Yunnan province left around 23 other workers trapped, and it was not immediately clear if they were still alive or not, the official Xinhua news agency said. 

The official China News Service (CNS) said 20 people had been confirmed dead, and that efforts to rescue the remaining 23 from the mine were being hampered by a gas leak.

"Eighteen rescue workers are down in the coal mine, but the high levels of gas could cause an explosion, making it hard to progress with the rescue," Tan Xiaopeng, the head of the local firefighting department, told CNS.

Coal mine accidents are common in China, where work safety is often neglected by bosses seeking a quick profit.

Last year, 2,433 people died in coal mining accidents in the country, according to official statistics -- a rate of more than six workers per day.