Chinese President Hu Jintao has ordered an all-out effort to help the victims of a massive earthquake and traveled to the area himself.  The President has requested international aid to help with disaster relief efforts and international aid is coming in to help the Chinese people through this natural crisis.

At the moment, Government officials say around 10,000 people were killed by the 7.9-magnitude quake, but that figure is expected to change as more information on victims and survivors who are currently trapped becomes available.The massive quake struck Monday afternoon US time. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao traveled to the region to direct the rescue work and looked visibly shaken by the massive destruction and casualties of the quake. The destruction is so extensive that rescuers are running into difficulty trying to even get into some of the affected areas to begin rescue.

Roads, rails, power lines, sewer systems and all public works are damaged or destroyed.  According to local reports, at least six schools collapsed to some extent, trapping almost 900 students, teenagers,  in the rubble.

The source of this earthquake was reported to be in the Sichuan province. But tremors were felt all the way to Beijing, almost 1000 miles away. Reports say it was felt as far as Thailand and Vietnam.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN: This was the moment when China shook. “Our building is still moving. This is real, absolutely real,” says this man in the city of Chengdu, about 60 miles from the epicenter. Outside, streets were crowded with the dazed and frightened. “I was so scared,” says this woman. “The room I was staying in was shaking like this.” Read the rest of this entry »

Hey, I’ve been insulted by much harsher words than “goon”, can I get paid also?

Just when you think you’ve heard of some ridiculous shit to sue over… something like this comes along.  I realize China censors their media but are U.S commentators also supposed to keep their opinions about junky Chinese products hush hush? I mean, my 2 day old “made in China” flip flops have already bit the dust after only 1 poolside stroll.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Chinese primary school teacher and a beautician have filed a suit against CNN in New York over remarks they say insulted the Chinese people and are seeking $1.3 billion in compensation — $1 per person in China, a Hong Kong newspaper reported.

The case against the Atlanta-based cable channel, its parent company Turner Broadcasting and Jack Cafferty, the offending commentator, comes after 14 lawyers launched a similar suit in Beijing alleging that Cafferty’s remarks earlier this month violated the dignity and reputation of the Chinese people.

Cafferty said the United States imported Chinese-made “junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food” and added: “They’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years”.

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