Society

Legislators clear way to cover liabilities from pollution to privacy

A long-awaited law designed to ensure people get compensation when their civil rights are infringed finally got the green light from China's legislators at the weekend, seven years after its first reading.

The 92-provision Tort Law covers a range of liabilities, including traffic and medical accidents, work-related injuries, pollution, harm caused by pets and mental distress.

It also covers infringements of personal rights, such as reputation and privacy.

The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Saturday endorsed the law, which will take effect in July and have equal importance with the Property Law.

NFL Cheerleaders In Iraq ~ Booty Everywhere ~ MS. New Booty

As the year 2009 comes to a close, it does so having been a monumental year for China's LGBT community. Beijing and numerous cities across China experienced the successful completion of 12 anniversaries and public events that expose LGBT culture and related issues like never before. 

China's LGBT community, which is an acronym that refers to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people, has adapted the terms tongzhi to refer to gays, lala for lesbians, ku'er for queer - an umbrella term for those who do not identify as heterosexual with regard to sexuality, sexual anatomy or gender identity.

The community is young. Most are in their 20s and 30s, are educated, working professionals with experience abroad who are now highly active and public organizers, authors, editors, designers, film directors, curators, activists and artists.

One catalyst was the Olympic Games in 2008, a landmark event that many in the LGBT community have interpreted as a "coming out" event. LGBT websites have allowed for communities to build, to advertise events, and to allow contact and information to be exchanged between LGBT members from big cities and small towns in China with those from around the world.

4 Million USD, dropped from a armed helicopter of Chinese Navy, made Somalia pirates satisfied and released the Chinese ship including its crew.

"De Xin Hai", the hijacked Chinese ship.

A hijacked Chinese bulk carrier and 25 Chinese crew members aboard were successfully rescued at 3 a.m. on December 28, according to Chinese Marine Search and Rescue Center.

After the rescue mission, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said that "De Xin Hai", the hijacked vessel, has been under protection of Chinese naval escort fleet.