China rescues 89 trafficked children, arrests 369

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities have rescued 89 trafficked minors as young as 10 days and the oldest 4 years and arrested 369 suspects after uncovering two child trafficking gangs, authorities said Wednesday.

The busts highlighted China's thriving black market in children — mostly involving buyers who want more children or those who want them as slave labor — that endures despite harsh penalties for traffickers, including death.

It was not clear from the reports posted Wednesday on the Ministry of Public Security website if sex abuse also might have been a motive. Calls to the ministry went unanswered.

One case stretched across 14 provinces in China and the other involved a trafficking ring that mainly sold children in Vietnam through neighboring Guangxi province.

A report by the People's Daily, posted on the ministry's website, said raids were carried out on July 20 in 14 provinces in the south, east and north of the country.

The operation involved 2,600 officers and the People's Daily said the youngest child was 10 days old and the oldest 4 years.

A separate People's Daily report that wasn't published on the ministry's website said the Vietnam operation on July 15 resulted in the rescue of eight infants aged 10 days to 7 months. Thirty-nine people, of which at least four were Vietnamese, were detained.

A total of 89 minors were rescued and 369 suspects arrested in both operations, the reports said.

Police sent the rescued children to orphanages as their parents had not been found.

It is often difficult to trace the parents of trafficked children and the law has not clearly defined the circumstances in which a buyer of a child should be punished. While many babies are stolen, some are sold by their parents.
Liu Ancheng, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Security Criminal Investigation Bureau, was quoted in the People's Daily report as saying that if the buyers have not abused the children, they cannot be held criminally responsible.
Liu said the "dreadful practice of buying and selling children" is a result of ignorance of the law in rural areas as well as traditional Chinese social norms that call for people "to have both sons and daughters" and children who will look after a parent in old age.

China's traditional preference for male heirs means some families sell their female babies in order to try for a boy, since the country's one-child policy limits most urban couples to one child and rural families to two.

South African man wakes after 21 hours in morgue fridge

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African man awoke to find himself in a morgue fridge — nearly a day after his family thought he had died, a health official said Monday.

Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the man awoke Sunday afternoon, 21 hours after his family called in an undertaker who sent him to the morgue after an asthma attack.

Morgue owner Ayanda Maqolo said he sent his driver to collect the body shortly after the family reported the death. Maqolo said he thought the man was around 80 years old.

"When he got there, the driver examined the body, checked his pulse, looked for a heartbeat, but there was nothing," Maqolo told the Associated Press.

But a day after staff put the body into a locked refrigerated compartment, morgue workers heard someone shouting for help. They thought it was a ghost, the morgue owner said.

"I couldn't believe it!" Maqolo said. "I was also scared. But they are my employees and I had to show them I wasn't scared, so I called the police."

After police arrived, the group entered the morgue together.

"I was glad they had their firearms, in case something wanted to fight with us," Maqolo said.

He said the man was pale when they pulled him out.

"He asked, 'How did I get here?'" Maqolo said.

The health department said the man was then taken to a nearby hospital for observation and later discharged by doctors who deemed him stable.

Kupelo, the health department spokesman, urged South Africans to call on health officials to confirm that their relatives are really dead.

The man's family was informed that he was alive during a family meeting convened to make funeral arrangements. They're very happy to have him home, Maqolo said.

But Maqolo said he is still trying to recover from the traumatic experience."I couldn't sleep last night, I had nightmares," he said. "But today I'm much better."

BJP says Yeddyurappa must resign

10: 58 am: Yeddyurappa holds emergency meetingEven as the BJP high command has come to a decision, Yeddyurappa himself is huddled in a meeting with some close aides at his residence. Yesterday, Yeddyurappa had said there was no question of him resigning.

10: 42 am: BJP cracks the whip on YeddyurappaRavishankar Prasad said BJP parliamentary committee met since 9:30 am and came to a unanimous decision that there has to be a change in leadership in Karnataka and asked the chief minister to tender in his resignation.

10: 36 am: Yeddyurappa must go: Ravishankar PrasadThe BJP parliamentary board has taken a decision on the Karnataka political crisis. Addressing the media outside party president Nitin Gadkari's residence, spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said Yeddyurappa must step down as the CM. Senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh will head to Bangalore to select a new leader.

10: 15 am: Reddy brothers to address media later todayReddy brothers, accused of running a parallel government in Bellary district, will address the media this afternoon, Kannada channels report.

9: 50 am: Karnataka BJP split on YeddyurappaThe BJP in Karnataka seems to have split vertically. Most ministers may give the meeting Yeddyurappa has called at 10.30 am a miss. (He is also talking of a 3.30 pm meeting). MLA CT Ravi is reportedly telling his party colleagues not to attend any meeting called by Yeddyurappa. The legislator told TV9 that reporters should not dig into a party's internal affairs.

9: 30 am: Yeddyurappa certain to go
Yeddyurappa is certain to go, and the BJP is only struggling to zero in on a successor, reports ET. Front runners, Jagdish Shettar, KS Eshwarappa and Ananth Kumar, are engaged in marshalling support for their respective bids, according to the business paper. More on Economic Times

9: 00 am: BJP likely to decide Yeddyurappa's fate today

On Wednesday, Karnataka Lokayukta submitted its report on illegal mining in the state and indicted Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. The BJP parliamentary committee will meet today to take a decision on his continuation as the CM.

Yeddyurappa, who reached New Delhi Wednesday evening went to the residence of party president Nitin Gadkari to attend the meeting, convened in the wake of report by Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde which levelled charges against him.

The meeting, which lasted over three hours, was attended by senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, who is BJP party in-charge of Karnataka and former president Rajnath Singh.

Diet Soda Dangers

Before you grab your next soda think about what you are really putting into your body.



You are hot and thirsty. Before you grab your next soda think about what you are really putting into your body. Many women are not aware of the many health risks that they are taking by simply having a diet soda. They think they are making a smart choice in choosing a diet soda over a regular soda. There are many diet soda dangers to your health.
Diet Soda Weight Gain
To be honest most women start drinking diet soda because they are worried about gaining weight. They switch from drinking regular soda to drinking diet soda. Women usually feel like they are making a smart switch. Unfortunately, this may not indeed be the case. The truth is many women actually gain weight from switching to diet soda from regular soda. They think they are cutting calories by drinking diet soda so they indulge in higher calorie food when having meals.
Artificial Sweeteners
Many diet sodas have artificial sweeteners in them. This could be a health risk. The sweet tasting artificial sweeteners can actually lead you to crave sweeter things. This might make you indulge on things that are not healthy for your body. For example, it might make you want to eat candy. This adds credit to the gaining weight theory because after drinking a diet soda you may then want sweeter things to ingest causing you to eat more calories than you should have in your daily diet. Plus, some artificial sweeteners are not good for your health in general.
Caffeine
Many diet sodas have caffeine in them. Although some people love caffeine because it helps give them energy for their day, caffeine may not be healthy for you. Even though caffeine may give you a quick burst of energy it could also lead you to feel very fatigued throughout the rest of your day. You may also feel jumpy and feel anxious. Plus, caffeine helps to dehydrate you because caffeine helps to flush out your body fluids. Many women find that drinking diet soda with caffeine in it causes them to experience headaches. If you experience negative health issues, then you may want to cut out caffeine in your diet.
Metabolic Syndrome
Drinking diet soda may lead you to getting metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is when you have a bunch of risk factors for things like high cholesterol, insulin resistance, obesity, and high blood pressure. Drinking even just one soda a day can put you at higher health risk for getting metabolic syndrome. Having metabolic syndrome increases your chances of having heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. Having metabolic syndrome is a health issue that you really want to avoid at all costs. So make sure if you drink diet soda on a regular basis that you take all your health issues into consideration first before continuing to indulge in it. Is really worth it to drink diet soda if your health could suffer because of it?
Heart Smart
A big thing in the news lately is how some diet sodas may not be good for your heart. If you are trying to be heart smart healthy then put down your diet soda right now. Diet soda might raise your blood pressure. It could lead to you having heart disease and strokes. Drinking any soft drinks could be a risk factor to your heart health. So, if you are concerned about your heart health then you may consider cutting out not only diet soda, but any type of soda all together. Be careful what you decide to drink because there are many diet soda dangers to your health.

Your Health - Insanely Slim: Diet Pill Ingredients Can Cause Mood Swings

Take a pill, lose some weight and your mind in the process. Diet pills contain ingredients to boost mood and dieters have no idea.


About 30 minutes after taking an "all-natural" green tea diet pill, the anger started. The slightest noise sent me into a rage and I snapped at every question anyone dared ask my way. It took five hours for the effects of that "all-natural" diet pill to wear off. At the time, I did not link the diet pill to the mood swings, but after a few days of taking those little green pills, I realized these were no normal bouts of anger.
5HTP may cause an unsafe rise in serotonin levels. If you are currently taking medications for depression or anxiety, 5HTP is not a safe diet pill ingredient. 5HTP is proven to boost serotonin levels, which is the same effect anti-depressant medications have on the brain. Boosting serotonin too high can cause serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome presents with a variety of symptoms, including difficulty concentrating, hallucinations and rapid heart rate. Patients with bipolar disorder should not take 5HTP.
SAM-e may cause hypomania in bipolar patients.SAM-e is all natural and safe, because it naturally occurs in all things living, according to the SAM-e website. Despite being all-natural, SAM-e is proven to cause hypomania and mania in patients with bipolar disorder. Depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder are symptoms of bipolar disorder. Patients taking medications for any mood related diagnosis should avoid SAM-e.
Kava kava may relax you, but at what cost. Kava kava is a natural treatment for insomnia and anxiety. It tranquilizes the body without interfering with brain function or clarity of thoughts. Unfortunately, the supplement may cause liver damage. Prescription medications for depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder are metabolized by the liver, in some cases. Taking kava kava with prescription medications in these categories is like pounding the liver with a one-two punch. Kava kava, working in conjunction with an anti-anxiety medication may take mood down too far, causing depression or inability to stay awake.
Phenylethylamine may boost mood, but it also boosts mood swings. Who would have ever thought chocolate could negatively affect mood? Phenylethylamine is common found in chocolate. This chemical is the reason chocolate works as an aphrodisiac. Diet pill companies often include concentrated forms of phenylethylamine in diet pill formulas. Some diet pills will list warnings in the fine print on the official supplement website stating the potential negative side effects of phenylethylamine in patients with mood disorders. These warnings are not printed on most product labels.
What ingredients affected my mood? The diet pill I chose seemed safe, according to the label. The ingredients included acai fruit, Hoodia Gordonii extract, yerba mate leaf, guarana seed extract, uva ursi extract, capsicum fruit, polygonum cuspidatum, green coffee bean extract, fucoxanthin wakame seaweed. None of these ingredients is known to cause mood swings or anger, but the effect I felt stopped after I stopped taking the supplement. It just goes to show that even a seemingly harmless diet pill can cause negative mental side effects.

Your Style - How to Purchase a Custom Pair of Jeans

Are you tired of jeans that fit in the waist, but are too big for the hips? What about petite pants that are still too long? If only you could have your jeans custom made.

Are you tired of jeans that fit in the waist, but are too big for the hips? What about petite pants that are still too long? If only you could have your jeans custom made. Guess what. You can have jeans custom made. If you're willing to pay more for your jeans, you can customize everything from measurements to design. While several companies offer this service, this article will focus on the company MakeYourOwnJeans.com, which has been featured in Woman's World magazine and even The Wall Street Journal.
Take Your Measurements
The first step to ordering a pair of custom jeans is to take measurements. The exact measurements you take will depend on the pair of jeans you order. Most styles though require the measurements from your waist, thigh and inseam. To make this process easy, and to ensure correct measurements are taken, use a fabric measuring tape that is flexible and will mold to your body. The website gives the exact details of how to take measurements for each style of jeans available.
Choose a Pocket Style
These jeans are truly customizable and allow you to have one of a kind jeans. This means you can choose everything, including pocket styles for the front and back of your jeans. Whether you want buttoned pockets, zippers or even just a regular pocket, the choice is yours. This is certainly a great way to add embellishment to your pants, but be careful of bulky pockets. A bulky pocket can add unnecessary padding to a curvy tush.
Embellish Your Jeans with Embroidery, Rivets and Thread
If you're tired of boring jeans, making a custom pair of jeans is certainly worth the money. It doesn't matter if you want your name embroidered across the seat of your pants or a medieval design, there are patterns to suit almost any taste, which means you can have a one of a kind pair of jeans. If embroidery isn't enough for you, you can also choose the color of thread your jeans are sewn together with. If you want to match the thread to the jeans or even want bright green thread, it isn't a problem. Want more options? Then why not choose antique copper stud rivets or steel dragon buttons? If these aren't enough options, you can also customize your zippers, add rips or even tummy control. Think of all the greatest features you've ever seen on jeans and the ability to add them to one pair of jeans. That's what a customized pair of jeans will allow you to do. You can even choose the wash color.
Be Prepared for Sticker Shock
It's important to note that you will pay a pretty penny custom jeans. Custom jeans start at $49 per pair, which is right on target with the price of jeans in a clothing store, but the more embellishments you add, the more you'll pay. Different rivets and buttons add $2, embroidery can add another $10, different colored thread will add enough $2 and different pocket styles can add up to another $7. As you can see, a pair of custom jeans come with a custom price. But, if you're just looking for a basic pair of jeans that fit better, you simply cannot beat custom jeans. These jeans are made to fit your body and that's not something you're going to find in your local clothing store.

The Top Mobile Gadgets of 2011 So Far

The evolution of mobile devices has accelerated out of the gate in 2011. From 3D displays to dual-core powerhouses, we're carrying some serious technology in our pockets. What devices are driving the trends of our mobile future in 2011?

Here are five of the most significant mobile products of the year to date.

1. HTC Evo 3D

The arrival of the HTC Evo 3D was a surprise to the mobile market, a step forward in technology that few anticipated. Like the Nintendo 3DS, the HTC Evo 3D features a 3D display that shows real 3D visuals without the use of special glasses. Not only does the Evo 3D display three-dimensional images, it captures 3D images and video with the attached dual-lens camera. Who knew 3D technology would fit in your pocket so quickly.

2. Apple iPad 2

The second iteration of the iPad remains the king of the tablet world, despite new competition from a range of products. The Apple iPad 2 added a second processor, a front-facing camera, a slimmer design and a smart cover to an already amazing offering. Oh, and much like the latest iPhone offering, the iPad 2 is available in sleek, pearly white.

3. Motorola Atrix 4G

According to Motorola, the new Motorola Atrix 4G is the world's most powerful smartphone. They didn't skimp on the specs, as this Android device is as advanced as you can get in a handset. It features a dual-core processor, up to 48GB of storage, a qHD display, fingerprint recognition security and a front-facing camera for video calling. The dual core processor is the Atrix 4G's greatest strength as it is one of the first mobile devices to offer such a processing punch.

4. Blackberry Playbook

In 2011, there have been a whole lot of tablets released not named "iPad". The Blackberry Playbook is the king of that pack, outselling even the new Motorola Xoom with 250,000 units sold in its first month. The Playbook features a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 7-inch display capable of 1080p HD playback and a pair of cameras on the front and back. Upon its reveal, the Playbook was the most powerful tablet available, and its custom Blackberry OS offered a new feel to the tablet experience and a genuine competitor to keep Apple in check.

5. iPhone 4

And then there was good old faithful. The iPhone 4, like its prior iterations, is one of the top-selling handsets of all time. Little has changed about the iPhone 4 in 2011, save for the white option released earlier this year. 2011 is likely to see one or two updates to the iPhone, the rumored iPhone 4S or even the edge-to-edge screen of the iPhone 5. The 4s model is rumored to ship with a dual-core A5 chipset and boosted specs across the board, plus availability on T-Mobile and Sprint networks. These fingers are tightly cross'd on that one!

Even with five months left in the year, it's hard to argue that this list will change much come December. Which of these magnificent mobile devices will you be adding to your stable in 2011? Share yours in the comments!

What's the Difference Between 3G and 4G?

If you've ever researched a smartphone purchase, the terms 3G and 4G have probably shown up on your radar at some point. Both refer to a connection method for mobile devices and a "generation" of mobile technology.

The first generation of mobile phone technology (1G) refers to the initial analog signal that was the backbone of mobile connectivity. The transition to second generation (2G) was characterized by the shift from analog signal to digital. The last popular phone to make use of 2G technology was the original iPhone in 2007, although 3G technology was already widely available.

Introduced in 2001 and brought to consumer use in 2003, third generation (3G) mobile technology became the successor to 2G and ushered in the era of the smartphone. 3G capability was originally made available to the market through devices geared towards business users, such as BlackBerry and Palm mobile phone products. We currently stand on the bridge between 3G and 4G, and we'll discuss why you may want to hold off on that 4G upgrade for a little while longer.

3G: Today's standard3G represents a period in the timeline of mobile phone technology. Most mobile phones today run on some type of 3G network (depending on carrier) for their voice and data access. This access makes possible advanced phone functionality such as smartphone features of email, media streaming and downloading, and web browsing.

Theoretically, 3G speeds can reach up to 3 Megabits per second (Mbps), with average speeds tending to be closer to 1Mbps or lower. This means 1 million bits, or 125,000 bytes, of data are being transferred per second in equivalent speeds to most standard home DSL internet connections. At this download speed, it takes roughly 1 to 2 minutes to download a 4-minute MP3 file. 3G coverage spans most of the continental United States, with heavier coverage around major metropolitan areas.

4G: The speed of what's just aheadMost technologies branded as 4G aren't quite 4G systems, but a late form of the 3G technology more commonly called "Pre-4G." 4G development focuses around achieving ultra-broadband speeds, competing with and in some cases outstripping the speeds provided by your home internet connection.

These goals make 4G ideal for the mobile consumer who is seeking to replace a wifi network with speed-equivalent or faster mobile technology through smartphone tethering or mobile broadband devices. 4G average speeds are targeted to be in the 100Mbps to 1Gbps range, roughly 10 to 100 times (dependent on location) faster than 3G networks. At that rate, that 4-minute MP3 download would take you mere seconds.

The current iterations that attempt to reach 4G standards are referred to as Pre-4G because they do not yet reach these data rates. Even Sprint, the company with the apparent leg up in the 4G race, doesn't yet offer true 4G on its 4G devices. Sprint's service technically falls into the pre-4G category, along with Verizon's newly launched 4G network.

There is only one U.S. carrier that is offering true 4G service: Sprint. Sprint currently has two mobile phones, the HTC Evo and the Samsung Epic, which have been benchmarked to achieve speeds 10 times faster than 3G; coverage is still limited to major metropolitan cities. Outside of these areas, data speeds revert to 3G.