Stories about Breaking News from May, 2008
Kuwait: Sad for Shaikh Saad
Former Kuwaiti ruler Shaikh Saad Al Abdulla Al Sabah died today after a long illness at the age of 78. Kuwait's online community was moved by the news, as hundreds of messages of sympathy and condolences poured onto blogs, in Arabic and English. The country has declared three days of official mourning - but the parliamentary elections, scheduled for Saturday, will go ahead as planned.
Malawi: Several arrested over allegations to remove president
It has been reported that several senior security and opposition political officials have been arrested in Malawi on allegations of coup plot. Malawian journalist and blogger Kondwani Munthali says that...
India: Bomb blasts in Jaipur
SAJA Forum links to news about the bomb blasts in Jaipur, India.
China: QQ Message on Primer
The China Primer Wen Jiabo has rushed to Sichuan to lead the earthquake relief. In the QQ, someone claimed to be near the Primer to a QQ group. In the...
China: Earthquake Update
Shanghaiist frequently provides updates on Chendgu's earthquake news.
Moroccan Student in Lebanon Chronicles Life in the Middle of Political Crisis
Manal, a Moroccan student at the American University of Beirut, blogs firsthand accounts of life in the middle of Lebanon's political crisis.
Japan: Update on actions against Internet Censorship
Shunichi Arai at Asiajin reports on the latest moves against Internet censorship in Japan.
China: Quake damage rising; witness in affected cities
Death tolls: 22069 (official statistic,23pm,05.16). The number is estimated to rise up to 50000 in following days. The update in this post will be stopped. So hard to see the...
China: 7.8 scale earthquake felt across most of China
At 2:28 pm Monday Beijing time, an earthquake registering 7.8 on the Richter scale struck in southwestern China's Sichuan province, centered in Wenchuan county, and with tremors felt as far away as Beijing and Hong Kong. China's Seismological Bureau has warned that aftershocks ranging in scale from 2 to 6 will take place later in the evening.
China: Earthquake in Sichuan
Beijing based Singapore blogger Alvin writes about the quake in Sichuan being felt in Beijing this afternoon. “Robina called me frantically that the building was swaying. she grabbed Sally and...
Afghanistan: American Researcher Dies in Attack
Barnett Rubin reports that Michael Vinay Bhatia, a researcher well known to many of those working on Afghanistan, died in an IED attack on his vehicle in Khost Province, Afghanistan,...
PangeaDay: an event lived worldwide
Pangea Day took place Saturday, and people from different parts of the world got together to watch movies and be a part of the worldwide event where movies, speakers and music showed us a bit of life on the other side of the globe, uniting people from all walks of life to believe that we aren't as different as we would believe. It also included a mobile video contest, with an international lineup of winners.
Myanmar: Survivors of Cyclone Nargis
A week has passed since Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar. The situation on the ground continues to deteriorate: food rationing is inadequate, medical supplies are running out and hundreds of thousands are still without shelter. Bloggers continue to discuss the impact of the cyclone and the relief efforts to help the victims.
Lebanon: Like being under siege
“I live in Ras El-Nabeh, where clashes have been raging for the last 2 days, and thanks god today is relatively calm and under the Lebanese army control. But still,...
Lebanon: Strike Gone Sour
May 7 should have been a day for general strike and demonstration to contest the government’s economic policies, price rise and low wages. The workers syndicate had to cancel the demonstration, although keeping the strike on, because clashes broke out in many places around Lebanon between different factions belonging to the pro–government and opposition camps. Bloggers were quick to comment on the events. Here are some of their reflections from yesterday although the events are escalating very fast into gunfights in the streets of Beirut. Check back for more summaries on bloggers posts and reports on the unfolding crisis.
Myanmar: Slow relief work
The death toll continues to rise in Myanmar days after a deadly cyclone hit the country. Dead bodies are dumped in the rivers. Relief is coming from many parts in the world but the Junta is still restricting the movement of foreign aid teams. The situation is worsening as food and medical supplies are still inadequate.
Malaysia: Vigil for jailed blogger Raja Petra this evening
Take note of what's been happening in Malaysia these past few days since popular blogger and political commentator Raja Petra Kamarudin, 58, was imprisoned on Tuesday after a trial which saw him charged with sedition for having written a blog post.
China: EV71 outbreak in China sparks criticisms
While not bird flu related, the recent outbreak of HFMD (Hand Foot and Mouth Disease) in China gives us an opportunity to see how the Chinese government responds to an...
Japan: Death Penalty Broadcast, 53 Years Later
An audio tape recorded 53 years ago of a death penalty execution in Japan, aired by Nippon Cultural Broadcasting on May 6th and and by Asahi television's Super Morning show on April 29th, has triggered conversations among bloggers about the country's death penalty system. The 50-minute audio footage, which features the last moments of one unnamed death row inmate, is the first of its kind to have ever been released.
Lebanon: Laborer's Strike
I woke up to the sounds coming from the TV screen this morning, as LBC covered the events going on in Beirut's southern suburbs, Mazraa, Barbir and Mar Elias, among...
Lebanon: Dangerous Day Ahead
A few opposition affiliated Lebanese unions are striking today, reports Charles Malek from Lebanon. “The last few times opposition affiliated organizations have protested it has meant attacks on those affiliated...
