· September, 2008

Stories about Breaking News from September, 2008

China: Media Manipulation on the Poisonous Milk Powder Scandal

  18 September 2008

The “Sanlu poisonous milk scandal” attracted more and more attention until the Central Propaganda Department gave strict orders on 9/15 to stop all Chinese media to report and investigate this scandal. Xinhua News, which is a mouthpiece of China government, shifted from a critical tone of voice to more positive reports and eulogy for the government departments' effectiveness in dealing with this scandal...This is a tragedy for hundred of thousands families. However, the sad story is being transformed into a happy story

Lebanon: Political Tensions are Escalating

  18 September 2008

While the people in Lebanon were under the impression that the latest negotiations between the leading political groups might translate into a glimpse of a brighter and calmer days to come, two people were killed and four injured in a clash between two rival Christian parties in Bsarma village in Koura, north Lebanon.

Mexico: Explosions in Morelia During Independence Day Celebrations

  17 September 2008

Two hand grenades were tossed into a crowd in the city of Morelia, Mexico during independence day celebrations. Eight people were killed, and more than 100 were injured. Authorities are blaming the attack on drug cartels, who have been responsible for brutal killings throughout the country. This concern also led to a recent protest march that attracted thousands. Mexican bloggers are mourning this latest tragedy and are calling on the government to act.

China: Crisis on “Made in China”

  17 September 2008

The anger on the poisonous milk powder incident continues to roar everyday. Apart from Sanlu, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China released last night (Sept 16) that one fifth of baby powder manufacturers in the country are involved in the melamine scandal. 22 dairy enterprises, including national brands like Yili and Meng Niu are involved in manufacturing poisonous milk powder. Up till now, at least 6,244 babies got sick with kidney stone disease.

China: Infant-killer milk powder sickens the country

  16 September 2008

Is food in China edible? Chinese people started to ask. The tainted infant formula has not only killed 2 babies, triggered panic among parents, but also gave a solid hit on made-in-China. The biggest problem is, we came to lose trust on all that we can eat.

Taiwan and China: Fury over poisoned powdered milk made in China

  15 September 2008

The powdered milk products, produced by the Sanlu (三鹿) Group in China, were found to be contaminated by melamine after hundreds of babies in China got sick with kidney stones. One baby in the Gansu province, China, died because of that. 25 tons of powered milk products manufactured by the...

Lebanon: The Assassination's Echo

  11 September 2008

Mr Saleh Aridi was about to drive his car when a bomb planted under the driver-seat went off, killing him on the spot. Mr Aridi a well known top adviser to the government minister and pro-Syrian Druze leader Talal Arslan. With his death, the number of assassinated officials in Lebanon mounted to 11 since former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination on February 14, 2005. Lebanese bloggers react.

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Outcome of Hasan Nuhanović's Case

  11 September 2008

Café Turco writes about the outcome of Hasan Nuhanović's lawsuit against the Dutch state: “We are here upon a scandalous case of the spirit of justice being distorted. The victims cannot ask the UN for responsibilities, because the UN has immunity, but the dutch state cannot be considered responsible because...

Morocco: Blogger Arrested, Sentenced Immediately

  8 September 2008

This morning, it was reported by the electronic news site Hespress [ar] that blogger Mohammed Raji was arrested in his home in Agadir. An article that Raji had posted on Hespress [ar] is said to be the source of the conflict, though neither that fact nor Raji's arrest have been...

Egypt: Rocks Slide over Slums in Cairo

  8 September 2008

Egypt woke up on breaking news that “Casualties & injuries in rock blocks collapse over slums of Doweiqa, Cairo” on a Twitter update by Egyptian blogger Noura Yunis on Saturday. A massive rocky body fell from the Mokhatam Mountain, crashing down few apartments just below it, at around 7am, killing at least 30 people. Egyptian blogger react.

Egypt: Tragedy in Doweiqa

  8 September 2008

Egyptian bloggers are writing about the Doweiqa disaster, where more than 30 people were killed due to a rock slide. Could this incident have been avoided? And why does tragedy always hurt the most vulnerable of people?

Lebanon: Political Tension Takes Over The Blogosphere

  4 September 2008

The political tension in Lebanon is escalating to critical levels with each passing day. The latest helicopter downing by Hezbollah managed to add more conflicts between the politicians and the citizens as well. Intense debates and political opinions can be seen everyday on the evening news and now on the blogosphere too. Local bloggers armed themselves with their personal opinions and analysis, taking the "battle" into their web spaces.

Bolivia: National Electoral Court Suspends Referendums

  2 September 2008

The National Electoral Court of Bolivia suspended the various referendums originally scheduled for December 7, including the one that would seek approval of the new Constitution. Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] has a roundup of the breaking news.

China: Yang Jia given death penalty in problematic trial

  1 September 2008

Yang killed people, and this should have been condemned by society. What comes unexpectedly, though, is that he actually earned many people's sympathy. Can't people tell right from wrong? What possible reason could there be, for public and social values to get as screwed up as this?