Stories about Breaking News from September, 2010
Ecuador: Police Strike Denounced as Attempt to Destabilize Country
The Ecuadorian police are leading a strike against reforms to the public service law, unleashing chaos in the country. Since this morning, Twitter users have been reporting on the events and reacting to the developing news.
Vietnam: Blogger Pham Minh Hoang Charged with Attempt at Overthrowing the Government
Reporters Without Borders reports that French-Vietnamese blogger Pham Minh Hoang was charged with “Activities aimed at overthrowing the government” and membership of a “terrorist organisation” (the banned opposition party Viet Tan). His wife opines that the reason for her husband’s arrests was his opposition to bauxite mining [fr] by a...
Mexico: Landslide in Oaxaca Buries 300 Homes
Erwin from The Latin Americanist writes: “In a piece of breaking news hundreds of people are feared to be trapped in the Mexican state of Oaxaca as a result of a massive landslide during the overnight hours.”
Russia: Moscow Mayor's Dismissal
Today, the main topic of all discussions in the RuNet is the dismissal of Yuri Luzhkov, mayor of Moscow. While some bloggers (1 [RUS], 2 [RUS]) consider it a victory of the opposition, others say, nothing had changed [RUS] – mayor's team is on it's place. Zyalt posts [RUS] pictures...
North Korea:Kim Jong-il Renominated As the North’s Leader
North Korea’s Kim Jong-il was renominated as the general-secretary of North’s ruling Worker’s Party in regime’s biggest convention in 30 years, South Korea’s Yonhap reported itas breaking news. According to Yonhap, North’s state media KCTV announced “Kim was renominated as general-secretary amid a storm of applause by all the delegates...
Egypt: RIP Ahmed Maher
“Former Egyptian minister of foreign affairs Ahmed Maher passed away earlier today after a sudden heart attack according to Egyptian media,” writes Zeinobia, from Egypt.
North Korea:Kim Jong-il Appointed Jong-un As the North's General
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has appointed Kim Jong-un, his youngest son as a general in the North Korea's military, thereby announcing Jong-un as North Korea's next leader, officially for the first time. South Korea's Yonhap reported it as breaking news, quoting the North's official.
Anti-censorship webmaster arrested in Thailand
The webmaster of an independent online journal in Thailand was arrested at Bangkok airport today on charges of insulting the monarchy. Local mainstream media has been quiet about the issue but twitterers are providing information and other updates which help sustain the campaign to demand the freedom of the arrested activist
Colombia: First Reactions to the Death of FARC Leader ‘Mono Jojoy’
Víctor Julio Suárez, better known as Jorge Briceño or Mono Jojoy, one of the top leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was killed in the so-called "Operation Sodom." Colombian Twitter users immediately reacted to the news.
Barbados: Vigilante Victim Charged
The Bajan Reporter has an update on the incident in which an alleged pedophile was the recipient of vigilante justice, saying that the man “has been charged with rape of a Minor…Police will not even reveal the age of the girl involved.”
Mexico: Government Announces Plan to Protect Journalists
Gancho writes about the government's new plan to protect journalists, concluding that, “What's missing is a genuine recognition from the government that journalists being killed is a substantial problem for the nation at large. I'm skeptical that Calderón's plan can will that element into existence.”
South Korea:Seoul Hit Hard by Downpours, Twitter reported
Heavy downpours battered Seoul today, flooding roads and buildings and causing power outages. Twitterers reported the worst downpour Seoul had in 103 years live by twitting pictures of chaotic scenes and re-tweeting this Youtube video.
India: Wither Kashmir? Or Is Reconciliation Possible?
The Indian central government has sent a fact-finding delegation including lawmakers from all major political parties to mitigate the bloodshed and tensions in the Jammu and Kashmir region. The Indian blogosphere has finally woken up on this issue and bloggers are sharing messages of hope, reconciliation, integrity and peace.
Taiwan: Typhoon Fanapi
Typhoon Fanapi, the season’s first major typhoon, has passed through Taiwan this morning. Tony Coolidge posts some photos on his blog.
Indonesia: Local government closes church defying court order
A Christian protestant church, GKI Taman Yasmin in the regency of Bogor, Indonesia was forced to cease activities by Bogor's regency on Sunday night. The police and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) surrounded the church, disbanded a church meeting, then sealed the building by the city's order.
Russia: Cyrillic Domain Reveal Putin's Plans for 2012
Federal Security Service (FSO) had registered more Cyrillic domains than any other company in the country (including “блог.рф” (“blog.rf”) and “письма.рф” (“letters.rf”), see full list), Vedomosti.ru reported [RUS]. Lenta.ru adds that FSO also registered “Путин2012.рф” and “Путин-2012.рф” (“Putin-2012.rf”). Blogger wunder_bar suggests [RUS] the domains reveal Vladimir Putin's plan to re-elect in 2012.
South Korea: The Family Reunion Deal May Lower the Inter-Korean Tension.
A South Korean Red Cross delegation departed to North Korea today to discuss the reunions of families separated by the Korean War ,South Korea’s Yonhap reported. It was a rare suggestion made by North Korea and some experts read this as a sign of improvement on InterKorean relationship.
Cuba: Cutting 500,000 Jobs
On the heels of Fidel Castro's admission (and subsequent retraction) that the Cuban economic model no longer works, the government has announced [ES] that it intends to cut massive numbers of state jobs, in an effort to breathe some life into the island's struggling economy. Cuban bloggers discuss the measures.
North Korea: South May Send Microwavable Rice to North.
According to Chosun report[kr],South Korea may send rice aid to North Korea in the form of microwavable rice. The hermetically sealed, microwavable rice [photos], which also works under boiling water, can be a new way of preventing the aid rice from being traded and used for a military purpose.
India: Kashmir Is Burning…Again
Violent protests in Indian administered Kashmir started today after a report of a Qur'an desecration in Michigan, USA emerged. At least 18 protesters have been killed and scores were injured. Bloggers and Twitter users discuss whether the protests were purely because of anger over the burning of Qur'an or outbursts of their demand for freedom from India.
Indonesia: Online rage over attack on church leaders
Two Christian church leaders were stabbed during a Sunday service in Indonesia which enraged netizens. As a protest, Facebookers were encouraged to "blank out" their profile pictures.