ID :
37212
Thu, 12/25/2008 - 06:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/37212
The shortlink copeid
Global recession voted top int'l news in 2008+
TOKYO, Dec. 23 Kyodo - The global recession sparked by the U.S.-led financial crisis was voted the top international news story of 2008, according to a Kyodo News poll released Tuesday.
The poll covered senior editors at Kyodo News, its member newspapers and other
subscriber organizations who were asked to select what they considered to be
the major international events this year.
Following are the top 10 international news stories of 2008:
(1) U.S. financial crisis triggers global recession
The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis, which erupted in the summer of 2007, led to
the collapse of major U.S. brokerage Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and sparked
a worldwide recession. The International Monetary Fund forecast that the United
States, Japan and Europe will all post minus growth in 2009, the first time in
the postwar era.
(2) Democrat Obama wins U.S. presidential race
Democrat Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain
in the U.S. presidential election in November. Obama will become the first
African-American president when he takes office on Jan. 20.
(3) Strong earthquake hits China's Sichuan Province
An earthquake measuring magnitude 8.0 hit China's Sichuan Province on May 12.
The quake killed about 69,000 people and left 18,000 missing.
(4) Surges in oil, food prices
Benchmark oil prices jumped above $140 a barrel in July after topping the $100
mark for the first time on Jan. 2 due to inflows of speculative funds. But the
financial crisis pushed down oil prices below $40 a barrel in December. Food
prices also surged given rises in transportation and other costs in the wake of
spikes in oil prices.
(5) China hosts Olympic Games for 1st time
China hosted the Olympic Games for the first time in August. But human rights
groups disrupted torch relays in France and several other countries in protest
at China's human rights records in Tibet and other regions.
(6) U.S. removes North Korea from terrorism list
The United States removed North Korea from its blacklist of
terrorist-sponsoring nations in October for the first time in 20 years and
eight months.
(7) Major cyclone hits Myanmar
A major tropical cyclone hit Myanmar on May 2-3. The country's military junta
said 84,500 people died and 53,800 others were missing as of the end of June.
(8) Islamic extremists stage terror attacks in Mumbai
Islamic extremists staged terror attacks at 10 locations in Mumbai, including
two luxury hotels, on Nov. 26, killing more than 170 people.
(9) Medvedev succeeds Putin as Russian president
First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev became Russia's president in March,
succeeding Vladimir Putin, who assumed the post of prime minister.
(10) Public safety deteriorates in Afghanistan
Public safety deteriorated in Afghanistan, leading to the kidnapping and
killing of Kazuya Ito, 31, a Japanese aid worker there, by an armed group in
August.
==Kyodo
2008-12-23 21:40:04
The poll covered senior editors at Kyodo News, its member newspapers and other
subscriber organizations who were asked to select what they considered to be
the major international events this year.
Following are the top 10 international news stories of 2008:
(1) U.S. financial crisis triggers global recession
The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis, which erupted in the summer of 2007, led to
the collapse of major U.S. brokerage Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and sparked
a worldwide recession. The International Monetary Fund forecast that the United
States, Japan and Europe will all post minus growth in 2009, the first time in
the postwar era.
(2) Democrat Obama wins U.S. presidential race
Democrat Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain
in the U.S. presidential election in November. Obama will become the first
African-American president when he takes office on Jan. 20.
(3) Strong earthquake hits China's Sichuan Province
An earthquake measuring magnitude 8.0 hit China's Sichuan Province on May 12.
The quake killed about 69,000 people and left 18,000 missing.
(4) Surges in oil, food prices
Benchmark oil prices jumped above $140 a barrel in July after topping the $100
mark for the first time on Jan. 2 due to inflows of speculative funds. But the
financial crisis pushed down oil prices below $40 a barrel in December. Food
prices also surged given rises in transportation and other costs in the wake of
spikes in oil prices.
(5) China hosts Olympic Games for 1st time
China hosted the Olympic Games for the first time in August. But human rights
groups disrupted torch relays in France and several other countries in protest
at China's human rights records in Tibet and other regions.
(6) U.S. removes North Korea from terrorism list
The United States removed North Korea from its blacklist of
terrorist-sponsoring nations in October for the first time in 20 years and
eight months.
(7) Major cyclone hits Myanmar
A major tropical cyclone hit Myanmar on May 2-3. The country's military junta
said 84,500 people died and 53,800 others were missing as of the end of June.
(8) Islamic extremists stage terror attacks in Mumbai
Islamic extremists staged terror attacks at 10 locations in Mumbai, including
two luxury hotels, on Nov. 26, killing more than 170 people.
(9) Medvedev succeeds Putin as Russian president
First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev became Russia's president in March,
succeeding Vladimir Putin, who assumed the post of prime minister.
(10) Public safety deteriorates in Afghanistan
Public safety deteriorated in Afghanistan, leading to the kidnapping and
killing of Kazuya Ito, 31, a Japanese aid worker there, by an armed group in
August.
==Kyodo
2008-12-23 21:40:04
