Portal:Current events/2012 September 8

September 8, 2012 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Bahraini uprising (2011–present):
- The Interior Ministry moves to sue the Al Wefaq main opposition party. On Friday, police have fired tear gas at anti-government protesters in the capital Manama. The protestors allegedly have defied a ban on demonstrations. (Al Jazeera) (Reuters) (The Jerusalem Post)
Afghanistan commemorates Ahmad Shah Massoud, assassinated today eleven years ago according to the Afghan calendar, with a ceremony in Kabul on the national holiday of Haftai Shahid (Martyr Week). (Sina) (Bokhdi) (The Frontier Post)^{[permanent dead link]}
A suicide bombing by the Taliban near the headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force in the Afghan capital of Kabul kills at least six people. (BBC)
For the first time in nearly eighteen months, a sign of life appears of four French nationals kidnapped by Al-Qa'eda in Arlit, Niger. A videotape shows them healthy; they ask France to negotiate their release. (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Arts and culture

Kim Ki-duk's violent tale Pietà wins the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Kim thanks the audience and the jury by singing a song. (AFP via Google News) (Korea Times)

Disasters

A tractor is hit by a train in central Romania, killing eight passengers in the tractor trailer. (Bucharest Herald)

International relations

A spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry calls Canada's Friday decision to sever all diplomatic ties "hasty" and "radical". A senior Islamic Consultative Assembly member describes the decision as "hostile". (CBC) (Communiqué)^{[permanent dead link]} (The Jerusalem Post) (Xinhua)
It is announced that Pakistan and India are planning to mutually ease visa requirements. (Reuters)

Law and crime

R.E.M. has its publisher Warner-Tamerlane issue a cease and desist order against Fox News. The channel allegedly made "unlicensed and unauthorized" use of their song "Losing My Religion" in coverage of the Democratic National Convention. (Rolling Stone)

Politics

The Hong Kong government backs down on plans to introduce Chinese patriotism classes in its schools after weeks of protests. (Radio Television Hong Kong) (BBC)

Science and technology

Sports