MV Princess of the Stars disaster: The Board of Marine Inquiry says that two of four ballast tanks were empty, leaving the ship unstable. (Inquirer.net)
Sulpicio Lines ask a court to stop the Board of Marine Inquiry's investigation and sue the body for allegedly contributing to unfair negative publicity surrounding Sulpicio. (ABS-CBN News)[permanent dead link
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responds to this development, "We will be forced to react not with diplomatic, but with military-technical methods." (The Times)
armed attack on the United States consulate in Istanbul with three attackers also dead. The US ambassador states that it is an "obvious case of terrorism". (Hurriyet)(CNN)
A large transport strike enters into its third day on the island of Malta, bringing the island to a halt with the blockage of several roads. Bus drivers even attempted to break into the Prime Minister's office. (Times of Malta)(Bloomberg)
The Dark Knight sets a new record for box office receipts for an opening weekend in the United States with US$158.4 million earned between Friday and Sunday. (Entertainment Weekly)
At least 13 Afghan police and civilians are killed in an airstrike by NATO forces two weeks after an airstrike killed 52 civilians at a wedding. (BBC News)
Senate meeting together) passes a bill that would make major changes to the Constitution of France, with a margin of only one vote; this bill is designed to strengthen Parliament, while establishing a two-term presidential term limit and allowing the President to speak before Parliament.(BBC News)
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 hits off the coast of Honshu, Japan with reports of landslides, injuries and disruption to transport and power supplies. (BBC News)
2008 Beijing Olympics
:
Olympics upon recommendation of the national team's medical commission. (AFP via Google News)
The
Government of Iraq seized control of Iraq's Olympic Committee. (Bloomberg)
More than 200,000 people attend Obama’s speech at the
The hole in Qantas Flight 30, a Boeing 747 that made an emergency landing on July 25, is believed to have been caused by the explosion of an oxygen tank. Terrorism is not suspected. (CNN)
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) positions in the north of Iraq, killing dozens of guerillas two days after the 2008 Istanbul bombings which Turkey believes the PKK is responsible for. (AP via Times of India)
Prime Minister of IsraelEhud Olmert announces his intention to resign as Prime Minister in two months as his Kadima party chooses a new leader. He will also resign as Chairman of Kadima effective in two months. One reason for resignation is the corruption scandal in which Olmert is embattled. (BBC News)