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Biggest Stories You Didn't Hear in '08

Catching up on the stuff blotted out by the election and financial crisis

By Amelia Atlas,  Newser User

Posted Dec 17, 2008 7:40 PM CST
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(Newser) – Election coverage and reports on the financial crisis ate up much of the media's attention in '08—while some major news stories went under-reported. Time runs down the biggest:

  1. A Pentagon gaffe accidentally sent nuclear warhead fuses to Taiwan in 2006; the mix-up was noted this year—by the Taiwanese.
  2. The Congolese civil war steadily intensifies, displacing 1 million people; cholera epidemics and refugee camp overcrowding are concerns.

Also making the cut were: 

  1. Rising violence in Sri Lanka takes more lives than fighting in Afghanistan this year.
  2. Bailout bill slips in a provision—12 years in the making—that forces insurers to cover mental health as equally as physical health.
  3. FDA guidelines for genetically engineered meat (omega-3 stuffed pigs, anyone?) favor food companies over consumers, and fail to demand labels identifying the meat's origins.
For more, click the link below.

Family of soldiers in the Sri Lankan army, who lost their lives fighting separatist Tamil rebels. The story has been undercovered because the country has banned journalists and most aid groups.
Family of soldiers in the Sri Lankan army, who lost their lives fighting separatist Tamil rebels. The story has been undercovered because the country has banned journalists and most aid groups.   (AP Photo)
A line of butchers trim stacks of meat. New FDA guidelines don't consider the ecological effects of Frankenstein animals or require food companies to label the products as genetically altered.
A line of butchers trim stacks of meat. New FDA guidelines don't consider the ecological effects of "Frankenstein" animals or require food companies to label the products as genetically altered.   (AP Photo)
The conflict in eastern Congo has displaced over a million people.
The conflict in eastern Congo has displaced over a million people.   (AP Photo)
The Pentagon's gaffe of the year: accidentally shipping fuses for six nuclear warheads to Taiwan, instead of batteries as intended.
The Pentagon's gaffe of the year: accidentally shipping fuses for six nuclear warheads to Taiwan, instead of batteries as intended.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Guest
Dec 29, 2008 2:20 AM CST
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Guest
Dec 18, 2008 6:14 AM CST
Let me make sure I've got this straight... The Times themselves are reporting the fact that they totally failed to properly, thoroughly report these things? And they wonder why print readership is down? I wouldn't be so naive as to assume that they were doing due dilligence on absolutely every story going on all the time, but one would hope they wouldn't let issues like these slip by.

Nuclear parts accidentally shipped to Taiwan
Washington Post

Bailout bill includes mental health equality provision
NPR

FDA approves genetically modified meat for commercial use
USA Today

World • Health • US

 
Pentagon • FDA • mental health • Sri Lanka • list • civil war • Democratic Republic of Congo • nuclear arsenal • genetically modified meat • Best of 2008

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