What happened at Bhopal?

The Bhopal disaster is one of the most shocking examples of the negative impact that large Trans National Corporations (TNCs) can have in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs).
The incident concerns a poisonous gas leak at a chemical works run by US-based TNC Union Carbide in Bhopal, India, in the early hours of December the 3rd 1984. [...]

Earthquake in China - 12th May 2008 - Who was affected?

A strong earthquake (7.8 magnitude) has caused devastation and killed thousands in Sichuan Province, China.
You can find out more about the event here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2008/china_quake/default.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7396400.stm
The area affected can be seen in detail on this map:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7400614.stm
 

The Vargas Landslide 1999 - what happened?

This video will tell you all about this event in 1999:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6Vr2Nh3oA8

What happened in Tiananmen Square in 1989?

You can find an outline of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989
Here is one news report of the events:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyj-3S_ulvI&feature=related
Here is some footage of the famous “Tank Man”, who single-handedly stopped a column of tanks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-nXT8lSnPQ

Chilean volcano erupts - May 2008 - How will local people cope?

A volcano known as Chaiten has erupted in Chile, having been dormant for 9000 years. Local people have been evacuated, but will they be able to return?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7386050.stm
The eruption is part of ongoing activity along the Andes of South America, there is more information about this volcanic event here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chait%C3%A9n_%28volcano%29
See NASA’s satellite photos of the event here:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=14815
You [...]

How is China’s influence spreading around the world?

There are many examples of China’s growing economic influence around the world, including islands in the South Pacific:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7380375.stm

Cyclone Nargis hits Burma - May 2008 - how will they recover?

Cyclone Nargis hit the closed state of Burma on Friday the 2nd of May 2008. Initial reports suggest that the dfamage has been severe:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7384858.stm
There is more detail on the growth of the storm here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Nargis
There is argument over whether the authorities could have given a better warning to it’s people:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7386695.stm
Given that Burma’s militarty government has closed [...]