International News for May 10 - 27

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from the New York Times International News. Silver Chips Online posts this news summary to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

China
May 19 – A poisonous ingredient found in some antifreeze, diethylene glycol, was found in 2,000 tubes of toothpaste in Panama and originated from China.
May 22 – Chinese authorities investigated two companies where the poisonous toothpaste originated from. No toothpaste has been found in the United States, but the Dominican Republic seized 36,000 tubes. Diethylene glycol is less expensive than the similar chemical glycerin.

France
May 17 - Nicolas Sarkozy becomes new president of France and gives two, instead of one, speech.
May 18 - Nicolas Sarkozy, as new president of France, names François Fillon as his prime minister. Fillon, 53, a four-time cabinet member is a close confidant of the president.

India
May 18 – 11 people were killed when a bomb blasted a historic mosque at Mecca Masjid. Two more died in later clashes between Muslim worshipers and security.
May 20 – After the burial of victims of the mosque explosion, at least two policemen were injured after being pelted by stones thrown by a mob.

Iran
May 13 – Iran confirmed that it detained an Iranian-American academic. Haleh Esfandiari, and accused her for spying for the United States and Israel and trying to start a revoluton in Iran.
May 29 - Haleh Esfandiari and 2 other Iranian-Americans were officially charged with endangering national security and espionage.

Iraq
May 25 – At a funeral procession for an Iraqi tribal leader, a suicide bomber drove into a crowd in the city of Falluja, killing 27 and wounding dozens more.
May 26 – Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr ended his months of absence from Iraq with a speech demanding a timetable for American troops to withdraw from Iraq.