2008 The National
The 2008 edition of The National was held December 3-7, 2008 at the ExpoCité in Quebec City, Quebec. It was the second Grand Slam event of the men's 2008-09 World Curling Tour season.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup
The 2008 Thomas & Uber Cup was the 25th tournament of the Thomas Cup and 22nd tournament of the Uber Cup, the men's and women's team competition in badminton, respectively. It was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from May 11 to May 18, 2008.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup, Host city selection
China, Indonesia, and the United States submitted a bid for the event. International Badminton Federation selected Indonesia as the host for the event during a council meeting in December 2005.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup, Seedings
All the seeding list based on February 28, 2008 world rankings as the draw was conducted on March 11, 2008. The top four seeding teams is in first pot, follow by next four teams in the second pot and the bottom four teams was put in the third pot.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup, Controversies
The controversy arose when an unfair scheduling forced some of the teams to play twice a day. Most of the teams were unhappy with the Badminton World Federation decision, including the Indonesia Uber Cup team who threatened to pull out from the tournament due to the scheduling affair, forcing organisers to amend the schedule.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup, Controversies
Another controversy cropped up in the tournament was the decision of Korea Thomas Cup team to throw both of their group matches to get a better opposition in the knockout stage. They lost 4–1 in both group matches against England and Malaysia and soon admitted they played to lose the game. However, Korean manager denied any fault on them and blamed on the format. This controversy forced the BWF to reexamine the rules and format for future tournaments.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup qualification
The 2008 Thomas & Uber Cup qualification was held in February 2008 to determine another ten places for the men's and women's tournaments for the 2008 Thomas & Uber Cup along with China and Indonesia as defending champion and host. Each confederation held a qualifying tournament in a fixed venue to determine the places allocated.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup qualification, Africa
The tournament was held in Rose Hill, Mauritius, from February 18 to February 22, 2008, having moved from Kenya because of security concerns. The winner in the final was given a place in the final tournament.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup qualification, Asia
The tournament was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from February 18 to February 24, 2008. 14 teams participated in the men's event and 11 in the women's. The Hong Kong women's team went through to the final tournament based on a higher team ranking than Scotland.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup qualification, Europe
The 2008 European Men's and Women's Team Badminton Championships also served as qualification for the 2008 Thomas & Uber Cup. Denmark, England and Germany went through to the final tournament for men. In the women's competition, Denmark, Netherlands and Germany went through to the final tournament.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup qualification, Oceania
The tournament was held on February 8, 2008, in Nouméa, New Caledonia. Only two teams took part in the tournament, New Zealand and Australia. The winner won a place in the final tournament.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup qualification, Americas
The tournament was held from February 16 to February 18, 2008, in Campinas, Brazil. Four teams participated: Brazil, Canada, Peru and the United States. The winner in the final went through to the final tournament.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cup squads
This article listed the confirmed squads lists for 2008 Thomas & Uber Cup between May 11 and May 18, 2008.


2008 Thomas & Uber Cups Preliminaries for Africa
The 2008 Thomas & Uber Cups Preliminaries for Africa were held in Rose Hill, Mauritius, between 17–21 February and  organised by Mauritius Badminton Association. Kenya was scheduled to host the events, but domestic unrest has led to them being moved to Mauritius. South Africa was the defending champion in men's and women's team events. This tournament serves as qualification stage for African countries for the 2008 Thomas & Uber Cup.


2008 Thomas Cup group stage
This article lists the complete results of the group stage of the 2008 Thomas Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia.


2008 Thomas Cup knockout stage
This article lists the complete results of the knockout stage of the 2008 Thomas Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. All times are West Indonesia Time (UTC+07:00).


2008 Three Days of De Panne
The 2008 Three Days of De Panne was the 32nd edition of the Three Days of De Panne cycle race, held from 1–3 April 2008. It started in Middelkerke and finished in De Panne, and was won by Joost Posthuma.


2008 Three Rivers District Council election
Elections to Three Rivers District Council were held on 1 May 2008. One-third of the council was up for election. The Liberal Democrats won the most seats, despite the Conservatives winning more votes. The Conservatives also gained a seat, strengthening their position against the Liberal Democrats, who remained stayed in overall control of Three Rivers.


2008 Three Rivers District Council election
The election was marked by the collapse of Labour support in South Oxhey, where Labour had been at their strongest. They lost one seat, Ashridge, to the far-right British National Party (BNP). Another seat, Northwick, was lost to the Conservatives. Labour's group leader, Kerron Cross, only narrowly retained his seat, with the BNP candidate coming second by 14 votes in a tight three-horse race.


2008 Thurrock Council election
The 2008 Thurrock Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Thurrock Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the council stayed under no overall control.


2008 Thurrock Council election, Campaign
The 2008 election in Thurrock was seen as one of the key national contests with the Conservatives needing to gain one seat to take overall control. Important issues in the election included recycling, local bus services and race relations.


2008 Thurrock Council election, Campaign
18 seats were contested in the election with the Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park seat being a by-election after the previous councillor resigned. The Conservatives, Labour and British National Party contested all 18 seats except in East Tilbury where the Conservatives did not put up a candidate. There were also 8 Liberal Democrats and 2 other candidates.


2008 Thurrock Council election, Election results
The results saw the council stay under no overall control but with the British National Party gaining a seat. The Conservatives remained the largest party on the council after winning 10 of the seats contested as compared to 6 for Labour. The final seat was won by independent Barry Palmer in East Tilbury.


2008 Thurrock Council election, Election results
While the Conservatives were still just short of an overall majority they remained in control of the council due to their existing agreement with the 2 independent councillors. Both main parties said they would not work with the new British National Party councillor, although she said she did not want to work with them anyway.


2008 Thurrock Council election, Election results
Following the election in March 2009, Terry Hipsey, the then Conservative leader of the council, defected from the Conservatives to Labour, leaving each of the major parties with 23 councillors.


2008 Thénia bombing
The 2008 Thénia bombing occurred on January 29, 2008 when a suicide bomber drove and detonated a vehicle laden with explosives into the headquarters of the Algerian police (BMPJ) in the town of Thénia, Boumerdès Province, Algeria killing 2 and injuring 23. The Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb is suspected as being responsible.


2008 Tibetan unrest
The 2008 Tibetan unrest (also referred to as the 2008 uprising in Tibetan media or the 3-14 Riots in Chinese media) was a series of protests and demonstrations over the Chinese government's treatment and persecution of Tibetans. Protests in Lhasa by monks and nuns on 10 March have been viewed as the start of the demonstrations. Numerous peaceful protests and demonstrations were held to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan Uprising Day, when the 14th Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet.


2008 Tibetan unrest
The protests and demonstrations spread spontaneously to a number of monasteries and throughout the Tibetan plateau, including into counties located outside the designated Tibet Autonomous Region. The arrest of monks at Labrang Monastery increased the tension of the situation. Violence began when Chinese police and People's Liberation Army units used force on non-violent protests by monks and nuns, and spread when protesting Tibetans later clashed with security forces. Clashes also occurred between Tibetans and Chinese Han and Hui residents, resulting in Han and Hui stores and buildings being destroyed and numerous Chinese civilians being injured or killed.


2008 Tibetan unrest
The use of force by Chinese police and military forces during the demonstrations have been controversial, with some deeming it excessive force. The demonstrations in Lhasa were met with electric prods, tear gas, and shootings, according to a report by Human Rights Watch on the use of force by Chinese forces. The International Campaign for Tibet estimates a total of 235 protests occurred from 10 March until the end of October 2009. The Chinese government's Xinhua News Agency estimated that 150 protests occurred between 10 March and 25 March.


2008 Tibetan unrest
A casualty estimate according to the Chinese government stated 23 people were killed during the riots themselves, the Central Tibetan Administration stated 203 were killed in the aftermath alone, and the Dalai Lama stated 400 Tibetans were killed in total. Foreign journalists were expelled or forced to leave during the uprising anniversary. Amnesty International reported 1,000 Tibetan protestors remained "unaccounted for" by June 2008, while the Central Tibetan Administration reported 5,600 arrests of Tibetans between March 2008 and January 2009, with 1,294 injuries within the same period.


2008 Tibetan unrest
Protests supporting Tibetans were held in cities in North America and Europe, as well as in Beijing, Australia, India, and Nepal. Many of the international protests also called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics. On 24 March, the torch lighting ceremony in Greece was disrupted by activists, including some from Reporters Without Borders. At Chinese embassies, protests ranged from pelting the embassies with eggs and rocks to protestors entering the premises and raising Tibetan flags, which was outlawed in Tibet by the Chinese government in 1959.


2008 Tibetan unrest
Protesters in Tibet that were arrested and detained claimed they were tortured and told to admit they were paid to protest by the 14th Dalai Lama. The Chinese government stated the unrest was motivated by separatism and blamed the Dalai Lama for orchestrating it. The Dalai Lama denied the accusation and said that the situation was caused by "deep seated disillusionment and despair" in Tibet, and invited Chinese officials to come to India with its evidence. Representatives of the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama held talks on China's Tibet policies on 4 May and 1 July of the same year.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
The protests erupted amidst growing frustrations with China's persecution of Tibetans and of Tibetan Buddhists, which Tibetans assert began after China's annexation in 1950. Unresolved situations remained regarding Tibet's three highest spiritual leaders - the 14th Dalai Lama and the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa both escaped to India, while the 11th Panchen Lama's location remains unknown since his 1995 forced disappearance by the Chinese government. Photographs of the Dalai Lama remain outlawed, as are Tibetan flags. Efforts at brokering agreements on behalf of Tibetans by the Dalai Lama with China had stalled.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
The protests and uprisings in Tibet since 1950 include earlier mass protests in Lhasa—the 1959 Tibetan uprising, and the 1987 protests which were likewise led by monks from Sera monastery, Drepung monastery and Ganden monastery, as reported by Tibet Watch.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
Of the 1989 bloody suppression in Lhasa, journalist Jim Yardley wrote:


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
"In the past China has not hesitated to crush major protests in Tibet or to jail disobedient monks. [ Former] President Hu Jintao, who [was] also the general secretary of the Communist Party, served as party boss in Tibet during a violent crackdown in 1989. His support for the bloody suppression of unrest that year earned him the good will of Deng Xiaoping, then the paramount leader, and led directly to his elevation to the Politburo Standing Committee and eventually to China’s top leadership posts."


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
The Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) proposed the Middle Way Approach to address the government of China's policies in Tibet. Specific agreements offered to China include the Five Point Peace Plan in 1987, the Strasbourg proposal in 1988, and the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy in 2008.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
Tibetan loyalty to the Dalai Lama is considered disloyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and is viewed by the Chinese government as a crime of separatism and a threat to China's national security and expansionism. Kelsang Dolma wrote, "when the 2008 Tibet protests erupted, fomented by discontent with decades-long repression, the CCP ruthlessly responded by killing and arbitrarily arresting protesters".


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
As a policy begun by Chairman Mao in 1950, Beijing promotes settlements of Han Chinese within Tibet, which dilute Tibetan culture and identity, as the Dalai Lama and others have stated. The CTA also states,  "[u]nder the guise of the economic and social development, Beijing encourages its population to migrate to Tibet with the clear aim to marginalize Tibetans from the economic, educational, political and social life of the region." A railway link opened in 2006 delivers three thousand Han a day to the region.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
Within Lhasa, Tsering Woeser reports that Tibetans are discriminated against at spiritual sites, and residents were relocated to rural areas, as urban areas were redeveloped for Han residents and businesses. Nomadic Tibetans are forced to build homes and borrow money for construction costs, while their grazing lands are redistributed, as reported by Free Tibet.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
China's policies which the Dalai Lama describes as "cultural genocide"  marginalize Tibetans and create simmering socio-economic issues in Lhasa.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
According to the Tibetan Independence Movement, Tibetans in Lhasa were angered by inflation that caused the prices of food and consumer goods to increase. Prices also continued to rise in other parts of the country, while Tibetan youth stated that equal access to jobs and education is another economic issue related to the mass settling of Han Chinese.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Background
According to the Central Tibetan Administration, environmental concerns also motivated the protests. Some of Asia's most important rivers flow from the Tibetan plateau, and "are being polluted and diminished by careless industrialisation and unplanned irrigation" as stated by the Dalai Lama.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Lhasa
On 10 March near midday, a group of 300–400 monks from Drepung monastery marched to Lhasa's center demanding religious freedom according to a report by the Human Rights Watch. According to eyewitnesses in the report, a sitting protest began after Chinese police blocked their route. According to witness accounts in the report, monks were kicked and beaten with batons and 60 monks were arrested that day.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Lhasa
The next day on 11 March as 300–400 monks from Sera monastery departed in a line to demand the release of the arrested Sera monks. An eyewitness told the BBC that around 300 monks from Sera monastery moved onto the street and were kicked and beat by 10 to 15 plainclothes Chinese police officers in what he described as "gratuitous violence". Outside the monastery, the monks began a sitting protest and were surrounded by riot police and armed military units. Radio Free Asia reported that an eyewitness saw tear gas being fired into the crowd. The Human Rights Watch report stated hundreds of monks and nuns from Ganden Monastery and Mani Nunnery also began marching into Lhasa on 11 March. According to the report, participants claimed that they were stopped by police and returned to their monastic centers, which were promptly cordoned off.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Lhasa
On 14 March, a group of monks preparing to depart from Ramoche Temple in the center of Lhasa to demand the release of monks from Drepung and Sera were barred from leaving by police. A commotion was reportedly witnessed by nearby residents that began congregating outside before throwing stones at the police and overturning their vehicles. Crowds swelled as the police withdrew, and it soon led to ethnic-targeted clashes. Reports state Han Chinese businesses were ransacked and their inventory piled into the streets and burned. Fires were spread to buildings, and Han and Hui Chinese people were beaten, while a building's fire killed four Han women and a Tibetan woman hiding in same building.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Lhasa
When Chinese police and military units reentered Lhasa on 14 March, reports state tear gas canisters were launched and shootings began. Amnesty International reports that machine guns were used. State hospitals were reported by Human Rights Watch as closed to protestors by Chinese authorities, and reports of wounded and killed Tibetans were suppressed.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Lhasa
Police cars, fire engines and other official vehicles were reportedly set on fire. Reports state Tibetans attacked Han and Hui passerby using stones, and an eyewitness stated from their hotel window, "It seems like it's ethnic—like they want to kill anyone not Tibetan." The witness also said he saw a group of 20 armed men firing guns, and that he was unsure if they were police officers or armed rioters. Chinese state media reported non-Tibetan-owned businesses and banks were robbed and houses were attacked and burned down, including government buildings and schools. Police used tear gas and cattle prods. According to Chinese state media, 18 civilians were killed by rioters.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Lhasa
A crowd tried to storm the Lhasa Great Mosque and set fire to the front gate. Shops and restaurants in the Muslim quarter were destroyed. A Chinese businessman reported that many Hui Muslim stores were burnt. Also burnt were stationery shops, banks, and a wholesale market at Tsomtsikhang, where many shops are owned by Han Chinese and Hui Muslims.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Lhasa
Throughout Lhasa, raids, security sweeps and arrests by Chinese security forces reportedly continued for several days. Tsondru, a monk, is reported to have died after being thrown off a roof while under arrest by Chinese security forces. An early official statement by Tibet Autonomous Region Chairman Pema Trinley reported, "Only three law-breakers died during the pacification of the Lhasa unrest, no participation from the PLA" was revised to add that another person "jumped from a building" to avoid arrest.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Gansu
On 14 March, 200 Labrang Monastery monks led a crowd of 300 people in demonstrations outside of their monastery in Gansu. The Guardian reported witness accounts of security vehicles being set on fire and Tibetan mob violence.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Gansu
On 15 March, 4,000 Tibetans gathered near the Labrang Monastery and clashed with Chinese forces. The clashes centered around the Gelug school's Labrang monastery, one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. Demonstrators marched through the streets of Xiahe. There were reports of government offices being damaged by the protesters, as well as reports of police using tear gas and shooting at protesters.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Gansu
In Lanzhou on 16 March, 100 students participated in a sitting protest.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Gansu
In Machu on 16 March, rioters set a government building on fire, while clashes continued on 18 March.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Gansu
In Hezou on 19 March, footage emerged showing protestors tearing Chinese flags and raising Tibetan flags in their place.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Gansu
China's Xinhua News Agency reported the cost of damage in Gansu at an estimated ¥230 million (US$32.7 million).


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Gansu
The Tibetan government-in-exile stated that 19 Tibetans were shot and killed on 18 March.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Qinghai
Chinese authorities arrested twelve Tibetan monks after an incident in the historic region of Rebkong, which is located in the Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai (known to Tibetans as Amdo). Chinese security forces surrounded the Ditsa monastery in Bayan County. Qinghai province borders the Tibet Autonomous Region.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Qinghai
On 19 March, Chinese forces cordoned off the village of Taktser, where the 14th Dalai Lama was born.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Qinghai
In Tongren, demonstrations occurred at the Rongwo Monastery between 14 and 16 March.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Qinghai
In the capital city of Xining, a journalist with Neue Zürcher Zeitung reported that residents were receiving intimidating calls from the Public Security Bureau. A call received by a Tibetan professor was reported as having said "Take good care of yourself" in a threatening manner.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Qinghai
During special classes for students in the region, videos of Tibetan demonstrators demolishing stores and attacking police were shown. The sessions have been deemed propaganda by some. Tibetan students at the Medical University of Xining held demonstrations to express their solidarity with the protestors, as well as a vigil for killed protestors in Lhasa.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Amdo/Qinghai
Passports belonging to Tibetans were confiscated to prevent returns to India and the delivery of reports on events to Tibetan exiles. Tourists and foreign residents were surveilled and informed about their possible expulsion in case they got involved in Tibetan protests.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Kham & Amdo/Sichuan
On 16 March, Tibetan monks and local residents clashed with police in Ngawa after monks held a protest at the traditional Tibetan grounds of Kham and Amdo. A witness told the BBC that approximately 17 Tibetans were killed, including a school girl. By 18 March, the town was "teeming with police and soldiers".


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Kham & Amdo/Sichuan
The India-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported that at least seven people were shot. There are other reports that police shot between 13 and 30 protesters after a police station was set on fire, reports of at least one policeman being killed, and the burning three or four police vans. Reports on the exact number of deaths were difficult due to the expulsion of journalists. The Chinese government stated that it opened fire on protestors in self defense on 20 March, reporting that four were wounded.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Kham & Amdo/Sichuan
In Ngawa Town, after days of protests by 3,000 monks and 300 nuns, 27 of the nuns at the Kirti monasteries and nunneries were arrested by Chinese police forces on 20 March. Photographs of killed protestors near Kirti were circulated.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Kham & Amdo/Sichuan
Neue Zürcher Zeitung reported that phone calls into the region from Zurich were intercepted, and exiled Tibetans were harassed during the calls. The arrested nuns were not heard from afterwards. During a telephone call, a nun stated she and the other nuns had no regrets, and that "the road of liberty is long and arduous".


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Kham & Amdo/Sichuan
A wave of arrests occurred in Sertar on 21 March, where police shot and killed a protestor. Chinese army troops blocked roads in Sertar, and many Tibetans were arrested. The London-based Free Tibet Campaign reported that troops had been sent to the county after residents used explosives to destroy a bridge near the village of Gudu.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Kham & Amdo/Sichuan
Radio Free Asia reported demonstrations in Kardze on 23 April, and on 11–12 May when 14 of the nuns demanding the release of two arrested in April were beaten and detained. The report states nuns were from nearby nunneries, and armed Chinese forces continued to patrol the area. Other protests were held in Chori.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Kham & Amdo/Sichuan
The TCHRD reported that three people were killed by Chinese forces on 15–16 March.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Protests in Tibet, Kham & Amdo/Sichuan
The BBC reported that around 16 March, 600 monks from Lhasa were flown to Chengdu by Chinese security forces.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses
CNN Beijing reported Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao "blamed supporters" of the Dalai Lama for the recent violence in Tibet. During a televised news conference, he claimed, "there is ample fact and we also have plenty of evidence proving that this incident was organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited" by them. A spokesman for the 14th Dalai Lama said the accusations were "absolutely baseless".


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses
Contrastingly, Tibetan news website Phayul reported the protests were spontaneous and not orchestrated by the Dalai Lama. It claimed the younger generation of Tibetans were impatient with the Middle Way diplomatic approach and chose action instead.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses
The Dalai Lama said pacifism is the only path to stop the "ethnic genocide", caused by migrating Han Chinese and by religious restrictions. The Dalai Lama has also stated that Tibetans are treated by China as second-class citizens in their own land, which has caused simmering resentment, and has repeatedly denied any involvement in organizing or inciting the unrest, and proposed to resign as the political leader if the violence continued.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses
A reporter for The Economist, James Miles, when asked in an interview if the Dalai Lama was responsible for the riots, responded that he "didn't see any evidence of any organized activity", opining that "it's more likely that what we saw was inspired by a general desire of Tibetans both inside Tibet and among the Dalai Lama's followers, to take advantage of this Olympic year, but also inspired simply by all these festering grievances on the ground in Lhasa." He noted in another report that the rioting "seemed to be primarily an eruption of ethnic hatred".


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses
On April 1, rhetoric increased when the Chinese Public Security Ministry alleged that Tibet's supporters were planning suicide attacks, but provided no evidence or details. Samdhong Rinpoche, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, denied these allegations, stating "Tibetan exiles are one-hundred-percent committed to nonviolence. There is no question of suicide attacks. But we fear that Chinese might masquerade as Tibetans and plan such attacks to give bad publicity to Tibetans".


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses
On 14 April, Chinese forces claimed that they had found semi-automatic firearms hidden throughout a temple in Ngawa. Chinese police officers told Chinese reporters, "they were modified semi-automatic weapons."


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, Riot actions
China responded by deploying the People's Armed Police. The BBC reported seeing over 400 troop carriers mobilizing into Tibet, which would represent a deployment of up to 4,000 troops. The Chinese authorities ordered all Hong Kong and foreign journalists to leave Lhasa. According to General Yang Deping, regular military troops from the People's Liberation Army were not deployed.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, Riot actions
Chinese authorities were also reportedly concerned that the Tibetan protests could "embolden activists in restive Xinjiang province" to organise street protests as well. The Chinese government's People's Daily reported a statement by Gyaincain Norbu, which condemned the unrest, stating


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, Riot actions
"the rioters' acts not only harmed the interests of the nation and the people, but also violated the aim of Buddhism [...] We strongly condemn the crime of a tiny number of people to hurt the lives and properties of the people."


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, Riot actions
In addition to sealing off monasteries, an eyewitness at Sera Monastery claimed, "they [Chinese authorities] were grabbing monks, kicking and beating them." In Ngawa, police fired at the crowd after protestors reportedly burned down government buildings including the local police station, destroyed vehicles including police vehicles, stabbed police officers with swords, and attempted to take firearms from the police, during which the police fired warning shots to no avail. The government stated that the police acted in self-defense. According to the Chinese government, four protesters were wounded, and 18 civilians, along with a police officer, were killed. The Tibetan government-in-exile claimed there were at least 99 deaths across the region.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, PRC and Dalai Lama dialogues
On March 19, Premier Wen Jiabao condemned the Dalai Lama's alleged role in the riot, but said the possibility for a dialogue remained open if he renounced Tibetan independence, and if he "recognizes Tibet and Taiwan as inalienable parts of the Chinese territory". The Dalai Lama has repeatedly stated he seeks autonomy, not independence, citing the need for Tibet to develop as a modern nation.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, PRC and Dalai Lama dialogues
On May 4, two representatives of the PRC government, Zhu Weiqun and Sitar met with two representatives of the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. The two sides exchanged views and agreed that a further round of talks should be held at an appropriate time.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, PRC and Dalai Lama dialogues
Plans for the meeting had been announced by the Xinhua News Agency on April 25, and was confirmed by the Dalai Lama's spokesman.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, PRC and Dalai Lama dialogues
This was the first high-level dialogue between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the PRC government since the March unrest, and was the continuation of a series of talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama's representatives, including his immediate family and close aides.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Chinese and Dalai Lama responses, PRC and Dalai Lama dialogues
A second meeting was scheduled for June 11. However, due to the 2008 Sichuan earthquakes, the two sides agreed to postpone the meeting. The second meeting was held on July 1.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
Reports of casualties, deaths deaths and machine gun fire from reliable independent media sources and Tibetan sources contradict reports from Chinese government sources.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
China's state media Xinhua News Agency reported on early Saturday, 15 March, that 10 people had been burned to death by Tibetans, including two hotel employees and two shop owners. It also reported that the victims were all innocent civilians and that most of them were business people. The state-run People's Daily reported on 21 March that, according to the Tibet regional government, 18 civilians and 1 police officer had been confirmed dead in the unrest by the night of Friday, 14 March. It also reported the number of injured civilians rose to 382 from 325, 58 of whom were critically wounded. 241 police officers were injured, 23 of whom were critically wounded.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
On 17 March, Tibet Autonomous Region governor Champa Phuntsok announced that 16 had been confirmed dead over the weekend's violence and dozens injured. Other sources published after the same press conference indicate that China put the death toll in Lhasa at 13. The Associated Press later reported that the Chinese government's official death toll from the previous week's rioting in Lhasa had risen to 22. Accordingly, the death toll reported by Xinhua had risen to 19.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
The 14th Dalai Lama said China was causing a cultural genocide in Tibet, and the Central Tibetan Administration reported by 16 March to have confirmed at least 80 deaths of Tibetans, then increased the death count by Chinese forces to more than 140 people, as reported on 5 April. The Central Tibetan Administration's number of Tibetans killed since increased to 220, including subsequent deaths through to January 2009.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
A month after the unrest began on 10 March, the Dalai Lama stated that since the beginning of the demonstrations in Tibet at least 400 people had been killed, and thousands of others arrested.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
Foreign tourists and Chinese eyewitnesses in Lhasa said "they saw and heard repeated gunfire there on Friday", 14 March. Although Phuntsok claimed that Chinese police did not fire their guns or use anti-personnel weapons against the Tibetan protesters, additional reports from BBC, Central Tibetan Administration, Tibetan Review, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International contradict Puncog's claim and state "indiscriminate shootings" by Chinese forces occurred, and that leaked evidence of machine gun use has been documented. Puncog also states Tibetans wounded 61 police officers, including six seriously, and reported that 13 civilians had been killed. According to reporter James Miles, the police fatalities included both Tibetans and the Han Chinese.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
A blockade by China of monasteries was reported by an Indian newspaper and Phayul, a news source affiliated with Central Tibetan Administration. The police had blocked off water, electricity, food and health facilities in Sera Monastery, Drepung monastery, Ganden monastery and at other monasteries active in the demonstrations. As a consequence, monks were suffering starvation, and on 25 March one monk died from starvation at Ramoche Temple.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
On 28 March, the International Herald Tribune reported 5 female retail workers had been burned alive when Tibetan rioters set fire to the Yishion clothing store where they worked. The article noted one of them was Tibetan.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Casualties and fatalities
In October 2009, four Tibetans were executed in connection with their involvement with the unrest. According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, "the executions were not announced by the Chinese news media, and a woman who answered the phone at the Lhasa Municipal Intermediate People’s Court hung up when asked to confirm the accounts provided by the exile group.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
The BBC, sourcing information from a Human Rights Watch report, reported that "witnesses recounted that monks who initially tried to go through the police lines were thrown to the ground, kicked, and taken away." The arrest of 15 monks from Sera Monastery was confirmed by state-run China Tibet News, which added 13 of the monks were prosecuted. The Human Rights Watch report stated that "up to 60 monks were arrested" on 10 March in Lhasa.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
The first non-monastic Tibetans were reportedly arrested in Barkhor Square on 11 March.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
In Aba Town, Free Tibet reported on 21 March that dozens of nuns from Mani Nunnery were arrested, while many more Tibetans in the area were reported as missing.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
Another report on the Kardze area from Radio Free Asia in May 2008 states at least 200 people were detained after 24 March, while 7 nuns were sentenced to prison and 107 nuns were detained. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported that three nuns from Dragkar Nunnery detained in Kardze were tortured, reportedly leading to the death and disappearance of one of the nuns.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
During a Chinese state sponsored tour for journalists on 7 April, two monks at Labrang Monastery that spoke out to reporters have since disappeared.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
Amnesty International reported in June 2008 that over 1,000 Tibetan protesters detained by Chinese authorities were "unaccounted for", while more than 1,000 monks, nuns, students and citizens had disappeared by 2008. Another report from Amnesty International stated 5,600 Tibetans were arrested through to January 2009.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
By 5 April, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported that the Chinese authorities had arrested over 2,300 Tibetans from various parts of Tibet, and claimed that "Tibetans are sometimes secretly killed in detention".


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
The TCHRD also reported that a 38-year-old Tibetan woman, who was involved in peaceful protests on 16 and 17 March in Ngaba County, died after reportedly being tortured in a Chinese prison. Following her release, the government hospital had reportedly refused to admit her.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
According to a 10 October 2009 report by the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, at least 670 Tibetans had been imprisoned in 2009 for activities that included peaceful protest or leaking information to the outside world.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Arrests and disappearances
On 7 November, the state-run Lhasa Evening News reported a retired doctor was sentenced in Lhasa to 15 years imprisonment on espionage charges for passing information to the Central Tibetan Administration. The sentencing corresponds to the PRC's concealment of hospital records, as Human Rights Watch reported.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage
During the protests and demonstrations, Chinese authorities prohibited foreign and Hong Kong media from entering Tibet and expelled those already there. Two German reporters, Georg Blume of Die Zeit and Kristin Kupfer of Profil, left Tibet on March 18 due to pressure from the authorities, and James Miles, a correspondent from The Economist, said that China "insisted however that when my permit did expire on the 19th that I had to leave. I asked for an extension and they said decisively no."


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage
Domestic Chinese media initially downplayed the riots, but this changed relatively quickly as they began to focus on the violence against Han citizens. There was speculation that the violence would affect attendance at the 2008 Olympic Games, particularly amid pressure for leaders to boycott the games, but the calls for boycott went largely unheeded.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage
Tania Branigan of The Guardian reported the Chinese government blocked foreign broadcasters and websites, and denied journalists access to protest areas. Websites such as YouTube, The Guardian website, portions of the Yahoo! portal, and sections of The Times website had been restricted.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage
The Chinese media accused Western media of reporting with inaccuracy and little independent cross-checking. The Chinese state-run newspaper China Daily claiming Western media deliberately misrepresented the situation. The newspaper stated that The Washington Post used pictures of baton-wielding Nepalese police in clashes with Tibetan protesters in Kathmandu, claiming that the officers were Chinese. The article stated that Chinese citizens had been angered by what they saw as biased and sometimes dishonest reporting by Western media. There was also criticism of CNN's use of a cropped picture that shows only the military truck but not rioters who were attacking it.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage
John Vause, who reported this story, responded to the criticism saying, "technically it was impossible to include the crashed car on the left". The CNN image was later replaced with one that was cropped differently. On 24 March, the German TV news channel RTL Television disclosed that a photograph depicting rioters had been erroneously captioned. Separately, another German station, n-tv, admitted that it had mistakenly aired footage from Nepal during a story on Chinese riots. The Agence France-Presse reported that Chinese students abroad had set up the website Anti-CNN to collect evidence of "one-sided and untrue" foreign reporting. Media accused of falsified reporting include CNN, Fox News, The Times, Sky News, Der Spiegel, and the BBC. Der Spiegel has rejected the accusations in an article. According to The New York Times, CNN apologized on May 18 over some comments made on April 9.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage
Riots against non-Tibetans began on Friday, 14 March. Chinese TV channels aired hours of anti-Chinese riots in Lhasa and the aftermath. Employees at the state television service CCTV's English service were instructed to keep broadcasting footage of burned-out shops and Chinese wounded in attacks. As of 18 March, no footage of demonstrators acting peacefully was shown. China's Communist Party newspaper, the People's Daily, called on the government to "resolutely crush the 'Tibet independence' forces' conspiracy and sabotaging activities". The People's Daily also accused the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration of orchestrating the protests in its commentary. Yahoo! China published "most wanted" posters across its homepage to assist Chinese police in apprehending protestors; 24 Tibetans are believed to have been arrested as a result.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage
On 17 March, the Toronto Star reported the accounts of various Canadian witnesses who were caught up in the violence. One Canadian witnessed an attack by a mob on a motorcyclist, others recounted how the violence of the riots forced them to escape with help from taxi drivers and guides, and another described how they intervened to save a Han Chinese man from a mob.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage, Foreign reporter group
After expelling foreign journalists, the Chinese government selected a group of foreign journalists which were given restricted access to the region. The Agence France-Presse and Deutsche Welle reported on the decision by the Chinese government, which allowed a small group of reporters to tour Tibet. The journalists allowed to tour Tibet included those from The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Financial Times, Kyodo News Agency, the Korean Broadcasting System, Al-Jazeera, and the Associated Press. The journalists were kept under close control while in Lhasa. Chinese authorities said the limited number of journalists permitted to attend and the restrictions on their movements were based on logistical considerations.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage, Foreign reporter group
On 27 March, the media tour through Lhasa was disrupted by a group of detained monks from Jokhang Monastery. Reports from Taiwanese journalists also invited on the tour stated that the Jokhang monks told them that they had been locked down in the temple even though they had not participated in the riots, and implored the journalists to report the information. Padma Choling, the vice-chairman of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, stated that they were locked down pending police interviews in relation to the riots, and that they were released once interviewed.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Media coverage, Foreign reporter group
He also promised that the monks involved in the protest would be "dealt with" according to law. The Tibetan activist group International Campaign for Tibet stated on 28 March that it feared for the welfare and whereabouts of the monks which spoke out during the media tour, specifically those monks from Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Ganden Monastery and Ramoche Temple. The group did not explain why it identified four monasteries when the protest involved only monks from Jokhang. Choling later told reporters the monks would not be punished. Detained monks at Labrang Monastery also reportedly spoke to the journalists on tour, and likewise implored them to report their detainment. Subsequent reports of blockades by Chinese authorities at Sera, Drepung, Ramoche and Labrang monasteries reportedly led to starvation conditions.


2008 Tibetan unrest, International reaction
According to Wen Jiabao, the Premier of the People's Republic of China, attacks on between ten and twenty Chinese embassies and consulates occurred around the same time as attacks on non-Tibetan interests in the Tibet Autonomous Region and several other ethnic Tibetan areas.


2008 Tibetan unrest, International reaction
According to an article by Doug Saunders published in The Globe and Mail, the protests were loosely coordinated by a group of full-time organizers hired by two umbrella groups that were loyal to the Tibetan government in exile. Documents were sent to more than 150 Tibet support groups around the world giving them detailed notes on how to behave when organizing similar disruptions as the Olympic flame made its six-month trip around the world. This included advice on maintaining non-violence and following the Dalai Lama's opposition to Tibetan national independence. Protesters were to advocate a more autonomous Tibet within China. However, many of the protestors did not follow this advice. Doug Saunders further stated that the torch-relay protests had no relationship with the unrest in Tibet.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Impact on the 2008 Summer Olympics
There were rumors that some athletes were considering boycotting the 2008 Summer Olympics over the unrest. The vice-president of the International Olympic Committee discouraged this, as well as the European Union and the Olympic Committees of Europe and Australia, who condemned politicizing sport. The 14th Dalai Lama also reiterated that he was against any boycott.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Impact on the 2008 Summer Olympics
The attendance of government leaders at the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony was watched by the media, because some groups called for a boycott of the ceremony on both human rights and Tibetan violence grounds. Nonetheless, by the end of July 2008, the leaders of more than 80 countries had decided to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, more than in any of the preceding Olympics.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Impact on the 2008 Summer Olympics
All but one leader of the countries that did not attend the opening ceremonies emphasized that it was not to boycott the Olympics; one German chancellor said that there was "no link to Tibet". Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk was the one European head of government to boycott the opening ceremonies because of the violence in Tibet.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Impact on the 2008 Summer Olympics
On 20 March, the U.S. Department of State issued a warning to U.S. citizens attending the Beijing Olympics, stating that "Americans' conversations and telephones could be monitored and their rooms could be searched without their knowledge or consent".


2008 Tibetan unrest, Aftermath
According to the People's Daily, normalcy returned on 24 March to some affected areas in Sichuan Province, as schools, shops and restaurants reopened to the public.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Aftermath
On March 26, a small group of foreign journalists were taken by bus into Tibet, in a move that appeared calculated to bolster government claims that authorities were in control and that the protests which began peacefully were acts of destruction and murder. The heavily armed police presence indicated Lhasa remained under lockdown. Reporters were guided to burned streets in Lhasa hung with a red banner that read, "Construct a Socialist Harmonious Society", a catchphrase from the Chinese president's efforts to deal with social unrest created by an increasing gap between an urban middle class and the poor. The Dalai Lama called the trip "a first step", provided that reporters were given complete freedom.


2008 Tibetan unrest, Aftermath
The Open Constitution Initiative, operated by several Weiquan lawyers and intellectuals, issued a paper in May 2009 challenging the official narrative and suggesting that the protests were a response to economic inequities, Han Chinese migration, and religious sentiments. The OCI recommended that Chinese authorities better respect and protect the rights and interests of the Tibetan people, including religious freedom.


2008 Tim Hortons Brier
The 2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's men's curling championship, was held from March 8 to 16 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Skipped by Kevin Martin, Alberta defeated the defending champion, and reigning World Champion Glenn Howard and Team Ontario. The final pitted arguably the top 2 teams in the world, at least the top 2 teams in the World Curling Tour. The final, while close, failed to live up to expectations, and was widely considered boring, and was full of mistakes due to ice problems. Martin had a draw to the button in the tenth end to win the game.


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Kevin Martin Third: John Morris Second: Marc Kennedy Lead: Ben Hebert Alternate: Adam Enright


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Fourth: Jim Cotter Skip: Bob Ursel Second: Kevin Folk Lead: Rick Sawatsky Alternate: Tom Buchy


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Kerry BurtnykThird: Dan KammerlockSecond: Richard DaneaultLead: Garth SmithAlternate: Reid Carruthers


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : James Grattan Third: Mike Kennedy Second: Jason Vaughan Lead: Peter Case Alternate: Andy McCann


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Brad Gushue Third: Mark Nichols Second: Chris Schille Lead: Dave Noftall Alternate: Glenn Goss


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Eric Harnden Third: E. J. Harnden Second: Ryan Harnden Lead: Caleb Flaxey Alternate: Brad Jacobs


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Brian Rafuse Third: Curt Palmer Second: Alan Darragh Lead: Dave Slauenwhite Alternate: Glenn Josephson


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Glenn Howard Third: Richard Hart Second: Brent Laing Lead: Craig Savill Alternate: Steve Bice


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Peter Gallant Third: Kevin Champion Second: Mark O'Rourke Lead: John Desrosiers Alternate: Mark Butler


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Jean-Michel Ménard Third: Martin Crête Second: Éric Sylvain Lead: Jean Gagnon Alternate: Philippe Ménard


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Pat Simmons Third: Jeff Sharp Second: Gerry Adam Lead: Steve Laycock Alternate: Warren Jackson


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Teams
Skip : Chad Cowan Third: Wade Scoffin Second: James Buyck Lead: Clint Ireland Alternate: Doug Gee


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Round robin results
All draw times are listed in Central Standard Time (UTC−6).


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Playdowns, Alberta
The 2008 Boston Pizza Cup February 12–17, Grant Fuhr Arena, Spruce Grove


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Playdowns, Manitoba
Double knock out format with a playoff round and then a page playoff championship. After Saturday afternoon draws.


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Playdowns, Ontario
The 2008 TSC Stores Tankard, February 4–10, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Waterloo


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Playdowns, Saskatchewan
February 6–10, Balgonie Arena, Balgonie. Triple elimination until playoff round.


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Playdowns, Yukon/Northwest Territories
February 14–17, Whitehorse Curling Club, Whitehorse. Double round robin. Through five draws.


2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Playdowns, Yukon/Northwest Territories
Defending champion Jamie Koe was eliminated in the N.W.T. playdowns.


2008 Times Square bombing
On the morning of March 6, 2008, an unknown individual placed a small bomb in front of a United States Armed Forces recruiting station in Times Square, located in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. There were no injuries. A security camera shows the bomber riding a bicycle as he approaches the station, dismounting the bike and planting the bomb, and then speeding off shortly before the blast.


2008 Times Square bombing
New York City police has yet to identify the bomber. Because of their similarities, investigators have suggested the bombing may be linked to two prior and one subsequent New York City bombings done in front of the Mexican Consulate in 2007, the British Consulate in 2005  and an Upper East Side Starbucks in 2009; however, upon the arrest of a suspect police now believe the Starbucks blast to be unrelated.


2008 Times Square bombing
A letter sent to Congress with the words "we did it" was originally thought to be connected to the bombing, but ended up being completely unrelated to the incident. Investigators also initially suspected the bombing may be related to an incident on the Canada–United States border in February 2008. Pictures of Times Square and anarchist-type material were found in a car that was randomly stopped by the police.


2008 Times Square bombing, Incident
The bombing took place at around 3:43 a.m in front of a United States Armed Forces recruiting station in Times Square. A security camera mounted at 1501 Broadway shows an individual riding a bicycle eastbound on 38th Street and Madison Avenue. He headed toward the recruiting center, putting himself out of camera view. He then placed an improvised explosive device in front of the building, and left the area on a bicycle, reappearing on camera.


2008 Times Square bombing, Incident
The bomber was seen riding a bicycle wearing a grey hooded jacket and a backpack, and was described as a "large" man. Retired New York City detective Ray Pierce suggested he may be a bicycle messenger, noting the "comfortable" way he is seen riding his bicycle. He also described the bomber as being a young, "frustrated" individual, who is trying to send a "confusing" message. Because of the low-powered explosive and the attack coming in the early morning hours, Pierce has suggested that the bomber is more likely trying to send a message, rather than hurting anyone.


2008 Times Square bombing, Incident
Kelly described the bomb as "low-order explosive" and "not a particularly sophisticated device" contained in a military-style ammunition box.


2008 Times Square bombing, Investigation, Bicycle
A 1980s blue 10-speed Ross bicycle was found by construction workers in a dumpster located on East 38th Street, a few blocks from the bombing. Unaware of the bombing, several of the workers rode around on the bicycle, which made it harder for investigators to obtain fingerprints. After they heard about the bombing, they turned the bicycle over to the police. Investigators believed that the bicycle was the one used by the bomber. Fingerprints lifted from the bicycle ended up having "no value" in figuring out the identity of the bomber.


2008 Times Square bombing, Investigation, Bicycle
New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly stated "I don't think anyone was seen leaving the bike". Investigators hoped that the public would be able to focus on the bike for up to a month after the bombing occurred. The bicycle was manufactured and sold in the 1980s at a store called "Yonkers Cycle Center" located in Westchester County, New York. The store has since been closed down and the owner has died. Investigators believed the bicycle may have recently changed owners, as one investigator stated "someone may have sold it at a yard sale". Investigators believe the bicycle was stored indoors for most of the time.


2008 Times Square bombing, Investigation, Letters
Hours after the bombing, Democratic Party members of Capitol Hill received letters that contained the words "Happy New Year, We did it" and a picture of a man standing in front of the Times Square recruiting center. The letters also included  a 64-page anti-Iraq War statement. The letters were sent in 5 inch-by-8 inch manila envelopes with two $1 stamps and a white label. Because each letter was numbered, investigators believed over 100 letters were mailed out. Recipients of the letters were warned not to open them and to notify police. Investigators originally believed the letters were connected with the bombing, but were proved to be completely unrelated to the incident and a coincidence.


2008 Times Square bombing, Investigation, Letters
The letters were mailed by David Karnes, a Los Angeles area lawyer and anti-war protester. After Karnes was questioned and his house was searched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), his claim of not being connected with the bombing was proved to be valid. He was actually trying to send an anti-Iraq War statement and advice for the Democrats on how to win the 2008 presidential election. In an interview with The New York Times, David Karne's mother stated "I know when he said, ‘We did it,’ he was talking about the Democratic Party".


2008 Times Square bombing, Investigation, Letters
She also stated that the picture of the man standing in front of the Times Square recruiting center was  David Karnes. Investigators have said that the letters must have been sent weeks before the bombing occurred, since they went through the standard screening process, which can take up to a week or more. A law enforcement officer referred to the letters as an "ugly coincidence".


2008 Times Square bombing, Possible connection to past incidents, Similarities to past bombings
Investigators have noted the similarities between the Times Square bombings and past bombings in New York. In 2005 an individual riding a bike threw a grenade in front of the British consulate. A similar incident occurred in front of the Mexican consulate, which also involved an individual throwing a grenade in front of the window. Like the Times Square bombing, both incidents took place in the early morning hours and involved a man riding a bicycle. Investigators have not linked the incidents.


2008 Times Square bombing, Possible connection to past incidents, Canada–U.S. border incident
After the bombing, investigators revisited an incident that occurred on the Canada–United States border. In February 2008, four men attempted to cross the border into Canada from New York. While they were being questioned by Canadian border agents, one of the men fled from the car, getting away. He left behind a backpack, inside of which pictures of New York City locations were found, including pictures of the Times Square recruiting center. At the time of the incident U.S. authorities did not find any evidence of criminal activity. Investigators have not linked the bombing to the border incident.


2008 Times Square bombing, Possible connection to past incidents, Canada–U.S. border incident
The men have been described as "anarchist types". A U.S. government official has stated he strongly doubts a link between the border incident and bombing will be found, noting that the recruiting center is in a prominent location in Times Square and would most likely appear in pictures taken at Times Square.


2008 Times Square bombing, Response
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Federal Bureau of Investigation officials appeared later in the morning in a joint news conference. Mayor Bloomberg denounced the attack and said that it "insults every one of our brave men and women in uniform stationed around the world.”


2008 Times Square bombing, Response
John McCain’s presidential campaign released a statement after the bombing:


2008 Times Square bombing, Response
The attempted attack that happened in New York City this morning when someone tried to harm a recruiting station in Times Square is unacceptable in America. I know Mayor Bloomberg as well as other law enforcement agencies are actively working, and I have been assured a full investigation is taking place and hope they bring the individuals to justice as quickly as possible. We cannot allow this to happen to the men and women serving in our military whether they are at home or abroad.


2008 Times Square bombing, Response
I am deeply concerned by the detonation of a small bomb at the military recruiting office in Times Square. While we should be grateful that there were no injuries and minimal damage, there is an ongoing investigation into whether the attack is linked to foreign terrorist groups, and federal, state, and city authorities should be given every resource and every tool to swiftly complete that investigation. Having worked with and supported our law enforcement and national security authorities in New York, I am confident that they will get the job done. Whatever else we learn about this attack, it is a reminder of the threats we continue to face at home and the importance of remaining vigilant.


2008 Times Square bombing, Response
On June 18, 2013, the FBI released new video footage of the purported bomber, also announcing that a $65,000 reward would be given to anyone who could provide information leading to his identification, arrest and conviction. The reward was increased to $115,000 in April 2015.


2008 Tippeligaen
The 2008 Tippeligaen was the 64th completed season of top division football in Norway. The season began on 29 March and ended 2 November. Brann were the defending champions, having won their third Tippeligaen championship in 2007. The teams promoted from the 1. divisjon at the end of the previous season were champions Molde, automatic qualifiers HamKam, and play-off winners Bodø/Glimt.


2008 Tippeligaen, Overview, Summary
Stabæk secured their first ever league championship by defeating Vålerenga 6–2 in the penultimate round. From the 2009 season onwards, the number of teams in the Tippeligaen was expanded from fourteen to sixteen. To accommodate this expansion, only one team faced automatic relegation to the 1. divisjon, as opposed to the regular two, while the three best teams in the 1. divisjon were awarded automatic promotion. As in previous years, there was a two-legged playoff at the end of the season, this time between the thirteenth-placed team in the Tippeligaen and the fourth best team in the 1. divisjon.


2008 Tippeligaen, Teams, Stadiums and locations
Fourteen teams competed in the league – the top eleven teams from the previous season, and three teams promoted from 1. divisjon.


2008 Tippeligaen, Relegation play-offs
By finishing 13th, Aalesund competed in a two-legged relegation play-off against Sogndal, who finished 4th in the 2008 1. divisjon, for the right to play in the 2009 Tippeligaen. Sogndal played at home first, decided in a draw held by the NFF. Aalesund won 7–2 on aggregate, thereby securing a new season in the Tippeligaen. Sogndal remained in the 1. divisjon.


2008 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The 2008 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship was the 118th staging of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship since its establishment by the Tipperary County Board in 1887. The draw for the 2008 fixtures took place in August 2008. The championship began on 13 September 2008 and ended on 19 October 2008.


2008 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
Loughmore-Castleiney were the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Toomevara in the semi-final.


2008 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
On 19 October 2008, Toomevara won the championship following a 2-14 to 0-17 defeat of Thurles Sarsfields in the final. This was their 22nd championship title overall and their first since 2006. It remains their last championship victory.


2008 Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship, Format
All the teams that reached the divisional semi-finals qualified for the county championship. The eight teams that made the divisional finals were protected by being put in one side of the draw while the defeated semi-finalists were put in the other.


2008 Tipperary county hurling team season
The 2008 season was Liam Sheedy's first season in charge of the Tipperary senior hurling team. He was appointed for a one-year term at a meeting of the county board on 25 September 2007. Paul Ormond was the team captain for the year but Eoin Kelly was the playing captain when Ormond wasn't named in the team.


2008 Tipperary county hurling team season
On 27 January, Tipperary won the pre-season Waterford Crystal Cup for the second year in a row after a 3–13 to 1–13 defeat of Waterford. During the National League, Tipperary recorded three wins and two draws to finish second in Division 1B and secure a place in the knock-out stages. Subsequent defeats of Waterford and Kilkenny saw Tipperary qualify for the final in which they defeated Galway by 3–18 to 3–16 to take the title for the 19th time.


2008 Tipperary county hurling team season
In the Munster Championship, Tipperary recorded their first defeat of Cork in Cork since 1923, before winning the Munster title following a 2–21 to 0–19 defeat of Clare in the final. Tipperary's went on to play Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-final where they lost by two points, it was there only defeat of the year.


2008 Tipperary county hurling team season
Liam Sheedy was reappointment as manager for another term in October 2008.


2008 Tipperary county hurling team season, 2008 senior hurling management team, 2008 squad
The following players made their competitive senior debut in 2008.


2008 Tipperary county hurling team season, Awards
Brendan Cummins, Conor O'Mahony, and Shane McGrath all won All Star Awards.


2008 Tirreno–Adriatico
The 2008 Tirreno–Adriatico, the 43rd running of the race, took place from March 12 to March 18, 2008. The race started in Civitavecchia and ended in San Benedetto del Tronto.


2008 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles season
The 2008 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles season was the fourth season of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles franchise. The Eagles played their home games at Miyagi Baseball Stadium in the city of Sendai as members of Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League. The team was led by Katsuya Nomura on his third season as team manager.


2008 Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles season
Rakuten did not qualify for the Climax Series, finishing the season in fifth place with a record of 65–76–3.


2008 Tokelauan general election
Parliamentary elections were held in Tokelau on 17 January, 18 January and 19 January 2008 to elect the 20 members of the General Fono. The elections saw Kolouei O'Brien replaced as faipule of Fakaofo by Foua Toloa.


2008 Tokyo Marathon
The 2008 Tokyo Marathon (Japanese: 東京マラソン 2008) was the second edition of the annual marathon race in Tokyo, Japan and was held on Sunday, 17 February. The men's race was won by Switzerland's Viktor Röthlin in a time of 2:07:23, while the women's race was won by German Claudia Dreher in 2:35:35.


2008 Toledo Rockets football team
The 2008 Toledo Rockets football team represented the University of Toledo during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Toledo competed as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Rockets were led by Tom Amstutz in his eighth and final year as head coach.


2008 Toledo Rockets football team
Toledo finished the year 3–9 overall and 2–6 in conference play. The season highlight was a 13–10 victory over the Michigan Wolverines; Michigan entered the game 24–0 against MAC teams.


2008 Tommy Murphy Cup
The fifth Tommy Murphy Cup Gaelic football competition commenced on July 12, 2008. The competition was in knockout format: the nine teams who play in the National Football League 2009 Division 4 competed. Antrim beat holders Wicklow in the final.


2008 Tonga Major League
The 2008 season of the Tonga Major League was the 30th season of top flight association football competition in Tonga. Lotohaʻapai United won the championship for the eleventh time, the last championship won in a record streak of 11 titles in the Tonga Major League.


2008 Tongan Legislative Assembly
The 2008 Tongan Legislative Assembly is the previous term of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Its composition was determined by the 2008 elections, held on April 23 and 24, 2008. It served until 2010, when special elections were held under a new constitution.


2008 Tongan Legislative Assembly
Nine members of the parliament are People's Representatives, nine represent the 33 nobles, and fourteen are Cabinet Ministers appointed by the King.


2008 Tongan Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the 2008 Legislative Assembly was Hon Tu'ilakepa.


2008 Tongan general election
General elections were held in Tonga on 23 and 24 April 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly. The nobles were elected on 23 April, and the nine people's representatives on 24 April. A total of 32,000 people turned out to vote, giving a turnout of 48%.


2008 Tongan general election
71 candidates had filed for the people's representatives' seats, among them eight women. All nine incumbents stood for reelection, with six retaining their seats. Most of the pro-democracy MPs were returned, despite several facing charges of sedition over the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots Reportedly, all nine elected MPs were pro-democracy activists.


2008 Tongan general election
These elections were the last ones before democratic reforms expected to be implemented in 2010, which would change the seat balance as follows: 17 MPs would be popularly elected, nine MPs would be elected by the nobles and four MPs appointed by the king.


2008 Tongan general election
Viliami Uasike Latu requested a recount in Vava'u, the constituency he contested, as he missed out on the second seat there by only 51 votes. The recount was conducted from 5 to 9 May at the Office of the Governor of Vava’u, and confirmed the original result.


2008 Tongan general election, Controversy
About two weeks before the election, it was announced that the Tonga Broadcasting Commission would henceforth censor candidates' political broadcasts, and that TBC reporters would be banned from reporting on political matters, allegedly because they lacked the necessary training for objective coverage. The decision was criticised by the Pacific Islands News Association, and New Zealand's Minister of Revenue, Peter Dunne, commented that it was "unfortunate". Tonga Review said that the decision was a restriction on freedom of speech, and compared Tonga with Zimbabwe, a comparison rejected by the TBC.


2008 Tongan general election, Controversy
Tongan MP Clive Edwards said that the TBC's decision was aimed at stifling criticism of the government in the lead-up to the election, and to hamper the re-election chances of pro-democracy MPs. Pesi Fonua, head of the Tonga Media Council, said that the election "very much depends on how the candidates present themselves", and that censorship would "definitely have an impact".


2008 Tongan general election, Results, By constituency, Nobles' representatives
Nine nobles were elected by the 29 eligible members of the nobility on 23 April. All 29 voters cast votes. There were no nominations, and no candidates. Tu'iha'angana, outgoing Speaker of the House, lost his seat in Ha'apai.


2008 Top League Challenge Series
The 2008 Top League Challenge Series was the 2008 edition of the Top League Challenge Series, a second-tier rugby union competition in Japan, in which teams from regionalised leagues competed for promotion to the Top League for the 2008–09 season. The competition was contested from 27 January to 10 February 2008.


2008 Top League Challenge Series
Kintetsu Liners and Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars won promotion to the 2008–09 Top League, while Mazda Blue Zoomers and World Fighting Bull progressed to the promotion play-offs.


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Competition rules and information
The top two teams from the regional Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League qualified to the Top League Challenge Series. The regional league winners participated in Challenge 1, while the runners-up participated in Challenge 2.


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Competition rules and information
The top two teams in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2008–09 Top League, while the third-placed team in Challenge 1 and the Challenge 2 winner qualified to the promotion play-offs.


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Qualification
The teams qualified to the Challenge 1 and Challenge 2 series through the 2007 regional leagues.


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Qualification, Top West League
The final standings for the 2007 Top West League were:


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Qualification, Top East League
The final standings for the 2007 Top East League were:


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Qualification, Top Kyūshū League
The final standings for the 2007 Top Kyūshū League were:


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Challenge 1, Standings
The final standings for the 2008 Top League Challenge 1 were:


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Challenge 1, Matches
The following matches were played in the 2008 Top League Challenge 1:


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Challenge 2, Standings
The final standings for the 2008 Top League Challenge 2 were:


2008 Top League Challenge Series, Challenge 2, Matches
The following matches were played in the 2008 Top League Challenge 2:


2008 Toppserien
The 2008 season of the Toppserien, the highest women's football (soccer) league in Norway, began on 12 April 2008 and ended on 2 November 2008.


2008 Toppserien
22 games were played with 3 points given for wins and 1 for draws. Number eleven and twelve were relegated, while the two top teams from the First Division were promoted.


2008 Toppserien
Røa won the league, defending their title. Asker went defunct after the season, but relocated their team to Stabæk.


2008 Toray Pan Pacific Open
The 2008 Toray Pan Pacific Open was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 25th edition of the Toray Pan Pacific Open, and was part of the Tier I Series of the 2008 WTA Tour. It took place at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan, from September 15 through September 21, 2008. Dinara Safina won the singles title.


2008 Toray Pan Pacific Open, Champions, Doubles
Vania King  /  Nadia Petrova  defeated  Lisa Raymond /  Samantha Stosur, 6–1, 6–4


2008 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles
Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur were the defending champions, but Vania King and Nadia Petrova defeated them 6–1, 6–4, in the final.


2008 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Singles
Martina Hingis was the defending champion, but she retired from tennis the previous year.


2008 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Singles
Dinara Safina won the title, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final 6–1, 6–3. This was Safina's fourth title of the season.


2008 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Singles
This was the first edition of the Toray Pan Pacific Open to be held on outdoor hard courts; previously, the tournament had been held on indoor carpet courts.


2008 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Singles, Seeds
The top four seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2008 Torneo Apertura (Chile)
The 2008 Campeonato Nacional Apertura Copa Banco Estado  was the 83rd Chilean League top flight, in which Everton won its 4th league title after beating Colo-Colo in the finals. The 20 teams were organized into four groups, but played each other in a single round-robin format. The top-two teams from each group advanced to a single elimination play-off, but the best 3rd-place team had to worst 2nd-place team in an advancement play-off match.


2008 Torneo Clausura (Chile)
The 2008 Campeonato Nacional Clausura Copa Banco Estado  was the 84th Chilean League top flight, in which Colo-Colo won its 28th league title after beating Palestino in the finals. The format is the same as the Apertura tournament, but the field was reduced from 20 teams to 19 since Deportes Concepción withdrew before the start of the tournament due to financial problems.


2008 Torneo Clausura (Chile), Relegation, Relegation/promotion playoffs
Unión Española & Universidad de Concepción remained at the Primera División.


2008 Torneo Descentralizado
The 2008 Torneo Descentralizado (known as the Copa Cable Mágico for sponsorship reasons) was the ninety-second season of Peruvian football. A total of 14 teams competed in the tournament, with Universidad San Martín defending their national title. The season began on February 17, 2008 and ended on December 14, 2008.


2008 Torneo Descentralizado, Competition modus
The season was divided into two tournaments; Torneo Apertura from February to July and the Torneo Clausura from July to December. Both tournaments had the fourteen teams play a round-robin home-and-away round for a total of 26 matches in each tournament. The winner of the Torneo Apertura qualified to the 2009 Copa Libertadores group stage and was eligible to play in the season final if they finished above 8th place in the Torneo Clausura.


2008 Torneo Descentralizado, Competition modus
The winner of the Torneo Clausura also qualified to the group stage and was eligible to play in the season final if they finished above 8th place in the Torneo Apertura. A team that would've won both tournament was automatically season champion. If one of the tournament winners failed to place above 8th place, the other tournament winner would've been season champion. If both teams failed to finish above 8th place, the team that placed higher on the aggregate table–the summation of the points earned in both tournaments–would've been season champion. The two teams that placed last on the aggregate table were relegated and the best placed team–excluding the two tournament winners–qualified to the first stage of the 2009 Copa Libertadores. The second and third best placed teams on the aggregate table qualified to the 2009 Copa Sudamericana.


2008 Torneo Descentralizado, Changes from 2007, Promotion and relegation
Deportivo Municipal and Total Clean finished the 2007 season in 11th and 12th place, respectively, in the aggregate table and thus were relegated to the Segunda División. They were replaced by the champions of the Segunda División 2007 and Copa Perú 2007, Universidad César Vallejo and Juan Aurich. The F.P.F. also invited José Gálvez and Minero into the first division.


2008 Torneo Descentralizado, Season overview
Universitario won the Apertura title after 6 years of failing to win a half-year tournament. They won the title with 50 points, a ten-point lead, and had four games left to be played. Sporting Cristal was the other team close to winning the title, however they had three games left to play and would have been unable to reach Universitario. Universitario had a 15-game undefeated streak and a 9-game winning streak. In the Clausura Universitario did surprisingly worse and finished 11th. They lost four games at home and failed to finish in the top 7 to contest the national title.


2008 Torneo Descentralizado, Season overview
U. San Martin finished third in the Apertura and won the Clausura with three games to spare. They achieved their second national title after only four years of existence. This is the first time since 1958 where the big three were not able to win the title for two consecutive years.


2008 Torneo Descentralizado, Season overview
Alianza Lima experienced a terrible season because they were close to being relegated this season. Every team, with the exception of José Gálvez, gained points playing at their home ground and they had also lost several home games. Fortunately, Alianza Lima remained in the First Division. Sport Boys saved itself from relegation two years ago, however this year they could not. They were the worst team of the year and won very few games. Problems arose in the club as the players were not paid for many months. This led to a sorrowful year for the fans of Sport Boys.


2008 Torneo di Viareggio
The 2008 winners of the Torneo di Viareggio (in English, the Viareggio Tournament, officially the Viareggio Cup World Football Tournament Coppa Carnevale), the annual youth football tournament held in Viareggio, Tuscany, are listed below.


2008 Torneo di Viareggio, Format
The 48 teams are seeded in 12 pools, split up into 6-pool groups. Each team from a pool meets the others in a single tie. The winning club from each pool and two best runners-up from both group A and group B progress to the final knockout stage. All matches in the final rounds are single tie. The Round of 16 envisions penalties and no extra time, while the rest of the final round matches include 30 minutes extra time and penalties to be played if the draw between teams still holds. Semifinal losing teams play 3rd-place final with penalties after regular time. The winning sides play the final with extra time and repeat the match if the draw holds.


2008 Toronto Argonauts season
The 2008 Toronto Argonauts season was the 51st season for the team in the Canadian Football League and 136th season overall. The Argonauts attempted to win their 16th Grey Cup, but they failed to make the playoffs ending the season on a nine-game losing streak.


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Offseason, CFL Draft
In the 2008 CFL Draft, 48 players were chosen from among 752 eligible players from Canadian universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. The first two rounds were broadcast on TSN.ca with host Rod Black.


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Rosters, Preseason roster
Italics indicates Import player updated 2008-06-10 • 69 Active, 3 Inactive


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Rosters, End of season roster
Italics indicates Import player updated 2008-10-31 • 55 Active, 4 PR


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Regular season
Toronto started the season off well, winning against the Blue Bombers 23–16, but after that they compiled a 2–5 record the next 7 games. After the Bye week, everything went downhill, they won only one game and lost 9 start to finish the season 4–14 and missed the playoffs.


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Regular season
A raucous Labour Day crowd of 25,911 at Ivor Wynne Stadium witnessed a game that ended with a 34–31 Argo victory, the team's first win against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the season. Argo head coach Rich Stubler's job was rumoured to be on the line. Argos receiver Arland Bruce III found time for a little theatrics, celebrating an 11-yard TD catch by donning a Spider-Man mask produced from his pants. Several days later, the Canadian Football League fined the Argonauts receiver an undisclosed amount for his touchdown celebration. Game officials had handed Bruce an objectionable conduct penalty after the incident. Bruce went on to have his best game of the season, catching 10 passes for a game-high 149 yards.


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Regular season
On September 9, Stubler was released as head coach of the Argonauts after posting a 4–6 record. There was the belief he could not get along with those he worked with. The Argos hired Don Matthews, the head coach with the most wins in CFL history and head coach during Toronto's back-to-back Grey Cup victories in 1996 and 1997, to return to the club as head coach for the third time in his coaching career.


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Regular season
During the team's next game on September 12 at Rogers Centre, Winnipeg Blue Bombers slotback Milt Stegall became the most prolific receiver in the history of the CFL. The slotback caught a 92-yard pass at 9:02 in the second quarter to raise his career total to 14,983, breaking the mark of 14,891 yards previously held by former Stampeders receiver Allen Pitts. Stegall took a pass from Kevin Glenn and scored a touchdown, his second of the game. It put the Bombers ahead 28–3.


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Regular season
On October 31, Matthews resigned from the Argonauts a day after the conclusion of the Argonauts 2008 regular season, which saw the Argos fail to win a game in the eight games under his leadership and finishing out of the playoffs for the first time since the 2001 CFL season.


2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Postseason
The Argos finished third in the East Division with a record of 4 wins and 14 losses. The Edmonton Eskimos, who finished fourth in the West, had a better record of 10 and 8, and under the cross-over rule eliminated Toronto from the playoffs and play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the East semi-final.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season
The 2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, the team's 32nd year of existence, saw the Blue Jays finish in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses for a .531 winning percentage, thus making this season the third consecutive winning season for the Jays, as well as being the highest win-loss record since their 2006 season.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Off-season
General Manager J. P. Ricciardi maintained through the off-season that he was content with the Blue Jays' roster as it was. Nevertheless, he made a number of moves, two of which would likely have a significant effect on the team in the 2008 season. The team's acquisition of all-star shortstop David Eckstein was met with a mixed reception from fans and critics. Eckstein's role on the team would displace two of Toronto's most popular players from their regular roles; Reed Johnson as leadoff hitter and John McDonald as starting shortstop.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Off-season
Eckstein was signed to fill the leadoff spot in the order which was void of a true leadoff man for much of 2007 due to the injury to Johnson. Johnson was released by the Blue Jays on March 23 and the LF position was given to Shannon Stewart who split time with Matt Stairs.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Off-season
The other major move by the club in the off-season was the trade of third baseman Troy Glaus to the Cardinals for David Eckstein's teammate, Scott Rolen. The move was generally seen to be a major risk to both parties, as both players were dealing with injuries over the past several seasons. The move was also noted as being somewhat redundant, given the various similarities between the two players. Both hit for power, though Glaus slightly more so, both were approximately the same age, and both were prone to injury. Rolen was, however, a significantly better defender than Glaus.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Off-season
The Blue Jays played their 5000th franchise regular season game on Friday July 25 against the Seattle Mariners.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Other acquisitions
The Blue Jays also signed catcher Rod Barajas (who split time with Gregg Zaun) and Marco Scutaro, who played third base for most of the games for the beginning of the season, until Scott Rolen returned from his injury in May.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Other acquisitions
On April 20, 2008, the Jays released veteran DH Frank Thomas. Although the Jays said it was due to a weak performance, Thomas stated it was probably because he only needed a little more than 300 at-bats to put his 2010 option year in effect. General Manager J. P. Ricciardi stated that this move was because the Blue Jays were falling behind early and Thomas was not producing. Ricciardi needed someone who could hit home runs and drive in RBIs from Thomas' spot in the batting order.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Expectations
The Blue Jays were picked by many experts to contend for a playoff spot in the agonizing AL East. The Blue Jays were also expected to challenge the Yankees and Red Sox in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Though they finished 2006 in second place, 2007 was an injury riddled season for the Jays, resulting in another mediocre third-place finish. The key to the Blue Jays' success in 2008 would be to stay healthy and hit well. Another repeat of 2007 would mean likely another mediocre season.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Expectations
Key players such as Alex Ríos, Vernon Wells, Scott Rolen, David Eckstein, Roy Halladay, A. J. Burnett and B. J. Ryan needed to stay virtually healthy and produce as they are capable of, if the Jays wished to seriously challenge or dethrone the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians for a playoff spot. Ultimately, the Blue Jays did not meet the expectations of contending and finished with a less than impressive season record.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, April
The Blue Jays finished the first week of the season by taking 4 out of 6 games against AL East powerhouses New York and Boston, including a sweep of the Red Sox. Following the first two series, however, they faced a 4–4 Oakland Athletics team and promptly got swept at home, including two close one-run losses. Closer Jeremy Accardo blew a save in the second game and took the loss for the second straight night after the A's scored in the ninth inning in the first game against him.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, April
Following the sweep by Oakland, the Jays headed out on the road and swept the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, which had been considered a house of horrors of sorts as Toronto had lost 16 of its last 19 games there. Before the third game of the series, pitcher B. J. Ryan was activated from the disabled list and reinstated as the team's closer. He went on to save the final game. The Jays completed their road trip by splitting a short two-game series with the Baltimore Orioles.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, April
The Blue Jays returned home to face Texas for a pair of games and lost both contests, despite an incredible pitching performance by the Toronto relief corps in the first game and a complete game from ace Roy Halladay in the second. In the first game, despite the energy provided by escaping dangerous situations (the Rangers left the bases loaded three times in extra innings and failed to score), the Blue Jays' offense struggled and failed to respond. Manager John Gibbons used up all the relievers and had to send starter A. J. Burnett to face the Rangers in the 14th inning, where he went on to give up two runs and took the loss.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, April
After splitting a four-game set with the surprisingly underachieving Detroit Tigers, Toronto left for a nine-game road trip, facing the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, and Boston Red Sox. The sojourn was completely forgettable, with the Jays being swept three straight by the Rays at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando and dropping two out of three to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, April
Prior to the Royals series, the Blue Jays activated third baseman Scott Rolen from the disabled list, and he hit his first home run in a Jays uniform in the third game, which the Jays took behind Jesse Litsch to snap a six-game losing streak (dating back to the last game of the Detroit series). However, the Blue Jays then travelled to Boston and closed out April by losing the first two games against the Red Sox in heartbreaking fashion, with Halladay and Scott Downs respectively giving up walk-off hits to give the BoSox narrow one-run victories.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, April
For Halladay, it was his fourth complete game in a row, but a lack of hitting by the Toronto lineup doomed him to a loss. The Blue Jays lost 11 of their last 14 games in April, and manager Gibbons received a lot of criticism for his team's performance from fans due to the lack of manufacturing runs and a seeming lack of motivation; some suggested that it may be time for a managerial change.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, May
Toronto salvaged the rubber match of the Boston series on May 1, but not without some controversy. After Burnett and Jesse Carlson shut out the Red Sox for eight innings, B. J. Ryan was called in to close out the game. Coco Crisp popped out to right to seemingly end the tilt, but second base umpire Bruce Dreckman called Ryan for a balk and ordered the game to continue. Crisp followed with a single to right, moving Brandon Moss to third. However, Ryan vindicated himself with a strikeout of Jed Lowrie to end the game for good.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, May
Building off the momentum, the Jays came back home and completed a four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox (the first time they had swept a four-game set since 2003). The Toronto pitching kept Chicago at bay, shutting them out twice, while Vernon Wells and Matt Stairs in particular came through with clutch hits against ChiSox pitching. Despite hopes that the woeful offense would come around, the Blue Jays then dropped two of three to the visiting Rays.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, May
In the first contest, starting shortstop David Eckstein left the game due to a hip injury, and his backup John McDonald followed him a short time later with a sprained ankle; both were eventually put on the 15-day disabled list. The last game with Tampa seemingly symbolized Toronto's struggles – after trailing for eight innings, they came back to tie in the bottom of the ninth, only to come up empty the next inning and waste a leadoff triple by Alex Ríos. In the 13th, Carl Crawford came through with a sacrifice fly off Shawn Camp, and a few batters later Dioner Navarro hit a grand slam, putting the game out of reach for the Jays.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, May
Prior to a road series in Cleveland, general manager Ricciardi attempted to pick up the team's sagging offense and deepen the bench by signing free-agent outfielder Brad Wilkerson and acquiring outfielder Kevin Mench in exchange for cash considerations. However, the Jays still lost three of four to the Indians, with Vernon Wells breaking his wrist trying to make a diving catch in the first game and missing the next 6–8 weeks.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, May
Despite the blow dealt by the absence of Wells, the victory in the last game of the Cleveland series seemed to spur the Jays' bats back to life somewhat, as they proceeded to sweep the Twins in Minnesota and then take two of three from the Phillies in their first interleague series of the year.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, May
Returning home, Toronto lost the first two games of a close three-game set to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim but won the last game, using it as a springboard for a four-game sweep of the Royals that brought them three games above .500 for the first time in the season. The Jays then took off for the West Coast, splitting the first two tense games in Oakland before blowing out the A's 12–0 in the final game.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, May
The momentum continued in Anaheim when the Jays pounded the Angels 10–4 in the first game, but lost a 3–2 nail-biter in 10 innings in the second game. Despite the tight loss to the Angels, Toronto enjoyed a remarkable recovery from their disastrous April, winning 20 games, just one shy of the club record for the most wins in a single month.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, June
On Friday June 20, 2008, after losing 5 in a row and falling 10.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox, the Blue Jays replaced John Gibbons with Cito Gaston. Cito is the only manager to lead the Blue Jays to World Series victories in 1992 over the Braves and won again 1993 over the Phillies.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, July
On Tuesday July 8, 2008, the Blue Jays won their first game in walk-off fashion of the season, and marking the first time since September 17, 2007 that the Jays won a walk-off-style game. The win was a 7–6 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles, and the walk-off win was achieved by an RBI single from Scott Rolen, bringing Alex Ríos to score, after stealing two bases via a strikeout by Vernon Wells before Rolen's at-bat in the bottom of the 9th inning.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, July
Rios earlier in the bottom of the 7th inning, scored a three-run triple (his 3rd triple of the season), bringing the score to 6–5 Baltimore. Immediately afterwards, Vernon Wells hit an RBI single (his 2nd single of the night), bringing Rios home and tying the game 6–6 before the walk-off finisher two innings later.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, July
Just 2 days later, on July 10, the Blue Jays won their second walk-off victory of the season, against the Baltimore Orioles. The win resulted in the Orioles being swept by the Jays, the first time since late May that the Jays won a sweep; against the Kansas City Royals. The Jays won 6–5. Marco Scutaro came as the first batter of the bottom of the 9th, as a pinch hitter for Matt Stairs; he struck out.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, July
Scutaro was followed by Rod Barajas who fired a single into right field and was subsequently replaced with pinch runner John McDonald, who ran to 2nd base. Then came Scott Rolen who fired the ball deep into right field, landing near the foul line and resulting in a double, sending Rolen to 2nd and McDonald to 3rd. Gregg Zaun was intentionally walked by Orioles' closer George Sherrill thus loading the bases. This was followed by a sacrifice fly from Lyle Overbay, scoring  McDonald and tying the game at 5–5. Lastly, Adam Lind came up and launched a ground ball single off to right field, past the glove of Aubrey Huff and placed near right fielder Nick Markakis. Rolen runs from 2nd base and makes it to home plate, giving the Blue Jays the sweep.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, August
On August 28, the Blue Jays designated DH Matt Stairs for assignment shortly after their 3–2 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, who went on to win the World Series.


2008 Toronto Blue Jays season, Season summary, August
After the Jays won their final game against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium 6–2 on August 31, shortstop David Eckstein was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a right-handed pitcher.