NEW YORK – Ninety musicians from around the world met in Carnegie Hall Wednesday for the first performance of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. YouTube held a contest that allowed musicians from anywhere in the world to audition through video clips to be a part of the orchestra. Finalists were then chosen by YouTube viewers. The selected finalists had only three days to rehearse together before the performance of “Internet Symphony No. 1, Eroica” by Tan Dun, a Chinese composer.
– BBC NewsBANGKOK, Thailand – After the declaration of a state of emergency, the 4,000 anti-government protesters agreed to end a three-week siege of Thailand’s capital building. The surrender was preceded by the protestors being surrounded by government forces. Two people were killed and nearly a hundred injured during the protests.
– www.latimes.com
UNITED STATES – Across the country on April 15, citizens protested the Obama administration’s $787 billion stimulus package and $3.5 trillion budget with tea bags. Inspired by the Boston Tea Party of 1773, protesters wore tea bags on their hats or umbrellas, or, for some in Washington, threw them on the White House lawn.
– www.nytimes.com