Chinese government places media ban on train crash

Chinese authorities have imposed a media ban on coverage of a recent high-speed rail crash, following popular agitation online and local newspapers circumventing media restrictions, the Financial Times reported. The ban was ordered by China’s Ministry of Propaganda on Friday, which said that media outlets “are not allowed to publish any reports of commentaries, except positive news or information released by the authorities.” The announcement came just hours before several newspapers were preparing to run special issues to honor the seventh day of the crash, a time of cultural significance. One paper, Beijing News, was allegedly forced to cut a nine-page special report on the crash, instead running a full front-page weather report. The move also came one day after Premier Wen Jiabao visited the crash site and promised investigatory transparency.