· October, 2009

Stories about Breaking News from October, 2009

Honduras: The Beginning of the End of the Crisis?

  31 October 2009

An agreement that would reinstate deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya back into a power-sharing government is now in the hands of Congress, which could approve the deal and which could mean the beginning of the end of this crisis.

Armenia: Twitter counters false media report

  25 October 2009

After a news item in the local press reported that a British MP had been appointed as rapporteur on Armenia and Turkey, Unzipped says that it used Twitter to check the accuracy of the story. Tweeting a question to the MP in question, it turned out that the report was...

Lebanon Ups the Ante in the Hummus War

  25 October 2009

As many as 300 Lebanese chefs gathered yesterday in Beirut to make the largest ever plate of hummus in an attempt to claim the reigns in ownership of the popular chick pea dip. The new world record is part of an ongoing campaign in Lebanon to reaffirm the country's claim to a number of dishes being produced in Israel - with the ownership of hummus being one of the main quarrels.

Philippines: Relief Goods Rotting in Government Warehouses

  25 October 2009

Ella's Blog from the Philippines posts photos of donated goods intended for typhoon victims rotting in government warehouses. The expose has sparked fears that the goods might be misused to support administration candidates in next year's elections. The original site shows a “404 Not Found error” when it is accessed...

Puerto Rico: The National Strike (update)

  15 October 2009

Early this morning thousands of people began to flood the main avenues and highways of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, as part of the national strike that aims to paralyze the country for one day. Citizen media covered its developments.

Egypt: Niqab Ban Stirs Controversy

Egypt's top leading Islamic leader, Sheikh Mohammed Tantawi told a 13-year-old student to uncover her face, saying it was not part of the religious obligations of Muslim women. A few days later, Egypt banned female undergraduates from wearing the niqab in the country's public universities. Bloggers join in the debate.

Indonesia: Thousands still trapped under rubble

  3 October 2009

More than 3,000 people are still trapped under rubble days after a 7.6-magnitude quake struck Indonesia. Indonesian bloggers are reacting to the latest earthquake disaster which killed at least 1,000 people in the country.

Typhoon Ketsana batters Southeast Asia

  2 October 2009

Typhoon Ketsana struck several Southeast Asian countries leaving hundreds dead and millions homeless. It triggered the worst flooding in the Philippines which affected 3 million people as of this writing. It displaced hundreds of thousands of villagers in central Vietnam, Cambodia and southern Laos.

Indonesia: Post quake death toll worsens

  2 October 2009

The earthquake death toll in Indonesia surged past 1,000 while thousands more are feared dead or missing. Indonesian microbloggers are using the internet to help in the relief and rescue efforts.

Morocco: From Censorship to Seizure

The Moroccan Interior Ministry has decided to sue Arabic-language daily paper Akhbar Al Youm for publishing a cartoon lampooning the newly wedded Prince Moulay Ismail. Issues of the magazine have also been seized. Bloggers react to these latest developments in this post.

Philippines: 2.5 million persons affected by flooding

  1 October 2009

The number of flood casualties continues to rise in the Philippines: Almost 300 dead bodies. More than half a million individuals living in evacuation centers. And at least 2.5 million Filipinos affected by the flooding caused by Typhoon Ondoy. Bloggers are sharing their "typhoon" stories.