· June, 2009

Stories about Weblog from June, 2009

South Africa: To vuvuzela or not to vuvuzela?

  30 June 2009

Discussions about the popular instrument called the vuvuzela blown by South African football fans have dominated the blogosphere since the beginning of Confederations Cup 2009 in South Africa, which ended last week. Journalists, TV viewers, coaches and some foreign players called for a ban of the instrument during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The debate is as loud as the instrument itself.

Argentina: Kirchner Handed Defeat in Congressional Elections

  30 June 2009

The parliamentary elections held on Sunday, June 28 across Argentina have left a negative balance for the government of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and her husband Néstor. Their representation fell in both the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate. Their candidates were also defeated in many of the most heavily populated provinces.

Ecuador: State Contracts With President's Brother Raise Concerns

  29 June 2009

Contracts between the state petroleum company and several private companies raised some eyebrows when it was discovered that the brother of current president Rafael Correa was a member of some of the private enterprises. Even though Fabricio Correa has been emphatic that the contracts were won legally, it is still causing the government to look bad.

Grimaces of education in Kazakhstan

From June 01 to June 10 school graduates in Kazakhstan were undergoing Unified National Test (UNT) – the first and one of the most important tests in their lives. As Zara, one of our bloggers, writes, the average test result has been 74.9 points, which is 7 points higher than...

Honduras: Zelaya Arrested and Removed as President

  29 June 2009

The day started across Honduras with news that President Mel Zelaya was arrested in his home by armed soldiers on the same day of a controversial referendum. Days earlier, Zelaya had removed the head of the Armed Forces. Reactions ranged from calling the situation a coup d'état to those who saw the move as the only way to stop Zelaya's attempts to run for an additional term.

Pakistan: The Hunt For Baituallah Mehsud

  28 June 2009

Baitullah Mehsud, a Taliban leader, is currently the most wanted man in Pakistan and is responsible for many recent terrorist attacks in the country. The Pakistan army has recently started an operation against Baitullah Mehsud and his allies but the offensive threatens displacing more people from the region which can lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Iraq: Reflecting on Iran

Assuming my dear readers have not been living in a cave for the past couple of weeks, the developments after the recent Iranian elections need no introduction. Here I present, in their own words, the recent comments of Iraqi bloggers on the subject. So much has been said about the...

Iraq: Remembering Michael Jackson

There was some comment in the Iraqi blogs on Michael Jackson. But first… If you read no other blog this week read this one: A little late in the posting but essential reading. Sunshine studies for her exams while braving constant explosions, shooting and poor electricity. She writes: I wish...

Iranian officials ‘crowd-source’ protester identities

Iranian protesters appearing in widely disseminated online photos from the ongoing post-election demonstrations in Iran, are now being targeted on website of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It shows images of 20 people with red circles drawn around their faces claiming they have been involved in creating "chaos" in Tehran.

Honduras: Political Crisis Over Controversial Referendum

  27 June 2009

The political crisis in Honduras is deepening after the removal of the head of the Armed Forces because of his statements that the military would not support the scheduled referendum to take place on Sunday, June 28. Now there is increased uncertainty regarding the vote. Bloggers are worried about their country's present and future.

MJ Death Reaction in Kuwait

After the passing of Michael Jackson there has been a mixture of reactions from the Kuwaiti blogosphere: for some it was memories from their childhood, for others its discussing their own feelings about the artist and their reactions to other people's opinions. Abdullatif AlOmar translates Kuwaiti sentiment in this post.

Caribbean, USA: Tributes to the “King of Pop”

  26 June 2009

Despite the controversy which plagued him for the latter part of his eccentric life, the sudden and unexpected death of American-born entertainer Michael Jackson, dubbed "The King of Pop", has touched millions of people around the world - and the Caribbean is no exception. Regional bloggers pay their respects...