The Buzz Weekend Recap
by Jon Brooks
This weekend, news headlines emanated from the Americas summit and Iran, while the Web’s love affair with Susan Boyle continued unabated. Just a few of the more popular stories on Yahoo! Buzz…
Americas Summit
President Obama and Latin American leaders wrapped up the four-day Summit of the Americas on Sunday. A handshake between Obama and President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who once called President George W. Bush “the devil” in a speech before the United Nations, created the biggest buzz. Searches were plentiful for the video of the Obama-Chavez encounter, in which the Venezuelan president handed his U.S. counterpart a book (now No. 2 in sales on Amazon). A seeming thaw in U.S.-Cuban relations also made headlines, as President Obama responded to an overture from Cuban President Raúl Castro by calling for a new beginning between the two countries. In speaking about U.S.- Latin America relations, Obama said, “I think it’s important to recognize… the United States’ policy should not be interference in other countries, but that also means that we can’t blame the United States for every problem that arises in the hemisphere.” On Sunday, Obama defended his conciliatory approach.
Iran convicts U.S. reporter
Buzz users this weekend followed the story of journalist Roxana Saberi, who holds dual citizenship from both Iran and the United States, and who was sentenced by an Iranian court on Saturday to eight years in prison on charges of spying for America. On Sunday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad instructed Tehran’s chief prosecutor to ensure that “suspects be given all their rights to defend themselves,” a dictate that some are interpreting as a sign that Iranian leadership does not want to derail recent diplomatic progress with the United States. Obama has called for Saberi’s release, saying she is not a spy. Saberi has reported for NPR, BBC, and Fox News. She grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, and was the winner of the 1997 Miss North Dakota beauty pageant.
Susan Boyle aboil
That’s right. You can forget your Lindsay Lohan, your Britney Spears, your Octomom. You can even forget your Obama dog. Hands down, the queen of Buzz this week and continuing into the weekend was Susan Boyle. The Scottish singer wowed Simon Cowell on his U.K. show “Britain’s Got Talent,” belting out “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Misérables.” And now everyone’s searching for her rendition of “Cry Me a River,” which she recorded for a charity CD in 1999. Videos of Boyle are more viral than the flu, and news about her and her sudden fame is everywhere. Why has this dowdy, 47-year-old singer hit the buzz jackpot? A couple of theories, right here.
Also buzzing this weekend …
- The NBA playoffs have begun.
- Nicollette Sheridan is “Desperate” no more.
- Madonna was injured in a horseback riding accident on Saturday.
-- drakaal