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Jun 2 In China, the General Motors (GM) and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) joint venture announces that sales of GM cars were a monthly record for May: 56,011 units. In the U.S., sales of GM cars have been falling, and GM is reconstituting itself through bankruptsy proceedings, with support from the federal government. The government is expected to acquire a temporary 60 percent stake in the company.

Jun 2 Those who make up the regime in North Korea have viewed themselves as Marxist and most progressive, but today the successor to leader Kim Jung-il, has been named as his son, Kim Jong-un, 26, the third generation in a monarchy-like family dynasty. Kim Jung-il, 67, General Secretary of the Workers' (Communist) Party of Korea, appears to have played a major role in the choice of his successor, which brings to mind another Communist Party General Secretary, Joseph Stalin, who also was supposed to be part of a collective leadership but was surrounded by yes-men. It is hard to imagine, however, Stalin naming any of his sons as his successor. To the world, Communist rule in North Korea appears as bizzare if not moreso than the Stalinist regime in the old Soviet Union -- for various reasons. Marx, of course, would not have liked either. Many expect the regime in North Korea eventually to go the way of authoritarian monarchies and Stalinist regimes.

Jun 3 California's Senate narrowly passes a bill to prohibit the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic food containers. The Los Angeles Times reports that "More than 200 independent scientific studies have linked BPA to brain development problems and behavioral troubles in young children, the early onset of puberty and several types of cancer." The bill now goes to the California Assembly.

Jun 4 Obama makes a speech at Al-Azhar University in Cairo that may be historic. He says that "violent extremists" had bred fear and that the "cycle of suspicion and discord must end." His speech was interrupted with applause 36 times. Among Muslims in the Middle East who are interviewed his speech is described as honest and sincere and viewed with favor.

Jun 5 As elsewhere in the Middle East, in Saudi Arabia President Obama's speech appears to have widespread approval. The major thrust of Obama's speech is in accord with Saudi King Abdullah's approach to reforms, international affairs, including anti-terrorism, and interfaith amity.

Jun 6 For two months in northern Peru, Indians were maintaining fuel and transport blockades to prevent drilling for oil and gas on their ancestral land. The government sent in the military to clear the blockades. Violence yesterday left at least 22 tribesmen and 11 police dead. The Indians took hostages, and a rescue effort today is described as leaving nine policemen dead and 22 others as freed.

Jun 6 In the U.S., "conservative" commentator Dr. Monica Crowley (she has a PhD in international relations) describes Obama's speech in Cairo to the Muslim world as insufficiently pro-American. On her website she writes, "Forget about American superiority. Now we must go through 'partnerships' and progress cannot be ours; it must be 'shared.' " She adds that Obama "wants to level America out of penance for our past 'evils.' Two hundred and twenty-three years of American exceptionalism, being erased in less than 200 days. Our enemies could not do it better."

Jun 7 On the Sunday talk shows, Obama's speech in Cairo is evaluated. Among the guests are intellectuals from the Middle East and Malaysia. The conservative George Will views the speech without hope of better relations with the Muslim world, but other panelists approve of Obama having spoken about mutual interest and mutual respect, of restoring credibility and about inclusion in solving problems. Most conclude that Obama's speech accomplished what he intended. The opinion was expressed that time will tell whether it is a turning point or just another speech.

Jun 7 In Lebanon political maturity triumphs. The pro-Western coalition wins enough seats to hold on to its majority in parliament. The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, accepts the election results and congratulates all who won seats.

Jun 9 In Pakistan another hotel is bombed, supposedly by the Taliban. It's the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar. Eleven are reported killed and at least 52 injured. Such acts are political and still pursued by the politically naive. It is one of a series of recent attacks. The world will see whether it contributes to the Taliban's taking power in Pakistan.

Jun 9 In Sweden it is alleged that "anti-fascist" leftists initiated twenty violent attacks on centrists and rightists in conjunction with parlimentarly elections. Comments in the press indicate that the tactics of violence are not working in Sweden. Typically their fellow Swedes describe the attackers as imbeciles. One adds that the "true fascists" in Sweden are them.

Jun 11 Two Kenyan human rights activists are assassinated. One of them, Oscar Kingara, recently gave the United Nations evidence of police abuses in Kenya. Kenya is reported as submerged in corruption, including the longstanding extortion racket by a sect called the Mungiki (united people), which evolved from political action in the 1980s to monetary gain. Complaints abound in Kenya that the police are a power unto themselves, corrupt and killing with impunity. Calls for the sacking of Kenya's police chief and the resignation of its attorney-general have been ignored.

Jun 13 Iran has held an election for its presidency without the freedom of press that democracy requires. The winning candidate is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (pictured), the incumbant president. He was favored more by the poorer urban workers and rural peasants -- the less educated and more fervently religious of the electorate.

Jun 16 The Copenhagen Post reports that "nearly a fifth of all residents" are making use of private health insurance, an option available to the Danes, all of whom are covered by state health care. Private insurance, the Post reports, "covered only 1.1 billion kroner of health care expenses last year, out of a total national health care bill of 90 billion kroner." In other words, the vast majority of Danes have chosen health care that they have paid for through taxation.