Stories about Breaking News from June, 2010
Global: Reactions to Twitter’s sinking #flotilla hashtag
The recent flotilla debacle may have started at sea but it was to the Twitosphere that many activists turned, filling it with condemnation of Israel. The power of Twitter as a mobilizing force and alternative platform for affecting change is not to be underestimated. But what would happen if Twitter started censoring, as many tweeting about the flotilla began to fear?
Israel: Flotilla Videos Gone Viral
An Israeli video called "Flotilla Choir: We Con the World" has gone viral on Facebook in the last 24 hours. While it shows no compunction about the violence involved in the flotilla incident, it aggressively illustrates the widely held Israeli belief that Hamas is responsible for the poor state of well-being of the people of Gaza.
MENA: Question Time Following Gaza-Bound Flotilla Attack
As the dust settles, and some of the 'truths' come out, a new wave of tweets on Israel's attacking the Gaza-bound flotilla take over the Internet. Here are a few reactions from the Twittersphere summing up reactions of users around the world, some asking questions we are yet to learn the answers for.
Jamaica: Extortion
Jamaica Salt blogs about the alleged “extortion rackets going on in downtown Kingston, linked to the power held by Dudus.”
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Gulf Spill
Labrish Jamaica wonders whether the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will affect the Caribbean, while the incident has made Trinidad and Tobago's This Beach Called Life “think about our very own offshore drilling efforts”.
Russia: Are Websites Responsible for User Comments?
The latest edition of the Supreme Court's decision says online news media will be responsible for user comments left on their websites, gazeta.ru reports [RUS]. A previous version implied no accountability for user comments, but it is now being revised due to pressure from RosKomNadzor, a government media and internet regulation...
Lebanon: Blogosphere buzzing after Israeli attack on Gaza flotilla
Israel's attack on a Gaza aid convoy that killed at least 10 peace activists has sparked an international outcry, no less in Lebanon. The Lebanese blogosphere reacted sharply to news that its southern neighbour had violently stormed the Turkish aid convoy, the Mavi Marmara.
Japan: And yet another prime minister
Ybunya reports [ja] on the election of Naoto Kan as the new prime minister of Japan [en]. According to the blogger, the main reason why the former prime minister had to step down [en], on Wednesday, was the incapacity to resolve the Futenma issue [en].
Jamaica: Searching High & Low
As the Mayor of Kingston's home is searched in an attempt to find ‘Dudus'; YardFlex.com says: “Come on now, even the Prime Minister’s residence should be subjected to a thorough search by the police”, while Girl With a Purpose provides recent updates on the state of emergency.
Global: Protests In Support of the Freedom Flotilla Continue
In the days following the Israel's raid on the Mavi Marmara that left nine dead and numerous others wounded, the world has seen an outpouring of support for Gaza. Thousands poured into the street in protest against Israel's violence and the continuing blockade.
Turkey: Can Turkish-Israeli relations be rebuilt?
As the world watched the events that happened on board the Turkish-led "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" it was also witnessing the deterioration of political relations between the governments of Turkey and Israel. Anger at the Israeli government is palpable in Turkey, and returning activists are being greeted by officials among hero fan-fare.
Israel/Palestine: Drawing the Line in Gaza
“So Gaza is under a seige,” writes Lirun of East Med Sea Peace, “And Gazans are suffering badly whether we like to believe it or not.. and yet Israel has a grave security risk. I don't care how much people belittle those rockets, the situation sucks.. but where do we...
Israel: Fighting the #Flotilla Digital War
The global impact that social media and the real time web had as this story evolved is undeniable. From Twitter to Facebook and onto active forums and talkback threads, the battleground has shifted from the Mediterranean to a digital cacophony of data. Gilad Lotan has more.
Jamaica: Dudus’ Brother In Custody
Bloggers are reporting the breaking news that alleged drug don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke's brother, Leighton ‘Livity’ Coke, has just been arrested.
MENA: Israel will have to Choose
Condemnations are flying left, right, and centre after Israel attacked a Turkish-led flotilla headed to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and break the blockade on the Palestinian enclave. Here are some more reactions from Twitter.
Japan: Prime Minister Hatoyama resigns
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced his resignation on Wednesday, after just 8 months in office. Tobias Harris at Observing Japan comments [en] on the news [en].
Jamaica: Crunching the Numbers
“Most people I’ve talked to seem to think that the ends justify the means: that if getting the bad guys means detaining some of the good guys as well, then it’s worth depriving some people of their basic human right to be free”: Jamaican blogger Chez Hsia remains unconvinced.
Colombia: First Reactions to the Results of Presidential Elections on Twitter
The results of the Colombian presidential elections held on May 30 surprised a lot of people. Tweeter users used the microblogging platform to voice their opinions on the outcome.
Egypt: Goodbye Ossama Anwar Okasha
Ossama Anwar Okasha, one of the most famous Egyptian screenwriters, has died. His death stirred a big wave of blog posts and tweets in Egypt and all over the Arab world.
Israel: Flotilla Clashes are a “Serious PR Disaster”
Severe clashes between flotilla members and IDF forces have been highlighted in news organizations and blogs around the world. Massive protests are taking place, calling for justice and for action to be taken against Israel. The exact turn of events is still blurry. What happened at the break of dawn,...
Malaysia: Reactions to flotilla attack by Israel
Several Malaysian nationals were on board a Gaza-bound ship carrying humanitarian aid when it was attacked by Israeli forces. This has sparked offline and online indignation in Malaysia.
