Stories from 16 September 2010
Palestine: Sending A Message With Social Media
Arjan El Fassed made headlines last year for having a street in a Palestinian refugee camp named after his Twitter account, and has been involved with an online initiative in which people can request messages to be spray-painted on the West Bank wall. In this interview with Global Voices he talks about the potential of social media to help the Palestinian cause.
Togo: The Most Hilarious Sports Joke of the Year
Togo's football federation says the “national team” that played an exhibition match against Bahrain on September 7, 2010 was fake. Togo's sports minister says that the team was made up of “unidentified players and their shadowy handlers” who belonged to a “mafia group.” FIFA is investigating the allegations. One blogger has described the story as one of the weirdest stories of the year and another one says it is “one of the most hilarious sports practical jokes of all time.”
Hungary: Another Silence Decree Blows a Gasket
Marietta Le reports on how Budapest residents are resisting the newest 'silence decree' that requires bars, restaurants and 24-hour shops in one of the city's districts to close early.
Commemorating Malaysia Day
September 16 is the day that Malaya, along with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined together to form Malaysia. This year is the first time that Malaysia Day was declared a public holiday. Twitter has been abuzz with the #harimalaysia hashtag
Singapore, Malaysia: Mahathir Mohamad versus Lee Kuan Yew
Former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew commented that Malaysia's "race politics" could have been avoided if it adopted the multiracial policies of Singapore. Former Malaysian Prime Minister responded in his blog by reminding his old rival about the weaknesses of the Singapore government.
Brazil: Jornal do Brasil Quits Print and Goes Online
Jornal do Brasil (JB), one of the country's oldest and most symbolical newspapers, gave up its printed edition in the end of August and is now distributed exclusively online. Bloggers are talking about JB's rise and fall, telling episodes of its history and discussing the future of media.
Ecuador: President Vetoes Higher Education Bill
President Rafael Correa recently vetoed a law that aims to reform higher education; the law he received for a final confirmation differed from the original project he had pushed. University officials, students and others involved in higher education are discussing the reform and the different versions of the law.
