25 October 2009

Stories from 25 October 2009

Armenia: Twitter counters false media report

  25 October 2009

After a news item in the local press reported that a British MP had been appointed as rapporteur on Armenia and Turkey, Unzipped says that it used Twitter to check the accuracy of the story. Tweeting a question to the MP in question, it turned out that the report was...

Morocco: A Lenient Sentence

  25 October 2009

In September, we learned about Zineb Chtit, the young Moroccan girl who was severely beaten while working as a maid. Last week, it was announced that Zineb's attacker Nawal Houmin, the wife of the couple who had hired her, was to be punished for the crime with a sentence of 3 years imprisonment and a $13,000 fine. Jillian C. York shares reactions from the blogoma.

Lebanon Ups the Ante in the Hummus War

  25 October 2009

As many as 300 Lebanese chefs gathered yesterday in Beirut to make the largest ever plate of hummus in an attempt to claim the reigns in ownership of the popular chick pea dip. The new world record is part of an ongoing campaign in Lebanon to reaffirm the country's claim to a number of dishes being produced in Israel - with the ownership of hummus being one of the main quarrels.

Uruguay: Following Tabaré Vásquez

  25 October 2009

Uruguay's election is scheduled for October 25 and Juan Cruz Díaz of Americas Quarterly [es] wonders who will lead the country after outgoing President Tabaré Vásquez, who Díaz writes “was a successful governor” and cites some of his accomplishments, such as the implementation of the Ceibal Plan.

Thailand: Local elections

  25 October 2009

Andy links to two blog posts which provide commentaries on local elections in Thailand. The first post highlights the prevalence of vote buying in communities while the other post sees hope in the conduct of local elections.

Myanmar: Gay slang

  25 October 2009

Writing for New Mandala, Violet Cho and Dave Gilbert observe that “Gay people in Burma are resisting homophobia and marginalisation through the creative use of new communication codes.”

Japan: Latest survey on poverty destroys the prosperity myth

  25 October 2009

One Japanese in six is living in poverty says the latest Welfare Ministry report [en]. According to OECD figures [en], Japan has one of the highest poverty rates in the developed world and is 4th after only Mexico, Turkey and the U.S. In September, Makoto Yuasa, Secretary-general of Anti Poverty...

Philippines: Relief Goods Rotting in Government Warehouses

  25 October 2009

Ella's Blog from the Philippines posts photos of donated goods intended for typhoon victims rotting in government warehouses. The expose has sparked fears that the goods might be misused to support administration candidates in next year's elections. The original site shows a “404 Not Found error” when it is accessed...

Jordan: Serious about +18

  25 October 2009

Jordanian Ola Eliwat, from Cinnamon Zone, notes:'Seriously, when you receive an email titled “+18″, does anyone in his right mind seriously believe that someone who's under 18 will go, “Oh, I'm underage, I'd better not check that one out”‘

China: Relics of the Old Summer Palace

  25 October 2009

Back in the news again is Beijing’s Old Summer Palace, whose destruction still remains a sensitive topic in China. Built during the Qing Dynasty, it was later sacked by British and French troops in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Countless works of art were also looted from the palace...