Stories from Quick Reads and Humor
A rapper in Uzbekistan is challenging widespread social issues through his songs
Konsta’s songs focus on Uzbek society, its problems, and the role of each individual in unfolding events.
Woman dubbed ‘Messi's grandma’ goes viral in Argentina following World Cup win
The tune "Abuelalalalalalala" became Argentina's World Cup anthem
Twitter account “No Context Russia” is sad yet hilarious
A Twitter account shows images from Russia without context, portraying the country in sad and ironic tones.
Turkey's former mayor claims officials discovered hidden jellybean reserves
The former mayor was answering questions about recently discovered oil reserves when he made the comment about a major jellybean discovery.
A corny TV exorcism possesses Turkish social media
In Turkey, a woman named Pelin Hürman who describes herself as metaphysics expert, performed an exorcism on a TV show and quickly became a laughing stock on social media.
In Turkey, a comedy show lands in hot water over a political sketch
The Guldur Guldur Show, a popular comedy show in Turkey, had its sketch removed by a television channel over a satirical bit about Minister of Finance and Treasury Nureddin Nebati.
Belgium introduces new passport design featuring characters from domestic comics
"The introduction of this new passport is also an opportunity for us to highlight the 9th art, the comic strip, which is a central element of our culture and our influence abroad"
Turkey's spectacular city statues — a thing of beauty or an architectural failure?
Across the country one may find statues of garlic, a rooster, meatballs, local desserts, walnuts, pottery, and much more, symbolizing whatever that province is famous for.
How Do You Say ‘Bro’ in Latin America?
The Facebook page for Pictoline, a highly visual site for news and information, shared this map with the different ways people in Latin American countries say “bro”, short for brother in English. While in Mexico they use wey and pata in Peru, it's pana in Venezuela and parce in Colombia.
‘Films for Action’ Website Shares List of Top 100 Documentaries ‘We Can Use to Change the World’
After years of promotion and reviews of documentaries devoted to social change, the site Films for Action released a list of what they consider to be the 100 most influencial and provocative. From critiques to manistream media to the corporate world, passing through the ideas and solutions proposed in and by...
“Where de Lizard?” Why the Caribbean is Fascinated with Them
These little creatures have different meanings in other cultures. Ancient Romans believed that the lizard symbolized death and resurrection, because it sleeps during winter and reawakens in Spring. For the Greeks and Egyptians, the lizard represented divine wisdom and good fortune. In the Caribbean, lizards have special significance as well....
If I Were FIFA President…
After the recently reelected FIFA president, the Swiss Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, surprisingly resigned on June 3 amidst a corruption scandal that hit the supreme football organization, Twitter users started to speculate not about who might become the next leader, but what would happen if they were. The result was the satiric hashtag #SiYoFueraPresidenteDeLaFIFA...
An Online Joke Captures China's Censorship Practices
Letscorp, a site devoted to bridging information across Chinese speaking communities, reposted an online joke on Twitter that vividly captures mainland Chinese censorship practices. 老大：官员好不好，百姓说了算。宣传部：我补充一句，大多数百姓不明真相。团中央：没事，我们有一千万网评员保证舆论。公安：还有漏网的我们就抓。央视：再让他们嫖娼。环球：就说他们收了美国人的钱。外交部发言人：依据相关法律和政策，我国有充分言论自由。人民日报：你瞧，这是人民的选择嘛 — 墙外楼 (@letscorp) May 28, 2015 Man on top [implying Chinese president Xi Jinping]: Whether a government official is performing well should be judged by...
#IFellAsleepToo: Sleeping Latin American Doctors Go Viral
#YoTambienMeDormi Atte:@kellypeto pic.twitter.com/00hXx8iJBe — Iván Hernández (@DrIvanHdez) Mayo 12, 2015 I Fell Asleep Too. Sincerely: @kellypeto It's a trending topic under the hashtag #YoTambienMeDormi (#IFellAsleepToo). In one week, there have been 17,500 comments on Twitter. The stories of tens of thousands of doctors in Mexico and Latin America who are sharing...
Your Post-Election Guide to Cashing in on Nigeria's Oil Wealth
Nigeria's election means a political reshuffling, including key positions in the oil industry. Tolu Ogunlesi provides a funny, informative guide so you too can cash in on the oil wealth.
Parenting 101: How to Raise Children the Arab Way
Satirist Karl Sharro dishes out some parenting advice on Twitter to his 51K followers, on how to bring up children, after reading news today that Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has announced a major cabinet reshuffle. The Saudi king has appointed his nephew, Minister of Interior Mohammed...
Mocking Ecuador’s President Can Cost You Online Anonymity
After sending a threatening gift of flowers and exposing the individuals behind Crudo Ecuador, however, the Internet satirists surrendered, using the hashtag #UstedGanó (#YouWon).
Boy’s T-Shirt Pokes Fun at Ecuadorian President
When Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa agreed to take a photo with a boy, he probably didn't imagine it would go viral — and he would end up being the butt of the joke. The boy was wearing a T-shirt printed with the phrase “I’m with stupid” and an arrow that...
Is This What UN Special Adviser on Yemen Has to Say on Current War: “? tmnoppbbnpbkpb”
Assistant UN Secretary-General, Special Adviser to Secretary-General on Yemen Jamal Benomar's Twitter account has sent out the following message earlier today: ? tmnoppbbnpbkpb — Jamal Benomar (@Jamal_Benomar) March 29, 2015 Adam Baron, a journalist covering Yemen, remarks 13 hours after the tweet was first published: Cant believe Jamal Benomar's media...
Bus Users Fight Over Seat in Peruvian Bus and You Can't Imagine How This Ends
A video posted on Facebook by user PeruRec show two men almost coming to blows over a seat in a bus of the Metropolitano, Peruvian capital public transportation system. At one point, the stockier guy sits over the other guy, while other bus users laugh out loud. Immersed as they...
Can Ugandan President Rule Guinea on a Loan for 10 Years?
Guinean born and Italian citizen Abdoulaye Bah asks Ugandan blogger Prudence Nyamishana if Uganda can give Guinea their president, Yoweri Museveni, for only 10 years: “You can have him for as long as you want.” I replied. This was a conversation I had with Abdoulaye Bah my 72-year-old friend from...
