WTF Friday, 5/14/10

• John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, makes an ill advised cannibalism joke at the expense of the Tuhoe tribe, who were already holding a grudge over Key backtracking on an earlier government agreement to return sacred land. Really seems like a pretty dick move.

• So apparently some pranksters altered part of the new Kenyan constitution and one thousand copies were printed, 500 of which were distributed. The altered version reads "The need to ensure that the enjoyment of rights and fundamental freedoms by any individuals does not prejudice national security, the rights and fundamental freedoms of others," while the actual version does not include the national security part. Good one? Not clear yet who is responsible, but I have my suspicions...

• FP has a slightly sensational and simplistic slide show about burqas called "Veil or Prison." I mean, are those really the only options?

• Guess who's on Twitter looking contemplative!
  

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WTF Friday, 5/7/10

• Lou Engle, American evangelist and well-known asshole, goes international with his hate by warning against homosexuality in Uganda.

• Speaking of homophobia, check out this little gem that was linked from a banner ad. Really thought-provoking stuff.

• This sounds just incredibly awkward: "'If we could work with members drawn from the Rhodesia front that oppressed us, what was there to prevent us from working with him?' Mr. Mugabe asked, laying his hand on Mr. Tsvangirai's arm. Mr. Tsvangirai, who has survived at least two assassination attempts in Zimbabwe, remained inscrutable and for several seconds, the room fell silent. Mr. Mugabe only smiled broadly. 'This young fellow… of mine,' he added, patting his arm. He coaxed another laugh from Mr. Tsvangirai and the audience."
  

• National League for Democracy (NLD), main opposition and pro-democracy party in Burma, has officially disbanded so as to not recognize bogus law that nullifies their 1990 victory.

• BBC asks readers of this article about checkpoint bribes in Ivory Coast, "What do you think about bribes being paid at checkpoints?" I really want to hear what an extortionist has to say because, honestly, who else is gonna have a divergent opinion on this one?

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WTF Friday, 4/30/10

• Mother Jones highlights a photo series by Jonathan Torgovnik featuring women who had children as a result of rape during the Rwandan genocide. Unfortunately, I don't feel like MJ's headline, "Can You Love a Child of Rape?," is really the right way to frame this. Doesn't posing the question that way place "not loving them" as the default, and "loving them" as the exception? Doesn't that make you kind of uncomfortable? Would really like to hear from our readers on this.
  

• Speaking of rape and eye-catching headlines (as we tend to do), there has got to be a better way to convey that there has been a lot of rape in the DRC than calling it the "rape capital of the world." I mean, shouldn't the UN have some sort of "special representative on sexual violence in conflict" who would handle these matters more delicately? Oh, they do? Oh, she said it? Cripes.

• Jeffrey Sachs has tweeted 36 times. In all these tweets, he has only specifically recommended following one person. That person is Christy Turlington. Huh.

• FP has a great piece called "The World’s Worst Immigration Laws." I find it interesting that Italy fines illegal immigrants while Japan pays them to leave. Wacky world we live in.

• Lastly, from the "forgone conclusion department," Bashir wins in a landslide.

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WTF Friday, 4/23/10

• Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic change criticizes Robert Mugabe for inviting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Zimbabwe's International Trade Fair: "It is no secret that Ahmadinejad has perforated human rights credentials. He has made his reputation as a war monger, a trampler of human rights, an executioner of those with dissenting voices and a leader of questionable legitimacy due to his controversial electoral victory in last year’s presidential election in June." Yea, dude, I think that's why he was invited.

• Drama! Naomi Campbell becomes visibly uncomfortable and storms off camera when questioned about receiving a diamond from Charles Taylor. She maybe even hits the camera? Tough to tell exactly, but her reputation does precede her.

• Here's Evo Morales providing an explanation for homosexuality that can only be described as "totally realistic and based in science."

• Oh and speaking of things that are completely reasonable, here is senior Iranian cleric, Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi, droppin' some knowledge: "Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes." Interesting. Can't wait to see the regression on that one.
  

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WTF Friday 4/16/10

• Several English football (soccer) clubs are participating in a series of PSAs called "FC Afrika" which are meant to spread awareness about things such as mosquito nets and staying in school. The clubs then create goal celebrations around these themes. The strangest is this one by Portsmouth FC, where the players celebrate by pretending to get blood drawn for an HIV test. Really? I feel like maybe they should have found another way to spread that particular awareness. Also, as stated by 101 Great Goals, it's a mystery who FC Afrika actually are. But hey, no word describes how the West perceives Africa better than "mysterious."

• A drug cartel in Reynosa, Mexico uses Twitter to announce that a gigantic shootout will happen "tomorrow or Sunday." Seriously? You're trying to terrify people by saying that the "largest scheduled shootout in the history of Reynosa" is going down, but you're not gonna commit to a date? (via Mother Jones)

• I'm not sure if I'm more baffled by the fact that Shabab has outlawed school bells in the southern town of Jowhar for being "reminiscent of churches," or the fact that when I checked (around 3:00 pm ET), this was the ONLY story in the NYT's "Africa" section for April 15th. I would love to know what got cut in favor of this sure-fire headliner.

• So apparently Zimbabwe is looking for a new executioner and is putting out ads to find one. The only requirement is a high school education. Gotta wonder what skills taught in Zimbabwean high schools could possibly be applicable to this position.

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WTF Friday, 3/19/10

• I've reported a couple times on Kim Jong Il's ridiculous currency reform and its disastrous effects. Well now he has allegedly blamed, and by blamed I mean executed, North Korea's finance and planning department chief, Pak Nam Gi, over the matter. Just so incredibly fucked up.

• Something is not quite right about what at least one student is learning at an after school program in Namibia: "There are many ways to get AIDS. If you have unprotected sex, touch a brother’s wound, or even if you kiss someone for more than five minutes. It’s really a bad disease. People with AIDS should keep it to themselves." (via AllAfrica)

• An estimated 50m hectares of land in Africa has been or is soon to be acquired by wealthy investors in the past few years, often in ways that amount to theft. That's more than double the size of the UK for those who, like me, have no idea how big a hectare is.

• Strangely, a U.S. diplomat in Cuba joined a protest march conducted by Ladies in White, an organization of the female relatives of political prisoners. No matter how just the cause, that still seems pretty weird am I right, guys?

• Protesters spill their own blood to curse the government, demand elections in Thailand. I think we all know that this could turn ugly in a hurry.

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WTF Friday: Return of Intern Chris Edition!

Intern Chris is back in action, with more of the links we love so much:

• Liao Yiwu, a prominent Chinese author and critic of the government, is prevented from leaving the country for the 13th time. So many frequent flyer miles squandered...


• Giving Kim Jong Il some competition for worst economic policy ever, Robert Mugabe, in a move that will seriously hinder foreign direct investment, has passed a law requiring that businesses be majority-owned by "indigenous Zimbabweans." Forget that it's reminiscent of his disastrous land reform efforts, this is plenty crazy in and of itself.


• Iranian filmmaker and opposition supporter, Jafar Panahi, arrested at his home. I am a big fan of his work, Offside. So...wtf?


• Apparently Emirates are still using children as young as 10 as camel jockeys. This wouldn't be so big a deal if the camels ran as fast as I would expect them to (real slow), but they actually run 50 km/hr, so these youngsters can definitely get hurt. Not cool at all.

(If we've said there's more after the jump, or you want to see comments, you should probably click here)

WTF Friday, 2/12/10

The news from Intern Chris:

• Charles Taylor testifies that he was, in fact, bros with Pat Robertson. Robertson denies said bromance.

• Former employees accuse Blackwater of billing U.S. government for "a prostitute, alcohol, and spa trips." The prostitute was referred to as (in a strong contender for best euphemism ever) a "Morale Welfare Recreation" expense.

• Xenophobic propaganda in Ivory Coast becomes roadblock for voter registration.

• Water buffalo banned from Indonesian rallies because of juvenile (hilarious?) protest:

  "During the rally in the capital, a group of youth calling themselves Pemuda Cinta Tanah Air (Youths Love Motherland [PECAT]) brought along a rented water buffalo attaching a big photo of the head of state on the beast's buttocks."

• And, because I guess everyone's got to get in on the act, lapdances for Haiti...

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WTF Friday, Better-Sunday-Than-Never Edition

The latest from our best-beloved Intern Chris:

• Okay, so it's kind of a cheap shot to make fun of "We Are the World" for Haiti, but wtf is Vince Vaughn doing in this picture? Dude doesn't even sing. Does Haiti really need the star of Dodgeball right now?
• Just to highlight another point about Kristof's column "Orphaned, Raped and Ignored," he starts it by saying, "Sometimes I wish eastern Congo could suffer an earthquake or a tsunami, so that it might finally get the attention it needs." WTF?
• Kim Jong Il's attempts to ruin his own economy lead to violent resistance.
• Oxy-morons try to "adopt" Haitian "orphans" that have parents.
• Investigation backed by Guinean junta absolves its own leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, of blame for September massacre despite various findings to the contrary. Guess we'll just have to go with the honor system.
• Chinese human rights lawyer is missing after security agents tell his family they want to see him for a "brief chat." Think they're talking Super Bowl picks? Maybe the Lost premiere?

Bonus Links:

• Bashir may face genocide charges
• Ban on candidates with Saddam-ties reversed
• "Leaderless Nigeria could spin out of control (not my words!)"
• Gaddafi done as chairman of AU
• Fighting corruption with a zero rupee bill, ya'll
• Saudi women doin' their thing on the web

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WTF Friday, 1/29/10

The latest from Intern Chris:

• Hugo Chavez shuts down opposition channel in Venezuela. Some people seem to be up in arms, but now Venezuelans get more of chance to watch Chavez's "marathon speeches, which can last up to seven hours." Now that's some oratory prowess.

• What do Coachella, Venice Beach, the Admirals Club Lounge, a "cute" liason, Into the Wild, ill conceived inflation jokes, Nelson Mandela, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kurt Russel, and T.I. have in common? They all (somehow) manage to get referenced on the first page of Emile Hirsch's HuffPo article, "Confronting Cholera: My Zimbabwe Diary." I couldn't bring myself to read pages 2 and 3. Oh also there's this.

• Last but not least, the ANC launches a line of the ugliest jackets I have ever seen. (Via FP Passport)

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WTF Friday, 1/22/10

Intern Chris is back, and so is WTF Friday. Hooray!

• "Russian Pat Robertson" blames earthquake on Haitians losing their "moral face." Yea, dude, I was just thinking the same thing.

• Understatement of the week: Activists say charges of alleged gang rape by Sharia police in Indonesia "undermines the patrol's legitimacy."


• Naomi Campbell and Mia Farrow team up to thwart Charles Taylor.

• Ugandan MP David Bahati has said he is willing to amend the Ugandan homosexuality bill that includes the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality." But don't worry guys, he can do it “without putting the values of the country at risk”. Phew! (via All Africa)

• Gary Anderson of Small Wars Journal has published a piece entitled "Some Advice for Military Humanitarians." Here are some highlights:

• "The last thing you need to have on CNN is American troops clubbing desperate villagers like baby seals at a relief distribution site."
• "Keep Your Relations with NGOs and IOs Professional...'We are both here to get a job done. Let’s leave our personal feelings at the door, you may even find that I’m not a war criminal.'"
• "Don’t Get Involved With the Disposal of Human Remains. Think how you’d feel watching your grandmother shoved into a ditch by a Russian bulldozer."
• "Beware of Mission Creep.... If the President wants you to do nation-building, he’ll let you know."

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WTF Friday, 12/18: Celebrity Edition

The latest brilliance from the indubitable Intern Chris, (with the help of several of our beloved readers):

• Nicholas Cage wins UN humanitarian award for "Global Citizen of the Year." Yes, it's actually called that. To be fair, after seeing both National Treasure movies and Bad Lieutenant, I kind of saw this coming. (Hat tip to Jared. Thanks, Jared!)


• The Guardian's Marina Hyde, previously known to me for writing snarky soccer articles, lays into the BBC for sending Lindsay Lohan, a person who cannot spell "trafficking," to make a doc on human"traffiking" in India. Keep the snark coming, Marina. (Hat tip to Mark. Hooray, Mark!)


• Another hat tip, this time to Molly, who proposes that Madagascar's current dj-turned-putschist Andry Rajoelina get the WTF Friday treatment: "After seizing the country by coup in March, he now calls Southern African Development Community (SADC)-brokered negotiations with opposition parties "tantamount to a coup," and has blocked planes carrying opposition leaders, and his own prime minister, Eugene Mangalaza, from returning from negotiations in Mozambique." Definitely a WTF. (Nice one, Molly.)


• I'm not going to link this because it seems way too messed up, but the strangest thing just happened. HuffPo had a link to a story about a Somali man being stoned to death for adultery, (incredibly sad), with a warning that it contained graphic images, which I didn't really want to see. But get this: below that link was a link to an op-ed by Jamie Lee Curtis about how bad we should feel for looking at graphic images. So, HuffPo, your plan is to post horrible images, then have Jamie Lee Curtis try to guilt people who look at them? Strange way to run a website, Arianna.

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WTF Friday: Technical-Difficulties-So-Actually-WTF-Monday Edition

Proving it's never too late for awesome, here's the latest from the desk of our beloved Intern Chris:*

• The University of the Free State in South Africa has pardoned four students who were expelled for making made what sounds like an incredibly racist video.
• Nicolas Sarkozy defends the minaret ban, calls for "discretion" in practice of religions. I, Intern Chris, call for discretion in the practice of prejudice rhetoric. (Via Huffington Post).
• Amnesty to release a new report alleging human rights abuses in the drug war in Mexico. "Extrajudicial killings, torture and arbitrary detentions": The stuff that WTF Friday is made of. (Via FP Passport). And not be outdone, Nigerian police are also being accused of extrajudicial killings.
• Poor Manuel Zelaya. After being forcibly exiled from Honduras in June, now he can't leave?!?!?!?

* Sadly, technical difficulties prevented this WTF Friday post from being brought to you on Friday. But, hey, whose Monday couldn't use a little Friday in it?

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WTF Friday, 12/4

From the desk of Intern Chris (who feels appropriately guilty about abandoning you all for the holiday last Friday):

• Missed covering the Philippines Massacre while on holiday. Massacres pretty much always deserve a "wtf," even if it's retro. Also, first charges are against the mayor.

• I remembered this dude Sheriff Joe Arpaio (self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff") from an episode of "Penn and Teller: Bullshit!" where he tried to convince people how good the War on Drugs is and that marijuana users should be doing hard time. Now he just forced a woman to give birth while shackled to a hospital bed and refused to let her hold the baby. Nice. Tough but fair.

• Former Sri Lankan general who may have committed war crimes may run for president which may turn out bad for certain people in that particular country. No promises.

• Kim Jong Il changes the currency, gives people less than a week to make exchanges, and sets a (low) limit on the amount they can exchange. Maybe the worst economic policy I have ever heard.

• Iranian government tracks Facebook, Twitter and YouTube of Iranian dissidents worldwide and threatens to harm their families in Iran (via Reason Hit and Run).

(If we've said there's more after the jump, or you want to see comments, you should probably click here)

WTF Friday, 11/20

From the desk of Intern Chris:

• WTF @ Nicholas Kristof: "When you hear that foreign-aid groups just squander money or build dependency, remember that by all odds Tererai should be an illiterate, battered cattle-herd in Zimbabwe...She seemed destined to be one more squandered African asset." Dude is seriously talking about destiny right now?
  

• Human rights activist detained, deported upon arrival in Western Sahara.

• From the "shit i could not make up" department: You can read this all in the article, but I really feel the need to work this one out for my own closure. Ok, so, Qaddafi, who has some sort of oil contracts in exchange for colonial reparations deal with Berlusconi, had an Italian modeling agency find attractive women to attend an "elegant soirée," and when they got there, he gave a 45 minute speech about Islam, handed them Korans and his own political manifesto, and offered to pay for them to go to Mecca. Like, that actually happened, because men, and, ya know, non-models, are not really candidates for that sort of thing, but instead, female models that you trick into coming. Cool, got it.

• Orwellian link of the day: Cuban government makes arrests based on "dangerousness"...which allows authorities to imprison individuals before they have committed any crime" (via Matthew Yglesias).

• Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appoints Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser. How is this dude still around?

(If we've said there's more after the jump, or you want to see comments, you should probably click here)

WTF Friday, 11/13

From the desk of Intern Chris:

• Charles Taylor claims former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo tricked him into getting arrested. Not cool.

• Simon Mann seeks revenge, a book deal (mostly a book deal). (Via All Africa)

• Cuban blogger, Yaoni Sanchez, faces violence from secret police. Cuban punk rocker, Gorki Aguila, "[doesn't] take this communist crap."

• The 2009 Humanitarian Response Index seems bleak. From FP Passport: "The world is less safe for aid workers, access to needy communities in conflict is on the decline, and aid is increasingly tied to military or other strategic objectives."

• Generally consensus on the existence of "black jails" in China: "The jails, usually makeshift lockups in hostels, apartment buildings or abandoned factories, have been well-documented by human rights groups, lawyers and the international media." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang's thoughts: ""I can assure you there are no so-called black jails in China. We put people first, and we are an administration for the people." Well, color me convinced.

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WTF Friday, 11/6

From the desk of Intern Chris:

• Status on Putin and other Russian politicians: BALLIN'


• Islamic countries try to ban blasphemy.


• Guinean coup leader is "totes sorry" about massacre (hat tip to Kate's sister Emily!).


• ICC to begin inquiry into post-election violence in Kenya, NYT to continue with useless details: "A Kenyan commission investigated the violence in October 2008 and came up with a list of several top suspects, widely believed to include some of the nation’s most powerful men. The names were sealed in a square brown paper envelope and handed over to Kofi Annan, the former secretary general of the United Nations who took on the role of peacemaker." Well, now you know.


• Haiti has now gone through 5 Prime Ministers in 5 years (via Wide Angle). People do say variety is the spice of life.


• Blogger suppression map. China seems to really hate the internet.
  

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WTF Friday, 10/30

Our beloved Intern Chris tells it like it is:

• If we can't trust our poets, who can we trust? (no one).


• Semi-old news: British mining company 'Monterrico Metals' assets frozen after allegations of torture of protesters in Peru in 2005. No proof (yet) that they were actually "involved," but protesters say Monterrico director Andrew Bristow was giving orders. Either way, when a guy is left bleeding to death for 36 HOURS at your mining site, it's tough to give you benefit of the doubt.


• And, just in case you thought it was just police and big business doing messed up shit. Though, and call me old fashioned, shouldn't claims about a rise in vigilantism be coupled with, say, a statistic? (sigh).


• Too sad to be cute? Your call.


• Somali pirates doing their best Captain Planet (not even sure if our readership gets that reference). (via Global Dashboard)

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WTF Friday, 10/23

Via Intern Chris:

• "Karadzic to skip Bosnia genocide trial." Is he gonna forge his mom's signature on a sick note? (Via FP Passport)


• They couldn't come up with anything better than "subversion"?


• Laurent Nkunda's apparently got a secret book. I'm waiting until it's on Oprah's Book Club. (Via All Africa).


• Thoughts on how poor policies have helped lead to famine in Ethiopia.


• Why are New York cops arresting gay people on charges ruled unconstitutional 26 years ago? I'm going with "because they are homophobic."


• Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso gets forward from Nelson Mandela for his autobiography saying "he is one of our great African leaders." Oh no jk, he made that up.

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WTF Friday, 10/16

[Via Intern Chris:]

Hey everyone! It's me, Chris! Katmanda has asked me to share some internet highlights with you that are basically links that they would have found if they weren't so busy with jobs and lives. Fortunately, I think those things are overrated, so here ya go, my first ever "WTF Friday."

• Dude says "no doubt" Obama deserved Nobel because he is popular and gave a speech in Egypt once. Can't argue with that! I'm wearing an Egypt shirt today so I think I'll be up for it next year.

• 6 Uighurs sentenced to death from July riots.

• Chinese firm agrees to oil and mining deal with Guinean military. Extremely untimely and unsurprising. (via FP Passport).

• South African police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters demanding basic services.

• "The current global economic crisis threatens stability and security throughout the world. The Department of Defense (DOD) must develop a class of economic warriors that will be able to lead the country in these non-conventional battles." I just don't see how he can even think that sounds good.

• Do you guys have a relative that just gives you like socks and underwear for Xmas? I think they all got together (hat tip: http://twitter.com/kenyanpundit).

(If we've said there's more after the jump, or you want to see comments, you should probably click here)