China Backs Twitter — Amid the furor over Twitter agreeing to country-specific censorship, Reuters runs through the (actually not so bad) reality of the microblog’s proposals. However, TIME’s Sam Gustin notes that their plans have received warm backing from the Global Times, China’s Communist Party tabloid – possibly not the kind of endorsement Twitter was seeking.
India’s Latest Goal — The Times of India covers the big money spent at the first player auction for the country’s inaugural football (soccer) league, starting next month. The new competition, centered on Bengal state, is modeled on cricket’s highly successful Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, while the Hindu writes it also draws on the MLS in the U.S.
Serious in Somalia — The Guardian reports from Mogadishu on how confidence is slowly returning to the Somali capital but aid is still scarce and al-Shabaab reign’s over much of the country remains intact. Meanwhile, the BBC says militants have banned the International Committee of the Red Cross from operating in those parts of the country it controls.
Tunisian Transition — The New York Times examines the complexities facing Tunisia as the country attempts to strike a balance between religion and democracy. The transition from authoritarian secularism to the more Islamist Ennahda Party forces the nation to confront the complexities of combining a variety of peoples and beliefs. And Tunisian Jews reject calls from the Israeli government to leave, despite a rise in threats.
Looted Libya — A collection of items looted from the compound of Libya’s former leader Moammar Gaddafi, such as immobilized weaponry and photographs of the fallen have become a makeshift museum in Misrata. Located between mangled apartment buildings, the site has become a destination of reflection for many Libyans. “The museum symbolizes strength and persistence,” a vistor tells the Washington Post. Misrata’s “museum” joins planned exhibits in the capital of Tripoli and a war museum in Benghazi.
Unhealthy Debate? — Britain’s Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is facing an uphill battle to garner support for his health reforms. In a joint statement against the plan, the Nursing Times, Health Service Journal and the British Medical Journal lambast the Health and Social Care bill as an “unholy mess” that has “destabilised and damaged one of this country’s greatest achievements.”
