A record 16.3 million tweets were sent during Saturday's World Cup game between Brazil and Chile, the most ever for a live event on the social network.
The game saw the World Cup hosts go through to the quarter finals after a nail-biting encounter that went to extra time, with Brazil finally winning 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out.
The final moments of the match -- which saw Chile miss their final penalty -- generated 388,985 tweets a minute.
This broke a record previously set during the Super Bowl, when 382,000 tweets were sent per minute.
Unsurprisingly, Brazilian striker Neymar, who scored the team's final penalty, was the player mentioned most frequently on the site during the game.
Twitter said on Friday that more than 300 million messages had been sent about the tournament since the group stages of the football competition began, with the event "already becoming one of the most talked about events on Twitter of all time".
Before Saturday, the record for the most-commented-on match on the network was that between Brazil and Croatia on June 12, which saw 12.2 million messages sent.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement gains momentum
Waving colonial-era flags, tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters have staged a massive rally in Hong Kong demanding full electoral freedom. But will this be enough for Beijing to back down?
"The huge crowds gathered here reflect the willingness of the people of Hong Kong to take action and sacrifice for the sake of democracy," said Joseph Cheng. The political science professor from the City University of Hong Kong is one of many city residents who took part in the this year's July 1 rally to mark the day the territory was returned to China in 1997 after more than a century of British rule.
Passions were running particularly high this time around as tens of thousands marched through the heart of the city demanding more democracy and accusing Beijing of taking their civil liberties away. Some, chanting anti-Beijing slogans and waving colonial-era flags, even called for the city's chief executive to be sacked in a move seen by many as a direct challenge to the rule of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
The mass demonstration came just a day after polls closed in an unofficial referendum on democratic reform which drew an unexpectedly high turnout of nearly 800,000 votes - more than a fifth of the city's electorate - but was slammed by Beijing as an "illegal farce" that was "tinged with mincing ludicrousness."
The 10-day poll - which took place online and at physical polling stations - was intended to urge Chinese authorities to allow opposition democrats to run in a 2017 citywide election for a new chief minister. The vote gave city residents three options on how the poll should be carried out - all of which included the public having some influence on the selection of candidates. Beijing has promised direct elections in 2017, but has ruled out allowing voters to choose who can run for the top job. Both the vote and the rally were organized by the pro-democratic protest group Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP).
In a DW interview, Joseph Cheng, described the poll as "platform for the Hong Kong people to articulate their views on political reform," adding that true universal suffrage was the only way to ensure that the people will have a meaningful choice and that the vote will be genuinely competitive. But Cheng also pointed out that Chinese authorities are extremely sensitive to the idea of allowing such polls as they could be interpreted as a challenge to the CPC's authority. "The authorities are also very worried about similar votes being carried out in Taiwan or regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang," he added.
Shortly before the referendum got underway, China's State Council's Information Office issued a white paper on June 9 reiterating that Beijing had "comprehensive jurisdiction" over the former British colony. The policy document stated that some people were "confused or lopsided in their understanding of one country, two systems and that this has led to "many wrong views" about the city's economy, society and the development of its political system.
Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the US at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, says Hong Kong is only as special as Beijing allows it to be. However, it is not in China's interest that the territory functions simply as one more Chinese city. "Beijing benefits from Hong Kong's openness and from its attractiveness to foreign corporations. Cracking down too harshly on Hong Kong would put the lie to overtures the PRC makes to Taiwan under the "One Country, Two Systems' banner."
Most Hong Kong residents are pragmatic and hope for good relations with the People's Republic, Daly added. But they also want the city to remain unique and modern. The want to enjoy freedoms of speech, information, and association, and they want to participate meaningfully in their own governance.
Hong Kong's Basic Law promised those things to the people of Hong Kong and since 1997, Beijing has, in the main, honored its promise. "The recent White Paper issued by Beijing, however, called the promise into question with its implication that Hong Kong administrative personnel, including judges, must now take direction from Beijing."
China scholar Perry Link told DW that the aim of the white paper was to intimidate democrats and make clear that Beijing intends to continue its 'digestion' of Hong Kong. "It appears to be a clear violation of Deng Xiaoping's promise of "one country, two systems" for fifty years. But in fact it is not really new. Deng's promise was never a promise in the conventional sense," Link said.
Link believes that Beijing's increasingly tight control of Hong Kong won't make much of a difference economically as most of the city's tycoons are already allied with Beijing. Politically, however, this will sharpen and deepen the political problems in Hong Kong, he said. "This will enforce a surface appearance of unity with Beijing, but cover a resentful populace who will now have even more reason to feel resentful", the China expert said.
Tim Pringle, a Hong Kong permanent resident and senior lecturer at SOAS University of London, has a similar view. He told Hong Kong society had become increasingly polarized since 2003 when the city witnessed the first great pro-democracy march of the post-colonial era.
Pringle explains that while a vibrant students and workers' movement has emerged, what happens in the city does not take place in isolation. "If Beijing fails to exercise considerable influence over the arrangements for the next election of Chief Executive, this would give succor to those demanding democratic reforms in the mainland. Therefore, the chances of an entirely unfettered election in 2017 are slim."
Pringle points to the fact that despite the massive support in favor of direct elections for the chief executive post, there are also significant number of Hong Kong people who support Beijing as an expression of their patriotism or because they agree with the argument that Hong Kong folks are more concerned with 'making money' than engaging in political struggles. "While there is strong evidence to suggest that the majority of Hong Kong people support direct elections, it is not the case that Beijing is on a collision course with Hong Kong residents in general."
According to Daly, the protests will, therefore, have only a limited impact as China will continue to insist that only candidates who "Love China" - i.e. take directions from Beijing when it chooses to provide it - are qualified to run for chief post. "Hong Kong is, irrevocably, part of China and, under the Beijing formula, 'without the Communist Party, there would be no new China.' That's the bottom line; the interests of the Party and Chinese State are one. Hong Kong must operate under that umbrella."
As for the pro-democracy campaign, analysts argue Beijing will prefer to divide and weaken this movement and perhaps isolate its more "radical" wing rather than collide with it head-on. "A key challenge for the movement will be to maintain unity as some of the more radical actions planned unfold – such as occupying the central financial district – while leaving room for Beijing to compromise," said Pringle.
Daly shares a similar view: "Beijing needs to find a way to acknowledge the Hong Kong demonstrators' concerns - to mollify them without emboldening them. But it's getting harder to square that circle. To date, mollification hasn't been style of Chinese President Xi Jinping."
"The huge crowds gathered here reflect the willingness of the people of Hong Kong to take action and sacrifice for the sake of democracy," said Joseph Cheng. The political science professor from the City University of Hong Kong is one of many city residents who took part in the this year's July 1 rally to mark the day the territory was returned to China in 1997 after more than a century of British rule.
Passions were running particularly high this time around as tens of thousands marched through the heart of the city demanding more democracy and accusing Beijing of taking their civil liberties away. Some, chanting anti-Beijing slogans and waving colonial-era flags, even called for the city's chief executive to be sacked in a move seen by many as a direct challenge to the rule of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
The mass demonstration came just a day after polls closed in an unofficial referendum on democratic reform which drew an unexpectedly high turnout of nearly 800,000 votes - more than a fifth of the city's electorate - but was slammed by Beijing as an "illegal farce" that was "tinged with mincing ludicrousness."
The 10-day poll - which took place online and at physical polling stations - was intended to urge Chinese authorities to allow opposition democrats to run in a 2017 citywide election for a new chief minister. The vote gave city residents three options on how the poll should be carried out - all of which included the public having some influence on the selection of candidates. Beijing has promised direct elections in 2017, but has ruled out allowing voters to choose who can run for the top job. Both the vote and the rally were organized by the pro-democratic protest group Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP).
In a DW interview, Joseph Cheng, described the poll as "platform for the Hong Kong people to articulate their views on political reform," adding that true universal suffrage was the only way to ensure that the people will have a meaningful choice and that the vote will be genuinely competitive. But Cheng also pointed out that Chinese authorities are extremely sensitive to the idea of allowing such polls as they could be interpreted as a challenge to the CPC's authority. "The authorities are also very worried about similar votes being carried out in Taiwan or regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang," he added.
Shortly before the referendum got underway, China's State Council's Information Office issued a white paper on June 9 reiterating that Beijing had "comprehensive jurisdiction" over the former British colony. The policy document stated that some people were "confused or lopsided in their understanding of one country, two systems and that this has led to "many wrong views" about the city's economy, society and the development of its political system.
Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the US at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, says Hong Kong is only as special as Beijing allows it to be. However, it is not in China's interest that the territory functions simply as one more Chinese city. "Beijing benefits from Hong Kong's openness and from its attractiveness to foreign corporations. Cracking down too harshly on Hong Kong would put the lie to overtures the PRC makes to Taiwan under the "One Country, Two Systems' banner."
Most Hong Kong residents are pragmatic and hope for good relations with the People's Republic, Daly added. But they also want the city to remain unique and modern. The want to enjoy freedoms of speech, information, and association, and they want to participate meaningfully in their own governance.
Hong Kong's Basic Law promised those things to the people of Hong Kong and since 1997, Beijing has, in the main, honored its promise. "The recent White Paper issued by Beijing, however, called the promise into question with its implication that Hong Kong administrative personnel, including judges, must now take direction from Beijing."
China scholar Perry Link told DW that the aim of the white paper was to intimidate democrats and make clear that Beijing intends to continue its 'digestion' of Hong Kong. "It appears to be a clear violation of Deng Xiaoping's promise of "one country, two systems" for fifty years. But in fact it is not really new. Deng's promise was never a promise in the conventional sense," Link said.
Link believes that Beijing's increasingly tight control of Hong Kong won't make much of a difference economically as most of the city's tycoons are already allied with Beijing. Politically, however, this will sharpen and deepen the political problems in Hong Kong, he said. "This will enforce a surface appearance of unity with Beijing, but cover a resentful populace who will now have even more reason to feel resentful", the China expert said.
Tim Pringle, a Hong Kong permanent resident and senior lecturer at SOAS University of London, has a similar view. He told Hong Kong society had become increasingly polarized since 2003 when the city witnessed the first great pro-democracy march of the post-colonial era.
Pringle explains that while a vibrant students and workers' movement has emerged, what happens in the city does not take place in isolation. "If Beijing fails to exercise considerable influence over the arrangements for the next election of Chief Executive, this would give succor to those demanding democratic reforms in the mainland. Therefore, the chances of an entirely unfettered election in 2017 are slim."
Pringle points to the fact that despite the massive support in favor of direct elections for the chief executive post, there are also significant number of Hong Kong people who support Beijing as an expression of their patriotism or because they agree with the argument that Hong Kong folks are more concerned with 'making money' than engaging in political struggles. "While there is strong evidence to suggest that the majority of Hong Kong people support direct elections, it is not the case that Beijing is on a collision course with Hong Kong residents in general."
According to Daly, the protests will, therefore, have only a limited impact as China will continue to insist that only candidates who "Love China" - i.e. take directions from Beijing when it chooses to provide it - are qualified to run for chief post. "Hong Kong is, irrevocably, part of China and, under the Beijing formula, 'without the Communist Party, there would be no new China.' That's the bottom line; the interests of the Party and Chinese State are one. Hong Kong must operate under that umbrella."
As for the pro-democracy campaign, analysts argue Beijing will prefer to divide and weaken this movement and perhaps isolate its more "radical" wing rather than collide with it head-on. "A key challenge for the movement will be to maintain unity as some of the more radical actions planned unfold – such as occupying the central financial district – while leaving room for Beijing to compromise," said Pringle.
Daly shares a similar view: "Beijing needs to find a way to acknowledge the Hong Kong demonstrators' concerns - to mollify them without emboldening them. But it's getting harder to square that circle. To date, mollification hasn't been style of Chinese President Xi Jinping."
Tim Hortons to launch credit card
With the press of a button, Tim Hortons (TSX:THI) is hoping Canadians will warm to a new credit card partnership.
The coffee and doughnut chain has joined CIBC (TSX:CM) for the “Double Double Visa Card,” which includes physical buttons built into the plastic.
Cardholders can press one of two options on the face of the card — a button that accesses their Visa account or another that lets users redeem loyalty points for products at the company’s restaurants.
Each button has a coloured light that illuminates when the user activates one of the options on the card.
While credit cards with buttons aren’t new, this is a first for Canada.
Previously, Citibank ran a pilot program in the U.S. which tested button technology with a select number of its clients. That card has since been discontinued.
The CIBC and Tim Hortons card allows users to earn points on purchases they charge to their no annual fee Visa card, collecting a cent on every dollar in Tims Cash rewards, the companies said.
CIBC launched the venture with Tim Hortons shortly after losing exclusivity for an Aeroplan-branded credit card. While CIBC still offers a card with Aeroplan, the loyalty points company has also launched a separate venture with TD Bank (TSX:TD).
The Tim Hortons-branded credit card is the first step in rolling out a loyalty program. The company has yet to announce when the full-fledged rewards program will debut.
The Tim Hortons credit card will be officially launched on Wednesday.
The coffee and doughnut chain has joined CIBC (TSX:CM) for the “Double Double Visa Card,” which includes physical buttons built into the plastic.
Cardholders can press one of two options on the face of the card — a button that accesses their Visa account or another that lets users redeem loyalty points for products at the company’s restaurants.
Each button has a coloured light that illuminates when the user activates one of the options on the card.
While credit cards with buttons aren’t new, this is a first for Canada.
Previously, Citibank ran a pilot program in the U.S. which tested button technology with a select number of its clients. That card has since been discontinued.
The CIBC and Tim Hortons card allows users to earn points on purchases they charge to their no annual fee Visa card, collecting a cent on every dollar in Tims Cash rewards, the companies said.
CIBC launched the venture with Tim Hortons shortly after losing exclusivity for an Aeroplan-branded credit card. While CIBC still offers a card with Aeroplan, the loyalty points company has also launched a separate venture with TD Bank (TSX:TD).
The Tim Hortons-branded credit card is the first step in rolling out a loyalty program. The company has yet to announce when the full-fledged rewards program will debut.
The Tim Hortons credit card will be officially launched on Wednesday.
Cuba Finally Makes It Easier to Buy Cars, but No One Can Afford Them
At the beginning of this year, the Cuban people took a small step towards larger societal equality. For decades, a special permit was required to purchase a car, and permits were only granted to diplomats, technicians, doctors, those on foreign missions, and those with bank accounts outside of Cuba. This permitting system was removed this year, allowing anyone to purchase a vehicle from one of Cuba's eleven state-run car dealerships. It also allowed for used car sales between people.
While Cubans are now legally able to purchase cars, only fifty cars and four motorcycles have been sold since the permitting system was removed. Considering 11 million live in Cuba, this is a staggeringly low amount. The permitting system was announced in December, but prices on cars shot up in January.
A Peugeot that runs $53,000 in the United Kingdom sells for $262,000 at a Havana dealership. A Kia Rio sells for $13,600 in the United States, but for $42,000 in Cuba. Dealerships are also allowed to sell outdated rental cars and other used vehicles, though these are overpriced as well. Sales totaled $1.3 million throughout all eleven state run dealerships, an average of $23,800 per vehicle. Most of these appear to be used cars.
The average wage in Cuba is about $20 a month, and most people earn this working for the government. That's 175 years of work to afford a Kia Rio, if you had no other expenses. Cuban authorities have said 75 percent of the income from the car sales will go to public transportation efforts.
While Cubans are now legally able to purchase cars, only fifty cars and four motorcycles have been sold since the permitting system was removed. Considering 11 million live in Cuba, this is a staggeringly low amount. The permitting system was announced in December, but prices on cars shot up in January.
A Peugeot that runs $53,000 in the United Kingdom sells for $262,000 at a Havana dealership. A Kia Rio sells for $13,600 in the United States, but for $42,000 in Cuba. Dealerships are also allowed to sell outdated rental cars and other used vehicles, though these are overpriced as well. Sales totaled $1.3 million throughout all eleven state run dealerships, an average of $23,800 per vehicle. Most of these appear to be used cars.
The average wage in Cuba is about $20 a month, and most people earn this working for the government. That's 175 years of work to afford a Kia Rio, if you had no other expenses. Cuban authorities have said 75 percent of the income from the car sales will go to public transportation efforts.
Swiss prepare for Messi test, U.S. face Belgium
Lionel Messi has been the key to Argentina's perfect start at the World Cup, scoring four of their six goals in three straight group wins, and the South Americans hope his blistering form continues when they face Switzerland in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Also battling for a place in the quarter-finals are the United States and Belgium, who arrived as one of the favorites to lift the trophy but have not yet fired on all cylinders.
Although Argentina have yet to reach the heights many expected of them in Brazil, Messi has been on a different planet, electrifying crowds and banishing memories of the goal drought he endured in South Africa four years ago.
Fellow forward Sergio Aguero is a major doubt after picking up an injury against Nigeria in their final group game, however, and should he miss out manager Alejandro Sabella may opt for the versatile Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Sabella, though, was playing his cards close to his chest on the eve of the match in Sao Paulo.
"In case Lavezzi plays he can play in two different positions," he told reporters. "But I am telling you, the line-up is not decided yet."
Switzerland hope Xherdan Shaqiri, dubbed the 'Alpine Messi' for his impish skills, will provide the key to beating Argentina for the first time.
The bustling little forward has been in top form for the Swiss, stealing the show with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Honduras that sealed their spot in the last 16.
"The midfield will feed him, and he plays really well up front," captain Gokhan Inler said of Shaqiri. "The good thing is he cannot be figured out that easily. We need to have him free."
In Salvador, the United States will look to sprint out of the blocks to unsettle slow-starting Belgium.
The Belgians ground out group wins over Algeria, Russia and South Korea but were far from impressive, failing to score in any of those games until the last 20 minutes.
Defender Thomas Vermaelen has not recovered from a hamstring injury and will miss the game while captain Vincent Kompany will undergo a late fitness test.
But coach Marc Wilmots expects playmaker Eden Hazard, another one who has yet to hit full stride, to have a big influence on the game.
"I’m sure that we’ll see a massive Hazard performance tomorrow which could prove decisive," he added.
After muscling out Portugal and Ghana for second spot behind Germany in Group G, the United States have grown in confidence and plan to go on the offensive.
"We have no fear at all," U.S. coach Juergen Klinsmann said on Monday. "We feel fresh, we have recovered well after every game so far. We feel we have just started this adventure."
Klinsmann will be able to call on forward Jozy Altidore, who has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up in their group opener.
Also battling for a place in the quarter-finals are the United States and Belgium, who arrived as one of the favorites to lift the trophy but have not yet fired on all cylinders.
Although Argentina have yet to reach the heights many expected of them in Brazil, Messi has been on a different planet, electrifying crowds and banishing memories of the goal drought he endured in South Africa four years ago.
Fellow forward Sergio Aguero is a major doubt after picking up an injury against Nigeria in their final group game, however, and should he miss out manager Alejandro Sabella may opt for the versatile Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Sabella, though, was playing his cards close to his chest on the eve of the match in Sao Paulo.
"In case Lavezzi plays he can play in two different positions," he told reporters. "But I am telling you, the line-up is not decided yet."
Switzerland hope Xherdan Shaqiri, dubbed the 'Alpine Messi' for his impish skills, will provide the key to beating Argentina for the first time.
The bustling little forward has been in top form for the Swiss, stealing the show with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Honduras that sealed their spot in the last 16.
"The midfield will feed him, and he plays really well up front," captain Gokhan Inler said of Shaqiri. "The good thing is he cannot be figured out that easily. We need to have him free."
In Salvador, the United States will look to sprint out of the blocks to unsettle slow-starting Belgium.
The Belgians ground out group wins over Algeria, Russia and South Korea but were far from impressive, failing to score in any of those games until the last 20 minutes.
Defender Thomas Vermaelen has not recovered from a hamstring injury and will miss the game while captain Vincent Kompany will undergo a late fitness test.
But coach Marc Wilmots expects playmaker Eden Hazard, another one who has yet to hit full stride, to have a big influence on the game.
"I’m sure that we’ll see a massive Hazard performance tomorrow which could prove decisive," he added.
After muscling out Portugal and Ghana for second spot behind Germany in Group G, the United States have grown in confidence and plan to go on the offensive.
"We have no fear at all," U.S. coach Juergen Klinsmann said on Monday. "We feel fresh, we have recovered well after every game so far. We feel we have just started this adventure."
Klinsmann will be able to call on forward Jozy Altidore, who has recovered from a hamstring injury picked up in their group opener.
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