Latest stories
24 January 2020
Conservationists decry Sri Lankan decision to arm local groups against elephants
"Will Sri Lanka, where magnificent elephants have now been demoted from National Treasure to vermin, be the paradise isle that modern tourists dream of?"
For the first time, clouded leopards have been found at almost 12,000 feet in Nepal’s Himalayas. But can they survive climate change?
Clouded leopards, one of the most elusive cats, were found for the first time at an altitude of 3498 meters (11476 feet) above sea level in the Langtang National Park...
23 January 2020
Malawi opens the first drone academy in Africa
The African Drone and Data Academy officially opened this month in Malawi — the first of its kind in Africa.
22 January 2020
Pakistani director halts release of award-winning film after receiving threats
"They are holding a film hostage for all the wrong reasons and there is nothing we can do about it."
Kazakh family of writers and musicians caught in the Xinjiang vortex
The Oralbai family had a happy and productive life in China before a state purge targeting ethnic minorities tore them apart.
In preparation for the Lunar New Year mass migration, China finally gets serious about the Wuhan coronavirus
Initial rumors of a new form of coronavirus are being confirmed globally and, albeit reluctantly, by Beijing.
21 January 2020
Yorùbá loanwords: How languages evolve
Using Yorùbá words in their original forms helps ensure that culture — kept alive through language — continues to thrive.
Redemption Song: My journey to marijuana activism
"Ganja has been a source of inspiration, meditation and medication on my journey as a mixed-race, working-class Caribbean woman trying to make a way in this capitalist world."
Can El Salvador's hosting of a surfing Olympic qualifier alter the country's violent image?
While some Salvadorans are celebrating the opportunity to host a major championship, others claim that there are bigger priorities than the country's image abroad.
Is Russia getting its model for digital authoritarianism from China?
On the surface, China and Russia share much when it comes to digital governance. But their crackdowns on cyberspace also have important differences, says professor Maria Repnikova
Nigeria: A failed state — reality or perception?
In addition to threats from Boko Haram, abductions and kidnapping in Nigeria have also become the norm.
The meaning of Tsai Ing-wen's 8.17 million votes in the Taiwan presidential elections
Some analysts have attributed Tsai Ing-wen's landslide victory in Taiwan's recent presidential to the Hong Kong protests and encroachment by Beijing. But that's only part of the story.
How ‘fake news’ and disinformation were spread in the run-up to Taiwan's presidential elections
Puma Shen, director of DoubleThink Labs, shares his observations on the ways in which fake news and disinformation were disseminated prior to Taiwan's January 11, 2020 presidential elections.
20 January 2020
Facebook apologizes for translating Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s name as ‘Mr. Shithole’
"And the president of China, Mr. Shithole, signed a guest record of the house of representatives."
Restoration of Trinidad and Tobago's heritage buildings stirs debate
The restoration of heritage buildings in Trinidad and Tobago has sparked a national conversation on whether this is the best use of public funds.
Baul singer Shariat Sarkar arrested in Bangladesh for ‘insulting’ Islam
Baul singer Shariat Sarkar is accused of making comments which hurt the “religious sentiment” of Muslims. He says that there is no evidence forbidding music in Islam.
What is the future of Moldova's ‘law against propaganda'?
Despite objections from the socialist party, the law came into force in 2018. But with the socialists now dominating Moldovan politics, will they succeed in revoking it?
19 January 2020
Zanzibar says goodbye to legendary ‘king of kidumbak,’ musician Makame Faki
Legendary Zanzibari musician Makame Faki Makame has died at the age of 77. He was hailed as the king of kidumbak and a master of taarab, Zanzibar's "national sound."
Residents flee as Philippines’ smallest active volcano emits smoke and ash
Over 30,000 are estimated to be affected and displaced from Batangas and Cavite provinces because of the volcanic eruption
18 January 2020
Is there more to the Caribbean's single-use plastics ban than meets the eye?
The move to go plastic-free is timely. According to the United Nations, 70 to 85 percent of marine litter in the Caribbean originates from land, and the lion's share is...
