Stories about LANGUAGES from October, 2020
Decision to dump radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear disaster site into the ocean sparks alarm
About 1.25 million tonnes of contaminated water is currently stored at the Fukushima Daiichi installation.
Freedom in sight for Kaavan, ‘the world's loneliest elephant’
Animal rights activists have long highlighted the poor treatment and handling of the animals in Pakistan zoos.
Environmental risk posed by Venezuelan oil tanker highlights importance of transparency and public participation
"The power that activist groups and citizens have in the palm of their hands, through social media and other digital platforms, is immense and far-reaching."
Hong Kong police to launch hotline for public to report violations of the national security law
The new development indicates that the NSL will likely not target "a small number" of individuals, as Carrie Lam once promised, but surveil Hong Kong residents on a massive scale.
Myanmar general election violence on the rise as November vote nears
Several election-related incidents of intimidation and physical attacks were reported in many townships ahead of the November 8 election.
Outrage in Hong Kong after top university appoints two mainland Chinese scholars as vice-presidents
Both men hold positions at Beijing's Tsinghua University -- and cached pages of Tsinghua's websites shows that one of them was elected to the CCP committee of his department.
Silencing the media won't stop the student-led protests in Thailand
"...while protesters rely mainly on media and other forms of communication to mobilize, these organizations have nothing to do with the students’ communication, coordination, and management of the protests."
This beatboxing Buddhist monk from Japan is making music to ‘reduce suffering’
Yogetsu Asakusa combines beatboxing beats with traditional Buddhist sutras.
The importance of ‘unlearning’ the past: Interview with Balkans expert Keith Brown
"Critical thinking [...] liberates us from the illusion that figures in the past imagined their own identity in terms of the nationalisms of their future."
Internet throttling, SMS blocking in days leading up to election in Tanzania
With just 24 hours before election day, internet users in Tanzania and Zanzibar, have reported widespread limited access to internet services including social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.
Nepali literature lovers take respite from COVID-19 by celebrating Dashain with new books
"I'm ready to travel to places where I don’t need corona travel guidance and information. Hoping the pages will transport me to different time zones and destinations."
How Facebook derailed Nigeria’s #EndSARS movement
Online free speech advocates insist that Facebook’s flagging of #EndSARS content was neither a “mistake” nor a “bug,” but rather due to sparse investment in content moderation.
More than one million voters in Myanmar disenfranchised after government cancels elections in conflict areas
"There are suspicions over whether the government is trying to reduce ethnic parties’ power."
Hong Kong teachers self-censor as authorities target classrooms
One respondent said in a survey that they have received a complaint from a student's parents simply for wearing a black mask.
From Belarus to Thailand, Hong Kong’s spirit of resistance is nurturing grassroots protests elsewhere
While Hong Kong protests have influenced organisational and protest tactics in anti-authoritarian movements abroad, the current wave of grassroots uprisings, in turn, prompts Hongkongers to develop a transnational solidarity.
Venezuelan tanker deemed ‘stable’, but Trinidad & Tobago recommends hastening the transfer of oil
A potential oil spill in the area, environmentalists say, would be disastrous for both marine ecosystems and livelihoods.
President Buhari’s contempt for Nigerian youth-led #EndSARS movement
President Buhari emphasized state power over the human rights demands of citizens. “As far as Buhari was concerned, the youths who were killed at Lekki did not count for anything.”
Myanmar 2020 election: ‘A critical moment in the consolidation of democratic transition’
"Transparency and frequent consultation with political parties, candidates and other stakeholders are crucial to the acceptance of the results."
Failing to portray protesters as violent, Thai government lifts severe state of emergency
The government failed to portray the protesters as aggressive and violent, causing a political backfire and pressuring authorities to step back.
Pakistan lifts ban on TikTok with conditions
Pakistani social media users strongly reacted to the ban on TikTok and criticized the telecom regulator.
Dancehall star Buju Banton’s rejection of mask-wearing stymies Jamaican government’s efforts to stem ‘COVID-19 fatigue’
"Please do not listen to Buju Banton [...] in this case, he is 110% wrong. Wear your mask, wash your hands and socially distance."
