Stories about English from June, 2017
The Sad State of Tajikistan's Online Opposition
"While one [fake account] should play the role of an “angry bird” and mercilessly bomb everyone who speaks against you, another one should use softer, more diplomatic language."
Slimmed Down Garvey Sculpture Gets Thumbs Down From Jamaicans
Ambivalent — and often dismissive — about public statuary in general, Jamaicans turn their ire towards a bust of national hero Marcus Garvey that they say needs "more identity".
Is It the 20th Anniversary of Unification With China…or the Fall of Hong Kong?
Hong Kongers have several reasons to be unhappy with the city's relationship with China.
A Nepali Wildlife Photographer Uses His Camera to Raise Awareness About Conservation
Sagar Giri's photos carry the logo: “i click for conservation.”
Cardinal George Pell, Vatican's Third Highest-Ranking Official, Charged With Sexual Assault Offences in Australia
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has indicated that Pell will return to Australia to try to clear his name.
Mumbai Locals Transform the Versova Shore With Their ‘World's Largest Beach Clean-Up’
"Couldn't believe this is exactly the same beach which I visited last year and my friend was like, man, its so dirty."
A Czech Nuclear Plant Held a Swimsuit Contest to Choose Its Next Female Intern
The move quickly faced accusations of sexism: "What a joke! Do we make men pose in swim suits to get hired as interns?"
Caught Between Saudi Coalition and Houthi Rebels, Yemeni Journalists Face Challenges on All Sides
Press freedom in Yemen is facing "eradication".
Vietnamese Blogger Phạm Minh Hoàng Detained, Stripped of Citizenship, and Exiled to France
"I wrote blogs and continued to express my views on issues like democracy, corruption, territorial sovereignty. This is something that anybody could do, and to be honest, everybody should do."
At Thailand's Request, YouTube Blocks Video Clip of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’
"Juntaland's dictator blocking Charlie Chaplin's satirical film mocking dictator is hilariously insane and dictatorial," wrote a journalist on Twitter.
China's Great Firewall Grows Ever-Stronger As Virtual Private Networks Disappear
"If one day I cannot climb over the wall, will you miss me?"
A Win for Citizen Activism After UNESCO Asks Macedonia to Stop All Construction Projects on Lake Ohrid
Lake Ohrid in Macedonia is the oldest lake in the European continent but the previous Macedonian government wanted the natural heritage area to be converted into a mega resort.
In China, an Antagonistic Anti-Refugee Stance Finds Support Online
Netizens bullied Yao Chen, a famous Chinese actress who is the UN Refugee Agency’s first Goodwill Ambassador in China, and rejected the idea of taking in refugees.
Iran's Revolution In Waiting
Without the active presence of justice in all its forms, it will remain impossible for any Iranian government to achieve coexistence among all of the country’s ethnic nations.
The Rise of the Hirak Protest Movement in Morocco
Six years after the Arab Spring, Riffian protesters are leading the way in expressing popular grievances in Morocco.
Romania Seeks to Draw Lines Around Notions of Family
But as shown by the increasing numbers of children with parents working abroad, the lines are already being redrawn by economic pressures.
Tanzanian Media Misrepresent the Dispute Between the Government and the World's Third Largest Gold Mining Company
The chairman of the mining company Barrick Gold said one thing, but the media said something completely different.
Transgender Woman Speaks on Chechnya's Persecutions and Life Pre-Kadyrov
"The man ran away. The women called an ambulance. I learned at the hospital that I had two stab wounds in my right lung."
In a Guardian Story About an Environmental Conflict in Kenya, the White Saviour Rides Again
The Guardian's portrayal of an Italian expat as the central figure in a noble fight to save the environment from local hordes erases the complex reality of a Kenyan region.
Remembering Native American Civil Rights Pioneer, Lehman Brightman
Brightman was a key figure in many important acts of Native American resistance, including the takeover of Alcatraz Island and the occupation of Mount Rushmore.
ISIS Attempts to Exploit Balkan War Wounds With Localized Propaganda
The region has a painful legacy of war that has divided people along ethnic and religious lines.