Stories about English from January, 2019
The beef between two Trinidad and Tobago soca stars is a nod to age-old musical traditions
Lyrical sparring is intricately woven into the origins of calypso music, and its modern-day hybrid, soca.
The Spiny Babbler, Nepal's only endemic bird, fascinates ornithologists and bird lovers alike
Spiny Babbler, found only in Nepal, has fascinated ornithologists and birders all-over the world. It is threatened by the clearance of scrub for agriculture and the expansion of urban areas.
Larisa Pak is the last Korean standing at Tajikistan's hardscrabble border with Afghanistan
Up to 200,000 ethnic Koreans were deported to Central Asia from the Russian Far East by Soviet authorities during the 1930s.
Displaced farmers’ coalition reclaims their road to sustainable livelihoods 9 years after Haiti’s devastating earthquake
"We had nothing to fall back on, nothing to sell at the market. [...] What we suffered through the most was the loss of our dignity."
Nigeria's retired military generals battle for influence in 2019 presidential elections
Olusegun Obasanjo, former military head of state and later Nigeria’s democratically elected president, has consistently criticized successive governments in Nigeria.
How will propaganda shape Nigeria's 2019 presidential elections?
"Propaganda may help you win elections but [it] can’t help you govern," said former Nigerian President Jonathan Goodluck about recent campaign tactics.
Russia's isolationist ‘sovereign internet’ bill worries experts and users alike
Experts have pointed to the colossal costs associated with building the infrastructure required, and lamented that this would only lead to further monopolization of the Russian internet provider market.
Sri Lankan tea estate workers take to the streets to demand fair wages
'Companies say they don't have profit, govt says it doesn't have money, ministers make so many promises[...] workers want only Rs. 1000 daily basic wage for the work they do'.
Caribbean nations hesitate to recognise Venezuela's Guaidó
"If the regional powers break Venezuela, guess who picks up the pieces? Neighbouring countries, that's who."
Old age, hate speech, press freedom: Critical issues in Nigeria's 2019 presidential elections
Amid the cacophony of Nigeria's electoral campaigns — both online and offline — here are the key issues that may get lost in the noise in this year's elections.
Local radio station in Russia cancels interview with LGBT activists after threats to editor
Homophobic abuse online didn't put the editor off, but anonymous calls threatening violence against her guests did.
Biryani Stories: Is Biryani the national dish of Pakistan?
Biriyani might be considered the king of South Asian cuisine, but is it the national dish of Pakistan?
Taiwan’s referendum results may have been swayed by an ill-informed public
Many feel that an ill-informed public swayed the results of Taiwan's recent referendums.
Is Fiji's Online Safety Act a ‘trojan horse’ for online censorship?
"The Act on the surface professes online ‘Safety’, while its vagueness on responsible free speech leaves the act open to being a Trojan horse for online ‘Regulation’ and censorship."
Tobago's tourism industry faces setback as Sandals hotel chain walks away from a deal
Talks broke down on a major deal for a Sandals resort in Tobago. Environmentalists see it as a win, but tourism has to swallow its disappointment and press on.
Jordan stalls on official poverty statistics amid tax law controversy
Reports on poverty in Jordan have been absent since 2010, putting the government under fire for answers.
Mayor of Odessa could face criminal charges after his security attacked a local reporter
This is only the most recent episode in which Trukhanov or his subordinates have attacked journalists.
Correspondence between Arundhati Roy and Shahidul Alam shares resilience and hope
"...the tide will turn, and the nameless, faceless people will rise. They will rise against the entire state machinery."
India's Sabarimala row: How women fought against religious patriarchy for the right to pray
Right-wing groups are in an uproar after the Indian Supreme Court allows women of menstruating age to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
What's wrong with mainstream media's interpretation of Taiwan's referendum results?
Taiwan just finished its location election and ten referendums on Nov 24, but there are still some misunderstandings about the results in mainstream media.
Nigerien man stranded at Ethiopian airport for months
"I slept on the chairs, sometimes I slept in the mosque, I didn’t take shower for two months because [the] airport [has] no place for a shower."
