Stories about English from April, 2021
The rise and fall of Clubhouse in Turkey
After a brief few months of popularity among student protesters and opposition activists, pro-Erdoğan figures have now flooded the app.
As India grapples with COVID-19, Pakistan extends support, prayers
India's dire COVID-19 situation drew solidarity and support from Pakistan, its neighbour and longtime arch foe, as nations come closer together by the pandemic.
As legislative elections draw to a close, will the Congress Party reclaim Assam state from the BJP?
The Indian National Congress (INC) ruled Assam's legislative assembly from 1951 to 2016 when control switched to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Serbian anti-vaxxers revive the medieval ‘Danse Macabre,’ while pandemic deaths rise
Dance of Death: A round dance in central Belgrade around a new monument of medieval king Stefan Nemanja was part of a chain of anti-lockdown protests across Europe.
Attack on a woman in a parking lot has Jamaicans furious and a parliamentarian in limbo
Anger and cynicism have characterised online discussion about the incident, which fed into the bigger issue of gender-based violence.
Organiser of Hong Kong’s mass pro-democracy demonstrations faces police probe
Many see the police's allegations as a sign of a further crackdown on civic groups.
A runaway judge’s disappearance could mar Ukraine-Moldova relationship
Ukrainian judge Mykola Chaus’ escape to Moldova and his subsequent disappearance demonstrate the risks that elite abuse of law enforcement and judicial powers for personal gain poses for regional security.
Could the sargassum plaguing Tobago's beaches be an opportunity?
As sargassum continues to be a seasonal crisis for many tourism-dependent Caribbean islands, people have been wondering about the possibilities of putting the seaweed to good use.
These female African content creators are using TikTok for more than just dance videos
These women are showing that TikTok has the potential to become the Twitter of its generation -- a medium for discussion about pertinent issues, in ways that prompt real-life action and change.
A sex worker from North Macedonia speaks: ‘Those who pay us do not own us’
"Those who think if they pay, they own us are wrong. When we go to a café we pay for the coffee, that's it, we don't own the entire café."
Singapore bloggers crowdfund defamation damages due to PM Lee Hsien Loong
"The contribution to the crowdfunding movement is an example of targeted resistance against the government's financially based persecution method against individuals."
Chinese state media instrumental in smear campaign against wife of former US diplomat, research firm DoubleThink Lab says
According to the Taiwanese firm's research report, Chinese media amplified the mass trolling targetting popular food blogger Chuang Tzu-i amid a diplomatic row with the US.
Ukraine, Belarus commemorate 35th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster
For the world, Chornobyl symbolises the fragility of our environment and the threat posed by human activity. But for many in Ukraine and Belarus, it remains a personal tragedy.
Kenya’s chaotic COVID-19 vaccine roll out exposes rich-poor divide
Businessmen and politicians have found a way to get the jab early while poor, elderly Kenyans wait in long lines.
Harnessing the power of social media, Indian netizens support one another during the second wave of COVID-19
As India's healthcare system reels under mounting cases of COVID-19, citizens rally the power of social media to help one another and keep hope alive.
Experts warn Turkey's ambitious Istanbul Kanal will result in environmental destruction—and open a geopolitical can of worms
A new link between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara will open a geopolitical pandora box—and poses serious environmental threats to its immediate surroundings.
Travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand brings cheers and tears, but some fears
"Just met a seven-year-old who is going to see her Mum for the first time in 15 months. I’m not really handling this well!!"
Journalist becomes first person convicted over 2019 mob attack that injured dozens of Hongkongers
Bao Choy was found guilty of violating the city's Road and Traffic Ordinance by "making false statements" while searching public records of license plates as she investigated the mob attack.
Crumbling infrastructure and oxygen shortage hit India’s Covid-19 response
A lack of hospital beds and oxygen supply combined with mass election rallies and religious gatherings have exposed India’s inadequate pandemic response.
The George Floyd verdict gets netizens thinking about police brutality in the Caribbean
While social media users across the Caribbean were relieved that George Floyd's murderer was found guilty, they understood that justice being served in this one instance does not equal change.
Cameroon's Francis Ngannou: The UFC champion's fight from grass to grace
As he entered the ring, Ngannou carried the expectations of his country, and indeed of the continent of Africa.