Stories about English from May, 2021
Two transgender women in Cameroon sentenced to five years in jail for ‘attempted homosexuality’
"Which law punishes trans [women] for wearing a skirt?" Nobody should be imprisoned based on mere suspicion without proof, argues the defense counsel for Shakiro and Patricia.
Hong Kong authorities warn of 5-year prison term for attending Tiananmen Massacre vigil
The security bureau warned that under the Public Order Ordinance, offenders will face up to five years in prison for attending, or one year for promoting, the vigil.
South Asian examples show the centrality of nature in indigenous art
Modern societies can learn much from indigenous art about the importance of nurturing our relationship with nature.
As tourists party, citizens under COVID lockdown ask: Are there ‘two Jamaicas'?
When video of an event at a popular entertainment spot emerged, the images of hundreds of maskless revelers partying in close quarters prompted a wave of anger across Jamaica's blogosphere.
Czechia's Muslim women celebrated Ramadan with mixed experiences
How do Muslim women feel in Prague, and how does Female Ramadan in Prague go?
Trinidad and Tobago edges closer to amending its Equal Opportunity Act to include sexual orientation
Discussions about the need to amend Trinidad and Tobago's Equal Opportunity Act have reignited after one of the country's biggest banks made a major move towards diversity and inclusion.
Curtain falls on Kenya's Benjamin Ayimba, first African coach outside of South Africa to win a Sevens World Series Cup
Rugby is the only team sport where Kenya has consistently excelled in the world, and Ayimba played a big part in that success.
Trinidad and Tobago loses two cultural icons on the same day
Though lost under very different circumstances, condolences pour out to the families of steelpan arranger Bobby Mohammed and dance icon Torrance Mohammed, both giants in their respective fields.
How I came to live on Nowhere Island
"The pain of racism is deeper and more disappointing coming from other minorities because you don’t expect it."
Will the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon ever roar again on the football field?
Cameroon's women's national football team has experienced setbacks. But deputy head coach of the squad is convinced there is a glimmer of hope in sight.
A new COVID-19 wave overwhelms pandemic-conscious Taiwan
Taiwan recorded 3,161 COVID-19 cases so far in May 2021. Previously, it had registered fewer than 1,200 total cases since the start of the pandemic.
Jamaican literacy activist puts more books into the hands of children isolated by COVID-19 restrictions
"For children who were reading before and continue to have access to books, the pages have been a safe place from the pandemic. For others, the situation has worsened."
Jamaican bees are beautiful—and their survival is crucial
Beekeeping has been steadily catching on in Jamaica for some years now, enriching livelihoods, helping the environment, and providing lots of photographic opportunities.
European Parliament calls for ‘immediate’ and ‘unconditional’ release of Armenian prisoners
On May 20, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Azerbaijani government to release all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives.
In honour of World Turtle Day, meet the five species that frequent Trinidad and Tobago
Despite protection efforts, the species continues to face numerous threats, including continued attempts at harvesting, bycatch, habitat loss, climate change and plastic pollution.
Belarus grounds Ryanair flight, detains independent journalist amid regime's crackdown on media
Pratasevich was formerly an administrator of NEXTA-Live, the Telegram channel covering the anti-government protests in Belarus. He is currently editor-in-chief of Belarus Golovnogo Mozga, another independent media outlet.
‘Kakoli Furniture’ viral video spawns funny memes in Bangladesh and West Bengal
A low budget video advertisement containing a repetitive six-word sentence “Low price, good quality, Kakoli Furniture” has become an online sensation in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.
In Turkey, a mafia boss's YouTube videos give Netflix some stiff competition
Among the figures targeted the string of YouTube videos posted by Turkish mafia boss Sedat Peker are the Minister of the Interior and the president's son-in-law.
Istanbul mayor surprises users on live streaming platform Twitch
The first appearance on the platform of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul mayor and member of the main opposition Republican People's Party, coincided with a national holiday celebrating youth and sports.
Ukraine commemorates 77th anniversary of Crimean Tatar deportation
The trauma and memory of the deportation remain central to the history and identity of the Crimean Tatars and have gained renewed attention since Russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014.
Netflix’s new series on Yasuke, the African samurai, is a new dawn for Black characters in animation
Rather than a biography of the African Samurai, the a six-part series takes the void of knowledge post-1582 as a starting point to a re-imagined alternate reality and fantastical story.