Stories about English from January, 2014
Ukraine Rolls Back Short-Lived Anti-Protest ‘Dictatorship Laws’
The Ukrainian Parliament voted to revoke the controversial so-called "dictatorship laws" at the same time that the Ukrainian Prime Minister resigned, but protests still continue.
3 Out of The Top 10 Most Inspirational Bangladeshis are Tech-Centric
While commenting on the a list of 10 most inspirational Bangladeshis around the world published by the London-based organization ‘British-Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration’, blogger Aminul Islam Sajib points out that 3 of them had significant contribution in technology field.
Blogger Unveils Sochi Corruption Website
Alexei Navalny joined the Sochi anti-corruption campaign this week, launching an interactive website outlining what he calls the true costs of the Olympic preparations in Sochi.
Trinidad & Tobago: Smoke in the City
With multiple fires at Trinidad's main landfill, citizens who work and live in and around the capital have been trying to deal with the effects of the thick smog.
‘Good Girls’ Don't Use Social Media Sites in Tajikistan
Sexist bullying and harassment of girls and women is widespread on social media sites in Tajikistan, according to Radio Ozodi [tj] (Tajik service of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty). The problem has to do with a strongly-held stereotype that female social media users are sexually promiscuous. On Odnoklassniki, the most popular...
Cable Providers Begin Dropping Russia's Only Independent TV Station
The prospect that Russian cable television providers might drop TV Rain became a reality today, when two major cable companies reported their decisions to end access to the station.
Ecuador's Indigenous People: “We believe in development that respects Mother Earth”
“The Government is appropriating our spiritual values of the Amazon region, it’s seeking to deconceptualize our cultural concepts”, says [Carlos Pérez, President of ECUARUNARI (Confederation of Kichwa Peoples of Ecuador)]. “It doesn’t know what Pachamama is. It doesn’t understand the rights of nature. It doesn’t understand Sumak Kawsay (good living),...
Putting Faces on the Mysterious Disease Killing Nicaraguan Sugar Cane Workers
A fatal disease is killing sugar cane workers in Nicaragua. Photojournalist Ed Kashi wants to raise awareness about this mysterious epidemic through a documentary project that is looking for funding.
Coursera Online Courses Blocked in Syria, Iran and Cuba by US Sanctions [UPDATE]
Hit by US sanctions, Coursera students from Syria, Iran and Cuba, can no longer complete their studies on the online learning platform. Netizens react.
Lebanon: New Stamp to Commemorate Armenian Genocide
Lebanon will have a new national stamp released to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The announcement was made by Minister of Telecommunications Nicolas Sehnaoui on Twitter.
Why the Caribbean Should Pay Attention to the Net Neutrality Decision
ICT Pulse takes a look at the recent decision about net neutrality in the United States and the potential consequences for the Caribbean.
PHOTOS: Drone Captures the Beauty of Thailand
Using a drone, Thailand-based blogger Richard Barrow shares several amazing landscape photos of Thailand. Drones were also used to monitor protests in Bangkok
Kazakhstan's Largest City Hides Its “Beautiful” Side from Cameras
Top rated Russian photo-blogger Ilya Varlamov presents [ru] a photo report about his recent trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan's capital before 1997. What the blogger found most surprising about the city is that police officers do not allow anyone “photographing anything good, beautiful, and new” in Almaty. Curious travelers are, therefore, restricted to...
Kenya Blog Awards 2014 Open for Submissions
The 2014 BAKE Kenyan Blog awards is now accepting submissions until February 10, 2014. Users can vote online from March 1 to April 30, 2014 for their favorite blogs in 17 different categories, including the new additions of Best Health Blog and Best County Blog. The Kenyan Blog Awards, an initiative of the Bloggers Association...
South Korea: ‘Less is More’, Net Users Turn Sour on Typical Movie Poster
A massive Disney hit movie, Frozen is rapidly gaining traction also in South Korea. However, more young Koreans are turning sour on typical Korean-style movie poster, which has long been criticized for being either too confusing or overly interrupted [ko] by extra-bold text dropping names or media/net users’ reviews ridden with cliche [ko]....
Sri Lanka's Best Bus Terminal
Freelance writer, translator and blogger Nandasiri Wanninayaka writes about the multi-purpose bus terminal-cum shopping and entertainment complex in the resort town of Negombo: You wouldn’t expect a bus stand in Sri Lanka to be like a mini airport. But if you happen to go to Negombo Bus Stand, renamed as...
WeChat Users Send Virtual Envelopes Worth Real Money for Chinese New Year
In China, it is tradition to give red envelopes containing money as gifts during the Lunar New Year holiday. The red color symbolizes good luck.
So Long to Russia's Only Independent TV Station?
The only opposition television station operating today in Russia is now threatened with losing access to cable broadcasting, after a scandalous poll about the WWII Siege of Leningrad.
China Awards Tennis Champion Li Na With Six-Figure Prize
The Chinese local authorities’ decision to award 800,000 yuan to China's tennis superstar Li Na shortly after her triumph at the Australian Open has triggered criticism among Chinese netizens.
Child Artists in Syria's Largest Refugee Camp ‘Zaatari’
Syria children at the Zaatari refugee camp, on the Syrian-Jordanian border, was showing off their artistic skills, writes Syria Untold.
Guyanese Website Could Be Game Changer in Regional Crime Fighting
Crimefighting in Guyana is changing thanks to a new website - and there's hope that the technology could tip the balance in favour of the good guys throughout the region.