Stories about English from October, 2016
A Trinidad & Tobago Carnival Band Is Accused of Trivialising the Trauma of Slavery
"He's glamorizing a part of our colonial history where racism and socioeconomic disparity were rampant. And carnival now, with its overpriced parties and parades, continues that tradition."
In Trinidad & Tobago, Video of Shooting Aftermath Doesn’t Boost Public Trust in the Police
"This has nothing to do with what happened before [...] or what led to his shooting. This has to do with what passes for police procedure in this place."
Sri Lankan Tourism: Booming Again, But Mostly for the Military
The Sri Lankan military is investing heavily in the tourism business. The armed forces have several hotels and resorts, many restaurants and cafes, and other tourist facilities.
In the Eyes of Hong Kong's Housing Market, We Are All Just Sardines
Living spaces in Hong Kong are shrinking in size while prices skyrocket. Here's one response to the absurdity of the situation.
Russian City Cuts Fuel to WWII Eternal Flame So Locals Won't Cook on It
Taganrog’s eternal flame isn’t burning today, and a local gas company official says it’s because he can’t guarantee that locals won’t roast sausages over the fire.
A short history of Halloween in Japan
Halloween in Japan has become a creepy tour de force. But trick-or-treating has never caught on. Why?
Sri Lanka Pays the Price for Past Government's Extravagance
The huge sum of money spent canceling an order for new Airbuses could have funded a whole lot more.
Peace Activist Khurram Parvez's Illegal Detention in Kashmir Valley May Be Proof He's “Doing Something Right”
After his arrest on September 15, Parvez was charged under the Public Safety Act and sent to a prison facility nearly 300 kilometers from his family and legal counsel.
A Lack of Open Space Forces Kids in One Mumbai Suburb to Play in a Dirty Field
“We don’t tell our parents that we play here. They think we go to a proper ground to play. If they know...they will not let us out to play."
A Philippine Police Van Brutally Runs Over Indigenous and Minority Protesters Calling for Their Rights
"In our ancestral communities, the attacks are far worse...Everywhere we turn, we Lumads and other national minorities are brutalized."
Ghana's Opposition Party Is Running Wild With an Internet Challenge Surrounding a Juice Box
"Always love it when people turn their "misfortune" into a great success. That's what the #NPP has done with this #KalypoChallenge. Maturity"
How the Women of a Conflict-Affected Village in Georgia Waged a Battle Against Gender Stereotyping
"Sometimes they would joke: 'You are from the office of unmarried women, right?'"
Young Skaters in Rural South Africa Shred It Up in ‘Valley of a Thousand Hills’
Skateboarding isn't popular in South Africa, especially in black communities. As one young Zulu puts it, "We are skateboarders because we want to live a life which is good...and awesome."
What Did Russia's Leading News Agency Tweet During the Final U.S. Presidential Debate?
RuNet Echo recaps the debate-night tweets by one of Russia's biggest national news agencies to get an idea of what resonated in Moscow.
Macedonia's Lake Ohrid Awaits You
Far from the frenzy of the capital, the cities of Ohrid, Struga and Bitola in southern Macedonia's offer history, culture, cuisine, biodiversity and some truly astounding landscapes.
Chinese Netizens See Human Rights Violations in Child Protection Bill
The new regulations attempt to protect children by requiring hardware companies to install surveillance software on their devices, and by promoting treatments for "Internet addiction."
A Social Media About-Face in Trinidad & Tobago Highlights the Complexity of Domestic Violence
"The fact that she’s decided to return to that relationship […] means she can be seduced by affection and scared of retribution, like all human beings."
One of the Richest Political Parties in Europe Rules One of the Poorest European Countries
A recent documentary reveals that Macedonia's ruling party VMRO-DPMNE has amassed more wealth than its counterparts in the richest countries on the continent.
Threatened With Suspension Over Its Rights Record, Maldives Up and Quits the Commonwealth
"Don't we as...citizens get a say in whether or not we want to be a part of the commonwealth? Or is Maldives just a one man country now".
Myanmar’s Laws and Societal Attitudes Make Girls Vulnerable to Abuse
An 'International Day of the Girl' celebration in an internally displaced person camp in Kachin State, Myanmar highlights the lack of government protection of victims of gender-based violence in Myanmar.
Journalists Call on Timor-Leste PM to Drop Defamation Complaint Against Reporters
Around the world, reporters are trying to get the prime minister of Timor-Leste to abandon a criminal complaint against two journalists who say he was involved in government corruption.