Stories about English from February, 2017
Visit by France's Marine Le Pen Leaves Many Lebanese Unimpressed
Marine Le Pen was granted the honor of a State Visit in Lebanon. Here's how she spent it.
These Female Skateboarders Are Blazing a Trail in India
"I wanted to make it visible that there were girls skateboarding in India, even though the numbers could be counted on one hand at the time."
Russia's Censor Suddenly Wants to Know More About Channels on Telegram
With help from a Putin-launched political movement, Russia's federal censor met on Tuesday behind closed doors with the authors of several popular Telegram channels. And nobody knows why.
Privacy Is Hard to Protect in Tunisia, Thanks to Politics
Almost six years after the regime's ousting, and despite having a constitution that grants all citizens the right to privacy, Tunisia's privacy law still do not meet international standards.
Trump a Convenient Whipping Boy for Trinidad & Tobago Footballer Dwight Yorke's Visa Issue
A high-profile footballer, a controversial travel ban and an Iranian stamp in a passport all converge to blow a simple visa issue out of proportion.
The Strange Death of Russia's Closest Alliance
Almost three years ago, President Alexander Lukashenko suddenly realized that his country's weak sense of national identity was a serious problem. It's been odd times for Belarus ever since.
Hong Kong Police and Pro-Beijing Groups Protest After Court Convicts Officers of Assaulting Activist
"Police misconduct is not frightening as these are single cases. What's frightening is police wrongdoing can be justified by politics."
Unsurprisingly, Saudi Arabia's Politicians and Media Love Trump's Tough Talk on Iran
Some, however, warned that escalating tensions could end badly: "We live in the same region with Iran, any war on Iran means we all going to be devastated".
A Dozen or More Things Tropical Cyclone Dineo Should Have Taken Away From South Africa
"#ThingsDineoShouldTakeWithHer...Corrupt politicians, sure we'll lose 10% of our population but it'll be worth it."
Fleeing the Shells of War, Kachin Civilians Struggle Against Freezing Cold in North Myanmar
Almost 2,000 fled their villages after recent skirmishes between the Kachin Independence Army and the Myanmar army
Aussie Media Cop Criticism for Coverage of Olympic Swimming Gold Medalist's Meltdown
"Please consider the impact of sustained coverage on the #mentalhealth of a celebrity – important to be respectful." #GrantHackett
Thousands Joined ‘Walk for Life’ to Protest Extrajudicial Killings and Revival of Death Penalty in the Philippines
"If the response to violence is also violence, we double the violence. We should match it with non-violence."
China Argues Over Which Country is Behind Kim Jong-nam Assassination
Old school pundits are still trying to drum up support for Beijing's troublesome ally, but social media users aren't buying it.
Islamist Groups Demand Removal of Sculpture in Front of Supreme Court in Bangladesh
Authorities have less than a week to respond to a request that top officials and social media users alike are arguing is unreasonable.
Controversial ‘Crashing Airplane’ Advertisement Stirs Serbian Presidential Elections Debate
"No one in political history has released a [campaign ad] showing he's ready to take citizens to their deaths if they don't do his bidding."
Uproar After a Syrian Judge Says Taking a Second Wife Could Fix ‘Spinsterhood’
"[The decreasing number of men] exacerbates the problem and negatively affects young women and families, given the social norms that stigmatize unmarried women, divorcees, or even widows."
Belgrade Mayor’s Ex-Wife Reignites Political Scandal With Bombshell Interview
The ex-wife of Belgrade's mayor gave a bombshell interview this week, making waves across Serbia, implicating her former husband in a political firestorm.
Award-Winning Hong Kong Political Cartoonist Refuses Self-Censorship
"You speculate that the government may sue the publisher, and so decide to censor the work. The whole incident goes against my principles."
Here Are Some of the Southeast Asian Artifacts in the Met Museum's Public Domain Collection
"Since our audience is really the three billion internet-connected individuals around the world, we need to think big about how to reach these viewers..."
What It's Like to Drive for Uber in Russia
Last month, writing for the popular news site TJournal, Denis Gavrilov interviewed several Uber drivers in Russia, learning about their work, their habits, and of course their passengers.
An American Artist Is Inking ‘RESIST’ Tattoos for Good Causes
"...it's our collective responsibility to make sure they're positive and progressive steps towards a brighter future for EVERYONE."