Stories about English from January, 2020
Redemption Song: My journey to marijuana activism
"Ganja has been a source of inspiration, meditation and medication on my journey as a mixed-race, working-class Caribbean woman trying to make a way in this capitalist world."
Can El Salvador's hosting of a surfing Olympic qualifier alter the country's violent image?
While some Salvadorans are celebrating the opportunity to host a major championship, others claim that there are bigger priorities than the country's image abroad.
Nigeria: A failed state — reality or perception?
In addition to threats from Boko Haram, abductions and kidnapping in Nigeria have also become the norm.
The meaning of Tsai Ing-wen's 8.17 million votes in the Taiwan presidential elections
Some analysts have attributed Tsai Ing-wen's landslide victory in Taiwan's recent presidential to the Hong Kong protests and encroachment by Beijing. But that's only part of the story.
How ‘fake news’ and disinformation were spread in the run-up to Taiwan's presidential elections
Puma Shen, director of DoubleThink Labs, shares his observations on the ways in which fake news and disinformation were disseminated prior to Taiwan's January 11, 2020 presidential elections.
Facebook apologizes for translating Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s name as ‘Mr. Shithole’
"And the president of China, Mr. Shithole, signed a guest record of the house of representatives."
Restoration of Trinidad and Tobago's heritage buildings stirs debate
The restoration of heritage buildings in Trinidad and Tobago has sparked a national conversation on whether this is the best use of public funds.
Baul singer Shariat Sarkar arrested in Bangladesh for ‘insulting’ Islam
Baul singer Shariat Sarkar is accused of making comments which hurt the “religious sentiment” of Muslims. He says that there is no evidence forbidding music in Islam.
Residents flee as Philippines’ smallest active volcano emits smoke and ash
Over 30,000 are estimated to be affected and displaced from Batangas and Cavite provinces because of the volcanic eruption
Is there more to the Caribbean's single-use plastics ban than meets the eye?
The move to go plastic-free is timely. According to the United Nations, 70 to 85 percent of marine litter in the Caribbean originates from land, and the lion's share is plastics.
CGNet Swara is using Bluetooth to source content and share news with Indian villages
CGNet Swara is helping groups that have been largely ignored by mainstream media use Bluetooth to create content and share CGNet-produced news, music and other programmes with their communities.
Despite legal threats and harassment, thousands join the ‘Run Against Dictatorship’ in Thailand
"The reactions by the authorities and intimidation tactics are not just wrong but also absurd. As the country has returned to democracy, no citizen should face such intimidation."
From Indonesian exile to Czechoslovakian pop star: An interview with Rony Marton
Jaroni Surjomartono, an Indonesian scholar, arrived in Prague in 1963. He and hundreds of scholars were later banned from returning home after General Suharto rose to power.
This community library is changing the chaos narrative in Haiti's Cité Soleil
The epitome of the ills that have plagued Haiti for decades, Cité Soleil wants to use its library project as a channel for the larger discourse around national reconstruction.
The Trinidadian that inspired Sam Mendes’ WWI epic, ‘1917’
Trinidadian Alfred Mendes had a long and extraordinary life in which he was many things – war hero, writer, politician – all of which was worthy of the big screen.
Supreme Court of India declares internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir unconstitutional
The blockout, imposed since August 2019, has affected the lives of millions of people in Jammu and Kashmir, depriving them of the basic right to access the internet.
In Modi’s India, anti-Bangladeshi-immigrant rhetoric is used to justify changes in citizenship laws
The implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens in India and the rhetoric of deportation of "illegal Bangladeshis" have put the India-Bangladesh relation on stress.
Victory for labor rights in Cambodia as largest casino workers’ strike ends in peace
Despite the success of the strike, workers could face sanctions for breaching the court order which declared the protest as illegal.
Why is Donald Trump so popular in Nigeria?
Ratings for US President Donald Trump’s handling of world affairs are largely negative around the world. But not in Nigeria.
#AustraliaBurning: Prime Minister's handling of national disaster sparks widespread criticism
"Our country is leaderless & while it burns, instead of being the leader we need & want, Mr "I can't hold a hose" Morrison is having a NYE party."
Taiwan presidential election: Tsai Ing-wen re-elected with record-breaking votes
Tsai said: 'I want to once again call upon Beijing authorities to remind them that peace, clarity, democracy and dialogue are key to positive cross-strait interactions and long-term development.'