Stories about English from January, 2021
Online football clinic helps Indonesian children improve skills during the pandemic
"We hope to provide easy access for all Indonesian children to continue to develop their potential during difficult times like today."
Malaysia’s internet regulator deactivates Twitter account after offensive tweets exposed
"It is shocking that they violated Twitter's terms by acquiring an account of a person that had no shame with their racism, misogyny, anti-baldness."
Reviving L’bokator, Cambodia's ancient martial arts
The sport is now recognized by the World Martial Arts Association and will be included in the 2023 Southeast Asia Games,
Remembering the Mexican parody songs of the former Yugoslavia
A selection of the greatest hits of the 1960s-1980s YuMex wave.
The Caribbean Community stands with Guyana in Venezuela border dispute
In a virtual meeting on January 12, Caribbean leaders put their support behind Guyana, the CARICOM member state in which energy company ExxonMobil began oil exploration in 2008.
Social media blackout, violent crackdown on opposition ahead of presidential elections in Uganda
“Millions of young people demand reform and say their future is pitted against a small cadre of tyrants committed to retaining power at all costs,” says Bobi Wine.
Venezuela refuels its territorial dispute with Guyana in area with massive offshore oil find
In the wake of ExxonMobil's discovery of massive energy reserves in Guyana, a centuries-old border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana heats up.
Bangladesh moves to revive production of muslin, fabric of legend
Muslin is an important part of the heritage of present-day Bangladesh, and especially its capital Dhaka, which was once the centre of production of the exquisite fabric.
A digital artist depicts the lives of Thais and the struggle for democracy
"It’s time for us to rise up for a better future not just for ourselves, but also for the generations to come.”
The pandemic killed Trinidad & Tobago's 2021 Carnival, but soca music keeps the spirit alive
"Soca Music is an experience, nothing can beat the feeling you get when [...] you hear that one song that hits you with a wave of emotion."
Pakistan's Supreme Court orders reconstruction of Hindu temple razed by a mob incited by Muslim clerics
A cleric of the religious right-wing political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was arrested in connection with the incident.
Lax regulations behind surge in Hong Kong's ‘nano flats,’ land use group says
"You can fry a fish while sitting on the bed."
‘This is the USA?’ The Caribbean reacts to the Capitol protests
As thousands of Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol on January 6, Caribbean netizens couldn't help but notice the term 'shithole country' had now been turned on its head.
Mass arrests in Hong Kong of participants in the pro-democracy camp's July 2020 primaries
A number of pro-democracy organizations and media outlets also received court orders directing them to hand in documents related to police investigations.
COVID-19 and shrinking freedom limits in Jordan
In Jordan, recent detentions of journalists and activists in 2020 bear the hallmarks of a police state.
‘Caribbean super salesman,’ Jamaican tourism mogul ‘Butch’ Stewart, dies at 79
Jamaican hotelier Gordon “Butch” Stewart, the self-made businessman who perfected the all-inclusive tourism model for which the Caribbean has become famous, died at a Miami hospital.
Singapore livestreams Parliament session for the first time but prohibits use for ‘satire, ridicule, or denigration’
"Reminder that this development was made possible because activists, opposition politicians, and the great mass of dissenting Singaporeans had pressured the government to do so."
The favorite dishes of Nepali chef Santosh Shah
The London-based chef became a celebrity after finishing in second place at the BBC's MasterChef: The Professionals.
Interview: Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker says education has become a scapegoat for the protests
Ip Kin-yuen, who is the vice-president of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, told HKFP that while the situation is very grim, he is still hopeful that 2021 could bring better news.
Anti-rights Wiki: An investigation into the conservative lobby in Latin America
Investigative project by four digital media platforms from Ecuador and Guatemala collects data on “pro-life” groups.
Hong Kong pro-establishment camp uneasy about leadership takeover by newcomers
The new Bauhinia Party was established by a group of businessmen with mainland Chinese backgrounds.