Stories about English from January, 2016
Vintage Postcards Show Life in Vietnam in the Early 20th Century
The postcards are part of the digital collection of The New York Public Library, which recently released more than 180,000 digitized items into the public domain.
You Don't Know Noise, If You Don't Know Trinidad and Tobago
From unbearably loud music to illegal fireworks, one civic-minded social media user in Trinidad and Tobago is taking on the "noise polluters who yearly get away with decibel crime".
In Photos: Farmers Harvest Buckets of Glimmering Sea Salt in Myanmar
Many salt farmers in Myanmar are already migrating to other countries in search of better opportunities. This photo montage features salt farming along Myanmar's southeast coast.
First Russian Pastafarian Gets Driver's License Photo Wearing A Colander
Russian Pastafarians are celebrating: for the first time, an adherent of the religion managed to get his driver's license photo taken wearing a pasta strainer—Pastafarians' obligatory headgear.
Don’t Laugh, But Dubai’s Deputy Police Chief Would Like to Tell You About Obama’s ‘Shia Roots’
Dubai's deputy chief of police reasons the Iran Deal happened because Obama is Shia. Arab and Iranian social media users can‘t contain their laughter.
China Is Blocking Circumvention Tools With Help of Cloud Service Providers
Experts estimate that between 1% and 3% of China's internet users are using circumvention tool to visit overseas websites. But this could change with new restrictions.
Warlords to the Lebanese People: Let’s Forgive and Forget!
25 years after the end of the civil war Lebanon remains a deeply divided country, and attempts by former warlords to paper over the past can only worsen the situation.
ISIS Destroys Dair Mar Elia, Iraq's Oldest Christian Monastery
Iraq's oldest Christian monastery, Dair Mar Elia, has been destroyed by the ISIS. The monastery, built in 595, is located in Ninawa, just south of Mosul.
The Caribbean Prepares Itself for ‘Zik-V’ Virus Threat
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is advising people to protect themselves and even plans to launch a mobile game called Zap-a-‘quito to educate the public.
Caribbean Social Media Dissects the Tangled Outrage Surrounding Cricketer Chris Gayle's Come-On
"The global condemnation of Chris Gayle’s flirting seems over the top [but] the controversy is a welcome reminder that there are lines of propriety that should not be crossed."
A Struggling Economy Means New Taxes and Belt-Tightening for the People of Trinidad and Tobago
Finance Minister Imbert says the shift is necessary to rescue the economy from its precarious state, as oil prices continue to plummet. The previous administration's overspending hasn't helped matters, either.
A Tragic Suicide at a University Puts the Spotlight on Discrimination Against Dalits in India
"What happened with #RohitVemula should not happen with anyone. We can't progress until every citizen of India has equal rights!"
On Criticising Charlie Hebdo on Facebook, and the Perils of Selective Freedom of Speech
Did Facebook remove Efe Levent's post because he used the term "cracker"?
How a Weapons Trafficking Case Brought Puerto Rico's Political Status Before the US Supreme Court
The US attorney general's position on Puerto Rico's status has probably turned the issue into fodder for the upcoming election season.
Ukraine Plans Cyber Security Review After ‘Russian’ Attack on Key Airport
A Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman said the recent cyber attack on Boryspil airport in Kyiv had originated from servers in Russia.
The Strongmen of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan Don't Want to Leave Office Anytime Soon
"Why trifle? Better to directly announce yourself immortals and ban death from coming for them."
Russian Blogger Shipilov Granted Political Asylum in Ukraine
Dmitry Shipilov, a Russian journalist and blogger sentenced to community service for insulting the governor of Kemerovo region on his blog, has been granted political asylum in Ukraine.
The Internet Helps an Unknown Brazilian Footballer Beat Messi to Win a FIFA Award
Wendell Lira didn’t have a club to play for when he was nominated for the most beautiful goal of 2015. But thanks to the Internet, he turned things around.
Arrrrrr! Putin's New Internet Advisor Tied to Online Piracy
Vladimir Putin's new Internet advisor is known as a hardliner against foreign online resources that break Russian law. Now German Klimenko has been tied to a questionable torrent tracker.
Will Lebanon Finally Have a New President After Geagea Endorsed Aoun?
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has endorsed his war time rival Michel Aoun's candidacy for presidency today. Will Lebanon finally have a new president after 20 months without one?
Russian Study Finds that One in Nine Duma Deputies Is an Academic Phony
Dissernet's investigation of dissertation texts found that one in nine lawmakers in the Russian State Duma has plagiarized content in their thesis, raising suspicion about their academic degrees.