Stories about English from February, 2016
Journalist Hit With Defamation Suit From Timor Leste's Prime Minister Over Corruption Reporting
It's the second time the journalist has faced legal action accusing defamation. This time, it's over his reporting on alleged irregularities in a computer equipment project in the Finance Ministry.
Indian Tribal Activist Soni Sori, ‘an Inconvenient Woman Who Speaks Inconvenient Truths’, Attacked
"Attack on Soni Sori is another attempt to muzzle the voice of dissent. One might disagree with one's views but this is no way to deal with."
Who Needs Elephants When You Can Play Polo Driving Around in Rickshaws? (Feel Free to Sing, Too.)
An innovative and intense game introduced by an expat luxury hotelier has become an annual event in Sri Lanka, where Tuk-Tuk Polo is increasingly all the rage.
Egyptian Satirist Bassem Youssef Slams the Military with Kofta_Time Hashtag
"I will take the AIDS from the patient then give it to him as a skewer of Kofta to nourish him," announced army Major General Ibrahim Abdel-Atty in 2014.
What Masqueraders’ Selfie-Snapping Says About Trinidad & Tobago Carnival
"I noticed a proliferation of masqueraders — in the melee on stage, in the stands and on the sides — on their phones. I thought, wow, this could be interesting."
Hard Labor for Woman Who Reposted Online Criticism of Russia's Actions in Ukraine
A Russian court found Vologzheninova guilty of "discrediting the political order" and of "inciting enmity" by reposting or liking online material critical of Russia’s actions in Crimea and in Donbas.
Jamaica Struggles Towards Election Day, Without Political Debates
"D is for debates. We might as well take that word out of our vocabulary [...] Jamaica does not have a culture of mature political discussion."
Ghanaian Facebook Commentator Sued For Defamation by Deputy Attorney General
'Is there any fundraising effort to support our brother Evron Rothschild Hughes fight this impudence of a libel suit filed against free speech by Ghana's Deputy Attorney General?'
Fascinating 16mm Films of Japan, Hong Kong and Asia From the Last Century
Michael Rogge has uploaded a collection of videos documenting life in Japan and other parts of Asia at the dawn of the continent's economic transformation.
Thirty Saudi Religious Police Complete Course on How to Fight Black Magic
Thirty members of the Commission for the Protection of Virtue and Prevention of Vice completed a five-day course on how to fight black magic, identify sorcerers and even break their spells.
Online Documentary Preserves Oral History Surrounding 1950s Yugoslav Anti-Veil Law
The law was adopted "... to achieve the goal of removing the century-old sign of subjugation and backwardness of of Muslim women..."
Protests at Indian Universities Add Fuel to Public Outrage Over Sedition Laws
The arrest of student leader Kanhaiya Kumar on sedition charges has posed a rare legitimacy test for Prime Minister Nahendra Modi and his "intolerant" ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Oz Comedian's Song Challenges Cardinal to ‘Come Home’ for Child Sex Abuse Hearing
Tim Minchin has attacked Cardinal George Pell in a song and demanded he return home to give evidence to the royal commission on child abuse.
Brazilian Activist Flooded With Death Threats After Newspaper Runs Phony Interview
The well-known Brazilian journalist, teacher, and human rights activist Leonardo Sakamoto says he started receiving death threats after a small newspaper published a fake interview with him earlier this month.
The KRA Factor: The Shaming of Kadyrov’s Online Critics
The Chechen ideologists have invented a highly effective way of influencing their online critics. The method has been tested in Chechnya and is now being used outside of the republic.
‘Uganda Is a Boiling Pot': Arrests, Rigging Claims and a Social Media Shutdown Mar Elections
"Winning an election through hook and crook while clobbering your fellow countrymen should never be a proud moment!"
Blogging Is Making a Comeback in Russia, Thanks to the Man Who Helped Kill It
A funny thing is happening in the chaos of today’s Russian Internet use: people are starting to feel overwhelmed on social media.
The Gambia Commemorates 51 Years of Independence, But Not Everyone Is Celebrating
The Gambia celebrated 51 years of independence from Great Britain on February 18, 2016, more than half a century after becoming Africa's 37th sovereign state.
China's Media Wants You to Love the State as Much as You Love Your Family
"...you can't cut your connection with your father for the emperor's sake. The expression of 'showing filial piety to the state' is absolutely ridiculous."
A Blogger Exposes Personal Data Protection Flaw on Macedonia's Election Commission Website
"The mishap is at a very amateurish level from the perspective of professional principles of working with personal data on the open Web."
Hungary’s Teachers Are Mad As Hell and They’re Not Taking It Anymore
Dissatisfaction with the declining state of Hungarian education has been brewing for years and has culminated in a protest by 30,000 people in Budapest.