Stories about LANGUAGES from August, 2022
Esperanto: Can the language of idealism face reality?
"By justifying the neutral stance it holds, the Esperantist community fails to criticize any unequal status within the world in which we live"
Are Carnival revellers in Trinidad & Tobago getting their money's worth?
Some say, "They cannot be serious." Others maintain, "You can't put a price on memories."
Chinese police detains a woman wearing Japanese Kimono, sparking outrage on social media
A police officer from Suzhou city in Jiangsu province, China, arrested a woman for wearing a traditional Japanese Kimono while taking photos on Huaihai street, a Japanese cuisine district.
The ‘war on drugs’ probe faces a setback as the Philippines refuses to rejoin the ICC
"Marcos' premise is incorrect - there is no genuine investigation in the Philippines into the government policy or pattern of activities that has led to crimes against humanity."
Myanmar detains Japanese journalist who covered protest
"We call for freedom of expression and the protection of journalists in Myanmar and abroad."
As part of a beloved square is cordoned off for construction, Trinidadians defend their right to green space
Those involved in the project say they have conducted consultations, but stakeholders seem blindsided — and of the opinion that any such efforts were as weak and desultory as past iterations.
Unfreedom Monitor Report: India
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in India is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
After US House Speaker Pelosi’s visit, fake news flooded Taiwan's social media
The fake news circulated in Taiwan days surrounding Pelosi's visit mainly aimed at insulting Pelosi, showing off China's military power in the drills, belittling Taiwan's status.
A voice from the islands: Grenada’s environment minister appointed UN climate change chief
Commentators made it clear that Simon Stiell would have plenty of work on his plate, suggesting that there are specific, daunting and complex issues to be addressed.
In Brazil and India we are seeing an increase in tensions between platforms and states
Research from the Unfreedom Monitor uncovers a pattern in the way that social media and tech platforms engage with states that practise digital authoritarianism.
Uzbekistan’s cancelled Silk Road Literary Festival reveals leftover Karimov mindset
The Uzbek Union of Writers' grievances against the Silk Road Festival Committee speak to the institution's continuing need to exercise a monopoly on the definition of Uzbek literature.
Rising sea levels in Bangladesh are driving women to take the pill to stop menstruating
Many girls and women in the coastal areas of Bangladesh who don't have access to fresh water are taking birth control pills, often stolen from married women to stop their periods.
Taiwan withdraws from hosting WorldPride 2025 over naming controversy
The WorldPride 2025 Taiwan Preparation Committee withdrew from hosting the global LGBTQ+ event as the organizer, InterPride, insisted on changing the title of the event from WorldPride Taiwan 2025” to “WorldPride Kaohsiung 2025."
Man overboard! Carnival celebrations turn sour for Grenadian athletic hero, sparking controversy
Was world javelin champion Anderson Peters pushed, as most media sources report, or did the allegedly inebriated athlete lose his balance and fall overboard?
Is modern Macedonian music popular in neighboring Serbia?
Though media in Serbia prefer traditional Macedonian folk music to modern takes, one Macedonian DJ based in Novi Sad is working on introducing modern Macedonian tunes to a Serbian audience.
Activists and artists in Thailand commemorate Myanmar's 8888 uprising
"They claim our silence to kill others, so I’m just not going to let them use my silence as an excuse to kill other people."
Marcos-Duterte critic arrested for cyber libel in the Philippines
"What a wonderful display of unity in defense of our common values! With solidarity like this, how can we possibly lose?"
Macau: The world’s gambling hub tumbles over China’s anti-corruption campaign and zero-COVID policy
China has tightened supervision over Macau's gaming sector to curb cash outflow and money laundering.
Why are Nigerians so quick to dismiss the mental health of adolescents?
Nigerian adults can be dismissive of the mental health of young people. Sadly, this only aggravates the situation, leading to severe consequences for the children.
Missing, presumed dead: A sensational murder case in Jamaica highlights the plight of many vulnerable Caribbean women
The high-profile case of Jamaican social media influencer Donna-Lee Donaldson is just one of many tragic stories of femicide across the region.
Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago celebrate 60 years of independence
Both Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are celebrating their diamond jubilee of independence from Britain, but some netizens wonder about their countries' priorities.