Stories about LANGUAGES from August, 2016
Today Moscow Accused Ukraine of Sending Terrorists Into Crimea. Russian Internet Users Have Been Saying It for Days.

Russian officials waited almost three days before going public with the story. There were earlier unconfirmed reports, however, including an apparent all-points bulletin issued by the Russian Interior Ministry.
The New Orientalism: Iran as a Political Commodity

The fact that Iran remains for westerners an exotic and mysterious land whose "complex history" requires "untangling" by experts, puts serious limits on the possibilities for genuine engagement.
Empathy for the Enemy and the Oppressed: Political Pop Songs from the Eighties

A look back at seven pop hits from the 1980s that pack a political punch.
China Is Turning Its Once Powerful Communist Youth League Into an Online Campaign Machine
Before President Xi came into power, the Communist Youth League served as a launching pad for China’s political elite.
Tokyo's first female governor won in a landslide victory, but she faces a rough road ahead
At her first day on the job, she was snubbed by Tokyo's assembly members.
In Hospital Bombing, Pakistan Lost a Whole Generation of Lawyers in Balochistan
"The number of junior lawyers, who are the sole bread winners of their homes and who are now unemployed runs into hundreds. Most of those who died were first-generation educated"
Dear Hong Kong Activists, Please Stop Telling Everyone Telegram is Secure

While we marched across Hong Kong Island, organizers shouted, “download Telegram, it's more secure than WhatsApp!” But Telegram is not more secure than Whatsapp -- in many circumstances, it's worse.
Activists in Puerto Rico Are Fighting to Keep Beaches Public
Activists, academics, and environmental experts are coming together under the slogan, "The Beaches belong to the People", to protect public maritime spaces and the Puerto Rican ecosystem.
Food Trucks Have Arrived in Hong Kong, But Not Everyone Is Lining Up
More than half of the new food-truck licenses ended up in the hands of big corporate food subsidiaries. Many, however, believe the scheme is poorly and unfairly designed
Japan Off to a Strong Start at 2016 Rio Olympics
Japanese men and women got off to a strong start during the first weekend of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
How the Zika Narrative About Puerto Rico Explains US Colonialism

Puerto Ricans work, love, live and struggle daily to resist not only the Zika virus, but something much more devastating: more than a century of colonialism and its many consequences.
Southeast Asia’s Iconic Mosques, Temples, Pagodas, and Cathedrals
Where can you find the largest Catholic cathedral in Asia, the world's largest religious monument, and the only mosque without a dome? Only in Southeast Asia.
Afghanistan's Hazaras: ‘Do Not Eliminate Us!’
"Never can a bomb silence the voice for justice and equality."
Porn, Prostitution, or Death: Being Trans in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
"We know our rights and we are standing up to claim them.its just the beginning. We are a movement, we are pink warriors. There is no going back. "
The Disappearance of Literary and Social Activist Wahid Baloch
"A man who fought to eradicate the menace of forced disappearances became a victim of the very crime."
If You Doubt Peru's National Confidence, Just Check Out Its Cherished Military Parade
The parade has taken place in many different settings. It now takes place in centric Brasil Avenue, with some spectators arriving before sunrise to ensure they get seats.
On the Eve of Independence Celebrations, Jamaicans Delight in the Rio 2016 Olympics Opening Ceremony
From Rio's green theme to the pomp and circumstance of the Parade of Nations, the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games inspired a sense of national pride for Jamaicans.
#RallyForTheValley Brings Attention to the Plight of Dam Victims in India
"They should have initiated the rehabilitation of people in the affected areas first, and then only started the work..."
South Asia's Largest Wikimedia Conference Kicks Off in India

Some of the noted guests addressing the gathering include Wikimedia Foundation's newly promoted Executive Director Katherine Maher and Punjabi-language poet Surjit Patar.
Justice as Usual, or Attack on Free Speech? Debunking Singapore’s Contempt-of-Court Bill

"Leaving people confused over what can or can’t be said will have a chilling effect, whatever the intention of the law, further entrenching a culture of self-censorship and passive citizenship."
Trinidad & Tobago's Culture Was ‘Made Richer’ Thanks to Earl Crosby
"He was one of those people that you think would always be there — and then he's suddenly gone and this hole is created that can't be easily filled."





















