Stories about History from February, 2014
How the Portuguese Influenced Indian Cuisine
During four centuries in India, the Portuguese left their mark on Indian cuisine. We look at just a few of the dishes that have Portuguese flavor.
Bangladeshis Protest Bollywood Film ‘Gunday’ for Misrepresenting Liberation War
The film treats the 1971 war as simply a war between India and Pakistan, leaving out the fact of Bangladesh's struggle for independence from Pakistan.
Celebrating Puerto Rican Poet Julia de Burgos on the 100th Anniversary of Her Birth
The Spanish-speaking world celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Puerto Rican poet Julia de Burgos.
The Venezuela I'll Always Remember
Peruvian Gabriela Garcia Calderón remembers the Venezuela of the 1990s, a very different country from the one appearing in the news headlines of late.
Myanmar's Last Remaining Synagogue
Built 120 years ago, the Musmeah Yeshua synagogue in Yangon is the last remaining Jewish synagogue in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar. Aside from being a tourist attraction, it is also listed as an archaeological heritage building in the city.
Could Questions on Ethnicity Stir Trouble in Myanmar?
Myanmar’s nationwide census next month threatens to inflame more ethnic and religious conflicts after 'divisive' questions on ethnicity and religion were included in the questionnaire.
Soviet-era Monuments and Slogans in Tajik Capital “Should Stay”
Over the last two decades, the authorities in Dushanbe have dismantled most of the Soviet-era monuments and huge political slogans on rooftops which had all been an important feature of the cityscape before 1991. However, as Radio Ozodi reports [tj], Tajikistan's capital has preserved a handful of Soviet statues, slogans, and signs...
Assessing Myanmar's Democratic Transition
Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, concluded his mission by assessing the country's democratic transition: For the time being, the military retains a prevailing role in the life and institutions of Myanmar. State institutions in general remain unaccountable and the judiciary is not...
Shadow of Olympics Evictions Looms Over Tokyo
Japan has already seen people evicted from their homes and homeless people evicted from parks for past mega-events.
Revisiting the Era of Foreign Domination in Cameroon
Dibussi Tande revisits the era of foreign domination in Cameroon in the context of the Guiness Mount Cameroon Race: The first three editions of the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race were won by local Bakweri runners. By the time of the 4th edition in 1976, an aura of superstition had already...
Film Documents America's “Invisible” Drone War in Pakistan
"We speak to journalists, activists and experts inside and outside of Pakistan about the consequences of the strikes in the tribal FATA region."
Why It's Hard to Say “I Love You” in Chinese
Roseann Lake from ChinaFile explores why it's hard for Chinese to say “I Love You” in their own language from historical and sociological perspectives. The piece has also introduced an experiment about Chinese brain and its relation to love and romance.
Examining the Post-Colonial Evolution of Francophone and Anglophone Africa
The topic of the post-colonial evolution of francophone versus anglophone African states has always a fodder for intense debate. Cheidozié Dike, from Nigeria, brings a new perspective to the subject : While the French Loi Cadre system was mostly about integration, the British colonial system sought only exploitation. Creating an...
PHOTOS: Saigon in the Past 50 Years
The Saigoneer features several photos published by the French Consulate in Saigon, Vietnam that highlight the changes that took place in the city between 1955 and 2005. Slideshow: How Saigon, #Vietnam Changed from 1955 – 2005 http://t.co/mdfjPyQGgz pic.twitter.com/Z6teefeXLo — Saigoneer (@Saigoneer) February 12, 2014
The Iconic Trinidadian Film You've Never Seen
In 1974, Bim—widely regarded as the iconic Trinidadian film—was released, then faded into obscurity. 40 years later, one film enthusiast gives it new life via Facebook.
VIDEOS: Argentina's Melting Pot of Culinary Traditions
A large diversity of migrants in Argentina allows us to enjoy a wide array of international dishes often shared in feasts for the various immigrant communities throughout the country.
Prisoners Lists Stir Informbiro Memories in Former Yugoslav Republics
Publishing of the lists of Goli Otok prisoners, victims of 1949-56 communist purges, reignited dormant debates and opened some old wounds, throughout the former Yugoslav republics.
Russia's Patriotic Overdrive in Sochi?
The Soviet Union may have defeated Hitler, but modern-day Russia’s war against fascism wages on. And the Sochi Olympics have amplified the fight.
When Genocide is, apparently, a Laughing Matter
French humorist Nicolas Canteloup has come under fire for a sketch making light of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda [fr]. Following the outrage, Mr Canteloup has yet to apologize for the sketch. Audrey Kucinskas, a blogger for the Plus asks the logical question: “can anything be a laughing matter?” [fr]: Rire du...
French Influence on Vietnamese Cooking
Writing for The Culture Trip, Melissa Pearce reviews the French impact on Vietnamese cooking: The French brought many ingredients and flavours to Vietnam, most popular and noticeable upon entering the country is probably the baguette, which the Vietnamese adapted and today create their own style of baguette using rice flour.
Forget What You Know About Visiting Kosovo
Think that Kosovo is country still in tatters from its war-torn past and not ideal for a holiday? Think again.
