Stories from February, 2015
Disabilities Are No Obstacle to These Spirited Cricketers in Nepal
Be it spinal injury or visual impairment, these disabilities won't ever stop dozens of spirited hearts from relishing the fervour of the World Cup.
South Korea's Young Workers Earn ‘Passion Wages’, Meaning Hardly Anything at All
The buzzword "passion wage" reflects harsh conditions young South Korean people face nowadays in the workforce -- low or no pay to pursue their passion.
Here Is What You Can Do in Kyiv if You Have One Dollar
What can a dollar buy you in Kyiv, Ukraine? Quite a few things, actually! An enterprising social media user collected the most interesting ideas in a blog post.
Cameroon Bloggers Rally Behind #StopBokoHaram Campaign
"My words, my pen, and the ease with which I express my feelings, choices and ideas in my writings, are my weapons."
The Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence in Reggaeton Lyrics: Phase 2
The campaign recently released new images, posted on its Facebook page, that—very graphically—showcase the violence described in the lyrics of several very popular songs that are often performed in public.
The Dress Rehearsal for the Belarusian Crackdown
"Belaruskaya Pravda" chief editor Yuri Dubina says the recent crackdown in Belarus on independent online media is only "the dress rehearsal" before the presidential election this November.
Read First-Hand Accounts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings, Translated to English
August 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Tanzanian Schools Will Teach Students in Swahili, Not English
President Jakaya Kikwete launched a new education system in Tanzania last week that, among other changes, will introduce Swahili as the language of instruction in schools.
Unlawful Deals by 5 Biggest Ebola Contractors in Sierra Leone
Five companies are said to have misappropriated funds for fighting Ebola in Sierra Leone: Here are the 5 companies who were awarded the biggest contracts to provide goods and services to Sierra Leone’s ebola response as listed in the Ebola Funds Audit Report covering the period from May – October...
Indigenous Tweets Highlight International Mother Language Day in Australia
Wamut,aka @kriolkantri on Twitter, and blogger of ten years, shared indigenous tweets on Storify: “February 21 is International Mother Language Day and this year, Australians showed off Aboriginal and Islander languages in a spectacular way and highlighted the amazing-yet-fragile linguistic diversity found across the continent”. Happy International #MotherLanguage Day! We're...
Rio's Carnival Cozied Up to Equatorial Guinea's Brutal Dictator. But Why is Everyone Surprised?
Outrage followed revelations that the winning samba school, whose parade theme was Equatorial Guinea, reportedly received 3.5 million euros from the country's President Obiang.
Arrival of Yellow Dust Marks Start of Spring Headaches for Japan
Fukuoka in Japan is experiencing its first "yellow dust" day of the season, three months early.
‘Birdman’ Director Puts Mexico Front and Center at Oscars
The "Birdman" director electrified Twitter with his acceptance speech at the Oscars, discussing the Mexican government and the situation of Mexican immigrants in the United States.
The Stale Catch in Croatia's “Fresh Start” Debt Erasure Program
Croatia's government has received praise for its decision to wipe the debt of its poorest citizens. But will this "Fresh Start" really help Croatians?
A Love Letter to Jailed Syrian-Palestinian Bassel Khartabil
As the ongoing strife in Syria fades from international headlines, Leila Nachawati writes an appeal inspired by a love letter to jailed blogger Bassel Safadi written on Valentine's Day.
Iranian Classroom Condemns Anti-Afghan Discrimination With ‘We Are Ashamed’ Campaign
Afghan refugees in Iran often face widespread discrimination and experience racist treatment from Iranians. The #ashamed campaign has more than 20,000 likes on Facebook.
Trinidad & Tobago Law Students Create Anti-Bullying Campaign
Student attorneys from various parts of the Caribbean come together to help eradicate bullying in schools, which they regard as a human rights issue.
The Translation Detail Everyone Missed in the China Internet’s Incredibly Surreal Anthem
Below is an edited version of “The Translation Detail Everyone Missed in the China Internet's Incredibly Surreal Anthem“ by Jason Li, originally published on the blog 88 Bar and republished here as part of a content-sharing agreement. In case you missed it, the New York Times, ProPublica, the Guardian and the Atlantic all wrote about...
It's a Lock In!: Tajikistan's Ruling Party Holds Pre-election Rallies by Force
Mass public participation is not just desirable in Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's heavily-managed democracy, it is mandatory.
Egyptian Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah Sentenced to Five Years in Jail
Prominent Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah, an icon of the Egyptian revolution, was sentenced to five years in prison today.
Uncertainty Over Saman Naseem's Execution in Iran
Several conflicting reports about Naseem's execution and continued incarceration have circulated online.
