Stories from October, 2018
Japanese television program turns migrant raids and deportations into entertainment
"With no deep insights, without even a shred of critical analysis and the stupidity of superficial entertainment, [this] is the worst television program on Japanese television today."
I, Xenophobe: Chronicle of a migratory displacement
"The migrant's life is solitary in the extreme. Your friends live on WhatsApp, you do nothing but work and, in our case, watch the crisis unfold from afar."
Portuguese PM drew criticism over clothing choice during visit to Angola
António Costa's official visit to Angola following months of diplomatic tensions between the two governments has caused a stir over his clothing choice.
Journalists across India share their testimony on the deteriorating state of media — and vow to fight back
Four journalists have been killed because of their work in 2018. Killings have evoked public outrage, but little response from the government.
Hong Kong rejects visa of Financial Times editor who hosted pro-independence talk
"The Hong Kong authorities’ visa renewal rejection—without explanation—of a journalist who’s done nothing more than his job smacks of Beijing-style persecution of critics".
Despite proven flaws, India's biometric ID scheme was upheld by the Supreme Court. Now what?
Legal scholars and social scientists are likely to pore over this significant judgment for its far-reaching impact on civil liberties and socio-economic issues.
Osaka cuts sister city ties with San Francisco over “comfort women” statue
The mayor of Osaka wrote a 10-page letter in English listing -- often in bolded, underlined text -- a litany of reasons for the breakup.
Japan mortgages its future, choosing growth over environment
"One could speculate that the Japanese militarism of the early Showa period has simply been channeled into fanatical devotion to the principle of economic growth."
Mexicans celebrate indigenous cuisine with an online healthy food challenge
Mexicans eat more processed food than most Latin American countries despite the country's nutritious indigenous dishes.
‘My message is my car': Afghan innovator challenges youth to make something from nothing
"Just start your work. Do your work with what you have now. It's time to start."
This wiki is helping to keep the Balinese language alive in Indonesia
Basa Bali–which means "Balinese language" in Balinese–has an online dictionary, a library of Balinese culture, word games, translation materials and videos.
Nepal roars with pride to become the first country to double its wild tigers by 2022
"We are proud to have helped protect these endangered cats. It’s good for conservation and for tourism."
In Yemen, war, bad management and climate change are at fault for water shortage
"I blame the government for not managing and supervising the water crisis. No one cares about the people."
Brazilian women rise up against leading presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro
"This fight is about how we, as women, are occupying and reinventing politics."
Operation Leave Home: a new social media trend encourages young Angolans to fly the coop
"At this moment, I am on the street crying without knowing where to go."
Ken ‘Professor’ Philmore, Trinidadian musician who took steel pan music ‘by storm’, dies
"This is the equivalent of a Brahms, Bach or Beethoven passing. This is huge. This is a loss."