Stories from August, 2016
Unbothered by Tabloid Scandals, Jamaicans Stay Devoted to Superstar Sprinter Usain Bolt
Saucy photos that would possibly force most politicians from office can't dent the love Jamaica feels for iconic sprinter Usain Bolt.
The ‘Russian Quora’ Branches Out
The question-and-answer Russian website “TheQuestion” reportedly completed a second investment round this summer, securing $500,000, and is opening new offices in Berlin and London.
There's Finally a Programming Language in Bengali Script, Thanks to ‘Potaka’
"We have been looking forward to a coding language in Bengali for a long time. Why should our higher learning and computer learning be in a foreign language?"
The Burkini Ban Is Only Skin Deep
By focusing on a law governing what women can and can't wear, we're missing the deeper point of the argument.
Death Penalty Still Looms for Mauritanian Blogger Who Spoke Out Against Caste-Based Discrimination
"This sentence signifies a step backwards in terms of tolerance and shows just how much issues of cast, religion, slavery and therefore democracy are taboos in Mauritania."
Nigeria: Curbing the Tide of Ethnic Hate — Online and Off
Nigeria is the most active African country for political conversations on Twitter. That vibrant digital sphere, however, is fraught with hate speech.
The Summer Season Brings an Orchestra of Cicadas to Japan
There are more than 30 different species of cicada in Japan. Each one has its own distinctive call. How many can you recognize?
On the Blossoming Pop Careers of Uganda's Security Hardmen
Both the new police grooves and the old army tunes are decidedly patriotic in tone.
Has Uzbekistan's Ailing Dictator Danced His Last Dance?
"For the first time in 27 years, Karimov is not in control of Uzbekistan."
Meet the Newly Born Tulu Wikipedia, the 23rd in a South Asian Language!
Tulu is spoken by 3-5 million people in the Indian states of Karnataka and Kerala, plus a sizeable diaspora living in the US and the Gulf countries.
The Refugee Olympic Team Showed They Have Plenty to Offer, in Spite of Tragic Stories
"It is this determination that they show against all odds. I love the athletes in this team as if they were my own children."
Oh, the Phrases You'll Hear on the Streets of Buenos Aires!
La Gente Anda Diciendo collects phrases overheard in Argentina's capital and turns them into Facebook posts, books and notepads.
August Was Another Month of Tragedy for Turkey's Besieged LGBTQ+ Community
"She would also be very restless sometimes. She had been stabbed and beaten before. This doesn’t happen only to Hande, it happens to all of them."
Super Mario and Prime Minister Abe Took Centre Stage in Japan's 2020 Promo at Rio
Japan invites the world to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo by emphasizing "otaku culture."
Lawsuit Over Facebook Post Raises Fears of Online Censorship in Bhutan
The suit against Zam revolves a family that is fighting a property dispute against well-connected business man Ap Sonam Phuntsho, who is also father-in-law to the Chief Justice of Bhutan.
How Beijing’s Breach of ‘One Country Two Systems’ Gave Birth to the Hong Kong Independence Movement
"Their main method looks set to be trolling and rattling Beijing: identifying what makes the regime most paranoid, and piling it on."
An MIT Lesson in Failure Helps Deliver Fresh Milk to Millions in India
"This program is trying help push us to make sure we’re not just coming out and often looking at things very simplistically or paternally..."
In Nigeria, You Risk Arrest If Your Dog Has the Same Name as the President
"Anyone that is still in doubt about the political nature of this case should search his inner conscience closely."
Daraya, Symbol of Non-Violent Revolution and Self-Determination, Falls to the Syrian Regime
"The people of Daraya paid a heavy price for their dream of freedom. For four years they defended their autonomy from the Assadist state, and kept going despite the siege."
Brazil’s Highest Mountain Is Reopening for Ecotourism Guided by the Yanomami People
Closed off to tourists since 2003, the trail to Brazil's highest mountain is set to reopen in 2018, managed by the indigenous peoples themselves.
Africans Have a Laugh at Themselves Imagining ‘If Africa Was a School’
"Madagascar would be the kid no one invites to a party coz they live out of town."