Why Chinese Political Humor is Spreading Online

Political satire is alive and well in China, especially online. That’s despite government attempts to keep a lid on it.

South Korean Podcast Mocks President

One of the most popular downloads in South Korea is a podcast that makes fun of the president, Lee Myung-bak.

Pakistani Band Beygairat Brigade Serves up Satire with ‘Aalu Anday’

A newly formed Pakistani band is gaining YouTube popularity with a song that a uses a Pakistani side dish as a metaphor for what the Pakistani government is giving its people.

A Dish Called Koshary

This northern African country is home to an online satirical newspaper named after the national dish.

Syrians Who Fight Back With Satire

There is a virtual explosion of satire in the protest movement right now

Egypt’s “most reliable news source”

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What happens when you take rice, macaroni, lentils, and chickpeas, and mix it all together with fried onions and tomato sauce? You get koshary, one of Egypt’s national dishes. Koshary is also the name of Egypt’s newest satirical online newspaper, El Koshary Today. Reporter Julia Simon went out for koshary in downtown Cairo with the paper’s staff and she sent this report. Download MP3

• El Koshary Today
• America’s “finest news source”

Street names, Bible translators and locavore language

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When it comes to naming a street, you can go with the bland: Bella Vista Ave. Or not: Mugabe St. In the Palestinian city of Ramallah, some recently named streets celebrate “fallen matyrs”. Israel too, memorializes its “freedom fighters” from the early 20th century. Also, a conversation with the head of the world’s largest Bible translation organization. The group wants to translate the Bible into every language by 2025. Finally, language journalist Michael Erard declares why henceforth he will use only words that are locally grown and sustainably packaged. Download MP3

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Egypt’s Ali G.

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A new Egyptian TV show features a fake Italian talk show host who interviews unsuspecting Egyptian officials. He asks them sexually suggestive questions, which is taboo in Egypt. But the flamboyant host of ‘La Sosta Culturale’ steers well clear of political satire. Julia Simon reports. Download MP3

• Video: La Sosta Culturale
• La Sosta Culturale on facebook

World Books Feature: Summer Reads for the Adventurous

It may be summer, but your brain needn’t go on vacation. My summer list of fiction in translation that demands and repays close attention.