Transcripts of throwaway jokes and MC's intros used in international comedy shows, by Raouf Gangjee

It’s very confusing, because there are two Congos: one is the Republic of the Congo, and the other is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It reminds me of the…

A prominent feature of Toronto's skyline is the CN Tower, which used to be the world's tallest free-standing structure; and it’s still the tallest free-standing structure on land in the…

Last month in Nairobi, negotiators from all over the world gathered to discuss an international treaty to fight plastic pollution. Hundreds of millions of tons of plastic are discarded every…

Last month in Nairobi, the Kenyan cabinet approved sending 1,000 policemen to Haiti to lead a multinational force against gang violence happening over there. Of course, past missions by international…

Los Angeles is among other things known as the Gang Capital of America. And it's not just the Bloods and Crips! In fact there are hundreds of gangs, and tens…

The city of Cape Town was originally a so-called refreshment station started by the Dutch in 1652 for ships sailing between Europe and Asia. Those were bad times, because in…

Albany is the capital city of New York State. However, it is dwarfed by the state's largest city. It's skyscrapers are no match for New York City's: its tallest building…

Somalia has the longest coastline on the African mainland. It also has a long history. It's thought to be one of the first lands where early hunter-gathers settled. And lots…

Kuala Lumpur is one of the fastest-growing cities in Asia. Its greatest population explosion occurred in the early 20th century, with the rise of the rubber industry. Well, normally you…

Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa. Its central area has a magnificent background featuring a flat-topped mountain called Table Mountain. And the table even has a tablecloth…