Stories about LANGUAGES from November, 2019
‘Jump high and shake your manifesto': The rhythms of Trinidad & Tobago elections
For Trinidad and Tobago's politicians, the way to voters' hearts is often through song. A look back at some notable guest appearances by calypso and soca on the campaign trail.
Sexual harassment case in Trinidad & Tobago highlights need for better policies
A recent case has highlight Trinidad and Tobago's lack of laws protecting citizens from workplace sexual harassment, especially members of the LGBTQ community, who can be quite vulnerable.
China's new media world order: Interview with Cédric Alviani from Reporters Without Borders East Asia
Beijing trains foreign journalists in “language elements” to get them to “speak the same language” as Chinese outlets.
Inside Kashmir's internet blockade: Video report with Kashmiri students affected by the crisis
48,000 High school students in Kashmir appear for public examination amidst complete internet blockage in the region.
Melanesian journalists decry growing threats against media freedom
"Melanesian governments cannot pay lip service to international conventions and commitments to democratic freedoms and in the same breath issue orders to clamp down on journalists' right to expression."
Chinese defector's spying allegations rock Australian politics
'What an utterly insane suggestion that Chinese Australians should “publicly show” their stance on anything related to China to prove their “loyalty”. '
Croatian president criticized for saying Yugoslavia was behind the Iron Curtain (it wasn't)
While most people from countries behind the Iron Courtain couldn't travel to the West, the Croatian president went to high school in the United States in the mid-80s.
Nigeria's social media bill will obliterate online freedom of expression
The proposed social media bill will annihilate online freedom of expression, criminalize criticism of the government and legalize internet shutdowns in Nigeria.
Tanzanian rapper scolded for lyrics about nation's cashew crisis
Roma Mkatoliki's hit song criticizes the government's 2018 decision to deploy the military to purchase cashew nuts from farmers in an attempt to force an increase in market price.
MP of populist right-wing political party from North Macedonia confirms existence of party’s troll army
MP Daniela Rangelova is not the first high party official to reveal details about the existence of VMRO-DPMNE's “troll army”.
Testing the limits of LGBT acceptance in Taiwan: Interview with filmmaker Ming Lang Chen
"The Teacher is about human communication, it shows a wide range of delicate emotions, I wouldn't say it is just a gay movie."
‘Suspension won’t silence me’: Teen speaks out after embedding message about Xinjiang Uyghurs in TikTok makeup tutorial
Feroza Aziz used a makeup tutorial as a disguise to criticise China's treatment of Uyghurs on Tiktok.
In Hong Kong, landslide victory for Pro-democracy camp in local elections means Beijing is out of touch
It is true that people want to restore order. However, they also know that the disorder is created by the government and the pro-establishment in the first place.
Albania hit by powerful earthquake, leaving 21 dead and hundreds injured
Global Voices spoke with Redi Muçi, an engineer who witnessed the aftermath in Durres.
An interview with ‘Siamese Intellectual’ Sulak Sivaraksa on the future of Thailand's democracy and monarchy
"The monarchy must introduce some transparency into its workings if it wants to remain. It must be open to criticism."
Will the upcoming Taiwanese presidential election bring an end to the death penalty?
Taiwan has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that calls for the abolition of capital punishment, yet it has applied death penalty in 34 cases since.
Why is Central Europe leaning towards illiberal democracy? Interview with Czech author Radka Denemarková
"My biggest hope was that we would adopt the Western democratic values. Yet what we took from the West after 1989 was a model of consumerism and not a democratic lifestyle."
As 3 million people vote in local elections, Hong Kong breaks record for civic participation
The election result is considered an important indicator of citizens’ take on the ongoing political crisis as millions of voters choose between pro-establishment and pro-democracy candidates.
Explainer: How a U.S. Act on human rights and democracy can protect freedom in Hong Kong
The US Senate has unanimously voted for a Hong Kong Act which aims at protecting the city’s autonomous status and its residents’ civic rights.
A favourite Nepali hard cheese finds favour with canines
Chhurpi, the traditional hard cheese made from yaks' and cows' milk from the Himalayan region, is now a popular treat for dogs in the United States and Europe.
Insights into Kashmir's crisis from a Kashmiri born in Nepal
Aquib, a graduate from Kashmir University, lives in Nepal for business. Global Voices Nepali Lingua talked with Aquib to learn why India repealed Article 370 which gave special rights to Kashmiris.