Stories about English from April, 2019
Jailed Emirati activist Ahmed Mansoor's life is at risk, after six weeks on hunger strike
Mansoor was awarded the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders in 2015. He has been jailed multiple times since 2011.
Benin sees internet blackout on election day
A nationwide internet shutdown that lasted well into the night, leaving voters in the dark about their election day choices.
Tanzanian authorities detain and deport Ugandan human rights leader
Human Rights Watch says Tanzania has witnessed "a marked decline in respect for free expression, association and assembly" under the current government.
CEO of carpooling service disinvited from interview on Russian state media after producer found out she was a woman
Russia still has a long way to go in terms of gender equality.
Malaysian activist under police probe after LGBT speech at the United Nations
"The police investigation into Numan’s statement merely serves to highlight the harassment, bullying and discrimination faced by LGBT persons in Malaysia."
A look at United Arab Emirate's renewable energy goals
The UAE’s climate commitment for 2021 is “is not consistent with holding warming to below 2°C, let alone limiting it to 1.5°C as required under the Paris Agreement.”
Leica's promo video referencing Tiananmen Square massacre went viral on Chinese social media. Then, it disappeared.
For days, users were forbidden from writing the words "Leica" in English and "徕卡" in Chinese on Weibo.
As a comedian wins Ukraine's presidency by a landslide, Russians watch with awe and envy
Russians have been glued to their screens as they watched a rare show: unpredictable elections where an incumbent can hold debates with an outsider, lose the vote, and concede peacefully.
A series of bomb attacks on churches and hotels spark terror in Sri Lanka
Hundreds were killed and injured in a series of planned explosions in Sri Lanka. A twelve-hour islandwide curfew was declared by the government while social media sites were restricted.
‘Culture of killing and impunity’: Coffee shop shooting in the Philippines leaves two dead
"The full details remain unclear, but what does remain clear is that this culture of killing and impunity has emboldened murderers to openly boast of their weapons and shoot people."
Will the Haitian president's third pick for prime minister solve the nation's security issues?
Haiti's security situation is currently quite volatile, sparking hope that the proposed new prime minister will be able to work with President Moise and deal with pressing socio-economic issues.
Bangladeshi paint company advert draws criticism from lovers of traditional Alpana art
"Berger is offering their synthetic paints to the Alpona artists of Tikoil village. The artists will no longer need to paint every season, colors will last forever. What a horror!
A Global Voices story helps translation competition winners express their passion for the Czech language
An international competition of translation into Czech using a GV story presents awards to global winners.
How alternative health magazines advance Russia's soft power in the Balkans
Mundane health advice such as doing exercise and eating vegetables becomes "Russian advice" in magazines such as Russian Doctor, Russian Herbalist, Russian Encyclopedia of Health.
Pope Francis will visit North Macedonia in May, shortly after presidential elections
It is the first time a pope visits North Macedonia.
Indian voters undeterred by missing names from electoral lists and violent clashes
Barring a few incidents, the voting on the first day of the election went on peacefully and voter turnout was high. The next phase of election starts on April 18.
China's Censored Histories: Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre
The crackdown on internet freedom in early June has become an iconic source of panic for the Communist Party of China.
Russian state media scolds independent outlets for ‘neutral’ word choice in counter-terror operation reports
RT’s Russian-language website attacked other media outlets for using the word “killed” instead of “liquidated” or “neutralized.”
Jailed UAE activist Ahmed Mansoor continues hunger strike
Mansoor is serving ten years in jail after a court convicted him of publishing false information and rumours on social media.
Teenager's tragic death at Baku school directs anger towards Azerbaijan's broken system
A disgraced school director, a local official and hospital staff have all come under fire over Elina Hajiyeva's tragic death.
Game of Thrones and climate change: brace yourselves, summer is coming!
Imagine a world where political clans fight for power while ignoring a threat never seen before—and which could annihilate their societies without much consideration for human-made boundaries...
