Stories about English from July, 2020
Students lead mass protest against dictatorship at Thailand's Democracy Monument
Protesters issued three demands related to democratic reforms and human rights protetion, and gave the government two weeks to respond.
The 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre: Remembrance amid genocide denial
“... the glorification of war criminals inflict[s] tremendous suffering on the survivors and their families. Leaders in the region have publicly denied the genocide, even calling Srebrenica a hoax..."
Black Lives Matter forces an IBM U-turn on facial recognition
Under pressure from Black Lives Matter movement activists, the company IBM has announced its withdrawal from the facial recognition software market
Tears and rage after Congress rejects franchise renewal of the Philippines’ biggest media network
"Our dreams and future, these are the things they took away from us. I’ve worked so hard for this. But it’s gone in an instant. You are inhumane!”
Since George Floyd's murder, black Barbadians are becoming more vocal about racism
Through their support of the Black Lives Matter movement, young activists are challenging the status quo.
Hong Kong protest supporters’ international lobby to ‘burn’ China for hurting the city
“Laam chau”, a term derived from a username on the Reddit-like forum LIHKG, means "mutually-assured destruction", and it has captured the imagination of Hongkongers — even those in the pro-establishment camp.
Could reform be on the cards for Jamaica's prison system?
Prime Minister Holness called the death of an inmate who had spent decades behind bars without trial "among the most dreadful inheritances of a system in urgent need of reform."
Jamaica wakes up to the plight of prisoners with mental illness
Noel Chambers, 81, had been in Jamaica's prison system for 40 years without a trial when he died in horrible conditions. Now, his case is being used to help other prisoners.
Cambodia continues to block memorial activities honoring murdered political analyst Kem Ley
Four years on, the government is still ignoring calls to set up an independent commission to investigate the murder.
Construction of first Hindu temple in Islamabad faces opposition
The construction of the first Hindu temple in Islamabad was stopped after protests from different quarters, but rights activists and minority politicians are hopeful that the temple will be built.
#BlackLivesMatter resonates in South Asia as Unilever drops ‘Fair’ from ‘Fair & Lovely’ cosmetic line
In the wake of the Black Lives Matters movement, Unilever announced that they would rebrand their leading skin care product ‘Fair & Lovely’ to 'Glow and Lovely'.
Hongkongers ignore crackdown to vote for change-seeking youth in pro-democracy primaries
"In light of all the events that happened over the past year, we should cherish this opportunity, as our liberty is stifled."
Manila Pride protester fights back and narrates ordeal inside police detention
"We persist against all odds. Our existence is resistance. We're here to dismantle oppressive systems, to change the things we cannot accept.", says Filipino LGBTQ+ activist Carla Nicoyco.
Authorities’ response to social unrest in Trinidad & Tobago raises debate about police power and public trust
"The criminalization of the bodies of Indigenous, Africans and Indians is built into the DNA of the police force."
The state of LGBTQ+ rights in India: An interview with Supreme Court Advocate Saurabh Kirpal
Global Voices interviewed Saurabh Kirpal, a Supreme Court advocate, to find out the state of LGBTQI+ rights in India two years after the country decriminalized homosexual acts.
Al Jazeera, Malaysiakini, and Code Blue news websites probed for critical reporting in Malaysia
"The government...should be working to earn the confidence and trust of voters, particularly given how it came to power this March."
Indian activists publish the first online magazine in the Santali language
Language activists from the eastern Indian state of Odisha have recently published the very first online magazine in the Santali language.
‘Why did your father die?': Serbia's COVID-19 chaos spills onto Belgrade's streets
"To this day I haven't received his tests. The paperwork said that he died from the corona [virus]. No ventilators were available."
Tech giants halt data requests as Hong Kong national security law casts long shadow
Local demand for circumvention tools is surging amid fears that a China-style "Great Firewall" is in the offing.
Authorities in Republika Srpska accused of burying genocide memories in tourism bid
The Vilina Vlas hotel hosted unspeakable crimes during Bosnian War in the 1990s. But it is still being billed as a haven for family breaks.
‘African art has nourished all civilizations': A Conversation with Algerian artist Rachid Koraichi
"We owe thanks to this wonderful continent that allows us not only to exist but also to give lessons, even if some people want to push us into the corner."