Stories about English from November, 2020
Thai LGBTQ+ activists and pro-democracy protesters march together for equality
In Bangkok, LGBTQ activists join ranks with democracy protestors join to demand gender and marriage equality as well as political reforms of the monarchy.
The pandemic in Bangladesh through the lens of its independent filmmakers
Global Voices spoke with Zuairijah Mou, the co-founder of Bangladeshi filmmaking collective Tong-Ghor Talkies, who have recently released a series of short films set in the context of the pandemic.
The history of the Sarajevo Haggadah, the medieval Jewish book that survived the Inquisition, the Holocaust, and the Yugoslav Wars
When Nazi Germany occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Haggadah was hidden at the mosque of a Muslim village in the Bjelašnica Mountain, where it remained until the end of the war.
How Hong Kong authorities are gradually taking over public broadcaster RTHK
The city's public broadcaster faces tremendous political pressure from all directions: censorship, internal investigations, warnings from regulators and, recently, a producer was arrested in connection with her reporting.
What election observers are saying about Myanmar’s election
Observers acknowledged the “success” of the election while noting reforms that still need to be enacted to make the voting process more credible and inclusive in the future.
A Hong Kong reporter's account of the crackdown on press freedom under the national security law
"What we are facing now is not just the survival of Apple Daily but the whole independent media sector."
Hong Kong’s opposition resigns en masse following unprecedented Beijing ruling
The new directive allows the Hong Kong government to unseat elected lawmakers deemed unpatriotic.
Malaysian students face sedition probe over Facebook post urging the king not to interfere in politics
"Academic scholarship and promotion of human rights cannot flourish in an atmosphere of censorship and disproportionate restriction of speech and expression."
European Court of Human Rights verdict vindicates Macedonian columnist convicted of defamation in 2010
"This verdict is important for Macedonian journalists, columnists, and overall, for the people that appear in public, as it encourages them to be principled, honest, brave and persistent."
Shutdowns, throttling and stifling dissent online: Africa’s new normal, Part II
Weaponizing digital blackouts or social media clamp down by Algeria, Ethiopia, Guinea, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania is an ominous sign of a deeply problematic system of governance.
Shutdowns, throttling and stifling dissent online: Africa’s new normal, Part I
African governments are using school examinations and politically charged moments as an excuse to effect digital blackouts or clamp down on social media.
‘What a Bam Bam!’ Jamaicans celebrate Biden/Harris victory
Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ congratulatory tweet emphasised Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’ Jamaican heritage and called her historic achievement a “monumental accomplishment for women all over the world.”
Some Hongkongers despair as US President Donald Trump's election hopes fade
Pro-Trump Hongkongers accused pro-democracy activists of licking the US Democratic Party's boots, even as they were urged to respect the choice of the American people and stop spreading disinformation.
Myanmar NGO launches tool for voters to compare human rights programs of parties competing in election
"Our aim is to give the electorate complete information about the political parties’ human rights promises – or lack of promises – so that voters can make a fully informed decision."
Bullets, blood and death: The untold story of what happened at Lekki Toll Gate in Nigeria, Part I
“Why is [Lagos State Governor] Sanwo-Olu denying? Immediately after [the Lekki shooting], Sanwo-Olu came, parked at the toll gate. He saw dead bodies on the ground. Why is he denying?”
Bullets, blood and death: The untold story of what happened at Lekki Toll Gate in Nigeria, Part II
Nicholas Okpe, an active #EndSARS protester, wore a patch on his right chest where a bullet pierced him. The bullet was still lodged in Okpe’s chest.
Northeast Tobago named a UNESCO ‘Man and the Biosphere Reserve’
Thanks to the unique biodiversity of Tobago's Main Ridge, the island's North East area has been officially designated a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Reserve.
In the Balkans, COVID-19 measures may not apply to religious leaders
A bishop's funeral in Montenegro last week drew thousands of maskless mourners.
October – A bleak month for freedom of expression in Sri Lanka
This article offers a snapshot of challenges to freedom of expression in Sri Lanka during the month of October, 2020.
Rohingya denied of the right to vote in Myanmar, again
"As citizens of Myanmar, we hold the right to vote. The Myanmar government has stripped us of our citizenship and ability to participate in political life."
How YouTube helped a Hong Kong protester become a Trump supporter
Chan says that in order to defeat the Chinese Communist Party and save Hong Kong, Hongkongers must support Donald Trump's re-election.