Stories about Feature from July, 2019
Queer as quantum joy
"You deserve to be proud of yourself, you rare, riotous beauty. Go on, give yourself a huge, rafter-rattling cheer."
As Siberia burns, Russia chokes
While forest fires are no rarity in Siberia, climate scientists stated that this year’s fires spread particularly aggressively due to a combination of strong winds and the unusually hot summer.
Pro-China forum's plan to troll Hong Kong protesters foiled after doxxing retaliation
Pro-China forum members quickly halted their plan to troll Hong Kong anti-extradition protesters after their personal information, including identity card number and bank record was exposed online.
From Nigeria to Zanzibar, Africa quietly played a critical role in US moon landing
To this day, few people know about Project Mercury space stations in Nigeria and Zanzibar, part of a groundbreaking global communications network that helped pave the way for Apollo 11.
Media in North Macedonia claim a Russian band has plagiarized a song by Balkan superstar Toše Proeski
A series of online articles in North Macedonia have blamed the Russian rock group Zemlyane for plagiarizing a 2007 song made by authors from Croatia for the late Macedonian pop star Toše Proeski.
After two straight weeks of protests, Puerto Ricans force governor to resign
Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez will be Puerto Rico's second female governor.
It's not just President Jair Bolsonaro who defends child labor—wealthy Brazilians think it's fine too
"If you think the struggle against child labor is meant to stop you from selling chocolate at school to pay for your tennis lessons, you didn’t understand anything."
Armed mobs attack anti-extradition protesters in a suburban Hong Kong subway station
"At least 45 people were hospitalized and one was left in critical condition as a result of the mob attack."
Hong Kong anti-extradition protests evolve into district-level demonstrations
With no end in sight, Hong Kong's anti-extradition protests have evolved into a series of demonstrations in local districts.
Philippine vice president and other Duterte critics charged with sedition
"The charges are meant to silence and persecute human rights lawyers, opposition leaders, and the church, and to send a message to anyone who dares to criticize this administration."
What do Zimbabwe’s internet disruptions say about the state of digital rights in the country?
Government officials have repeatedly described access to social media as a potential threat, hinting that more disruptions would not be ruled out in the future.
Outrage in Moscow after opposition candidates barred from local election
State-appointed “handwriting experts” stepped in and discovered palpably absurd reasons to invalidate hundreds of signatures collected in support of independent candidates.
How Nigeria uses the law to repress free speech: The case of journalist Jones Abiri
Draconian legislation often used to arbitrarily detain journalists and dissenting voices exemplifies the precarious state of press freedom and free speech in Nigeria.
In Bangladesh, a rickshaw ban for major Dhaka city roads spurs protests and debate
A rickshaw ban on three major roads in Dhaka city saw a huge protest from the rickshaw-pullers and some netizens who use this convenient mean of transport.
Cambodian activists arrested for commemorating the anniversary of political analyst Kem Ley's death
"The accusation that a peaceful gathering merits a prison sentence is a serious and systematic threat to the little remaining space left for freedom of expression in the country."
The fight against disinformation in Bulgaria is almost nonexistent, says journalist Ivan Georgiev
"Bulgaria is a border state between the West and the East and it is seen as a weak spot on the European map by the Russian propaganda."
A look at indigenous women in Mexican cinema
Indigenous Mexican women in film, like Yalitza Aparicio ("Roma", 2018), Carmen Martínez ("At' Anni'", 2019), and Ángeles Cruz ("Arcángel", 2018), are drawing the attention of audiences worldwide.
Puerto Ricans demand that Governor Rosselló resign amid corruption and #Telegramgate scandals
A corruption probe by the FBI and and an 889-page Telegram chat leak reveal an ugly side of the governor and his cabinet.
Beloved hill is a ‘painkiller’ for Afghans seeking refuge from conflict-torn Kabul
"I had this normal life, free of stress. There were no suicide bombings, no killings. Today our lives are full of uncertainty."
Moldova's journalists cautiously optimistic after ‘silent revolution’
Following inconclusive parliamentary elections, the pro-Russian and pro-EU opposition put their differences aside and formed a government, ousting the ruling party lead by the country's most powerful oligarch.
Nigerian students face cybercrime charges for criticising their university online
A former staff member described Madonna University as a ''death trap''.