Stories about Weblog from May, 2019
Indonesian General Election 2019: Unique events from the campaign trail
According to an Australian think-tank Lowy Institute, Indonesia has the distinction of holding the largest single-day elections in a democratic country.
Detention of Gaspard Glanz is a sign of France’s increasingly authoritarian treatment of journalists
The French government is increasingly using security and defense secrets as excuses for clamping down on journalists. The industry has pushed back.
Recent troubles rock the historical Kano Kingdom in northern Nigeria
The ancient Kingdom of Kano has thrived for centuries. Now, a political rivalry has led Kano's civilian governor to split the unified kingdom into five parts.
‘End of an era’ as Jamaica's former prime minister, Edward Seaga, dies
As complicated and divisive as he was beloved, there is no doubt that the late Edward Seaga left an indelible mark on Jamaican politics.
In Myanmar, Buddhists offer white roses to Muslims during Ramadan
"There is no place for religious extremists in our country."
‘I don't want to be hacked to death!': Kenyans speak out against a spike in murders of women
On May 27, 20 female members of parliament in Kenya launched a campaign against femicide called "Her Life Matters," to raise national consciousness on killings that occur within relationships.
Right to Information: With its new law in place, will Ghana go the way of Nigeria?
Nearly two dozen African countries have passed Right to Information laws. But while strong in principle, many have faltered in practice.
North Macedonia to hold first-ever pride parade in June 2019
North Macedonia’s first pride parade is yet another testament to the country's recent political transition. Homophobic violence was markedly tolerated by the previous government.
China arrests filmmaker for retweeting an image of a liquor bottle referencing Tiananmen Massacre
The bottle label carries the image of "Tank Man" with the description "Never forget, never give up".
Meeting a male carpet weaver from Armenia
"When you are professional you do your best. It does not matter whether you are a man or a woman."
How Chinese tech workers are organizing the online #996 labor movement, despite risks of censorship
In contrast to other social movements and memes on the Chinese internet, #996 has taken shape largely on GitHub.
‘Conservation or community rights’? Bangladesh bans fishing for 65 days
The two-month fishing ban aims to boost fish stocks but it could lead to hunger and displacement in coastal communities.
This ‘cholita’ drag challenges gender and folklore stereotypes from the Argentine periphery
"It is not the same to be a white gay [man] from the city than a brown gay [man], with body that is not normative, with an indigenous face..."
Papua New Guinea PM pushes proposal for social media regulation, citing need to stop ‘fake news’
"The fact is you can't control platforms were information is circulated, attempts to do such undermines the role of democracy and freedom that is enshrined under the constitution."
Journalists, YouTubers, and politicians join forces in Colombia against the killings of social leaders
Social media influencers are trying to draw attention to the struggle of leaders in rural areas to those in connected urban spaces.
30 years after the Tiananmen Massacre: The troubled history of the Goddess of Democracy
The Goddess of Democracy stood for five days in the Tiananmen Square in 1989 before the bloody massacre of June 4.
In the UK, Timorese celebrated 17 years since the restoration of Timor-Leste's independence
The Timorese residing in the university city of Oxford, UK, hosted the event "20 May", where they celebrated 17 years of the restoration of Timor-Leste's independence.
Kenyan writer, Binyavanga Wainaina, who taught the world ‘how to write about Africa,’ dies at 48
"There is only one Binyavanga Wainaina. He is an ancestor now. Let us celebrate his life." The world mourns the loss and honors the prolific life of Kenya's leading writer.
Inflatable Tank Man sculpture appears in Taiwan ahead of Tiananmen Massacre anniversary
"I think it is important to the Taiwanese people to continue discussing this topic – preventing people from forgetting this event"
Taiwan's same-sex marriage bill is a half-victory for rainbow families
Taiwan has officialized same-sex marriage and granted new rights to the queer community, yet for LGBT parents with children, the battle continues.
‘Big tech companies won’t solve the problem for us. We can do it ourselves.’
My 92 year old grandfather, like Nigerians of his generation, can read and write in Yorùbá. But since they are not 'literate' in English, they are digitally excluded.