Stories from November, 2015
Singaporeans Can Now Legally Own and Read ‘Fanny Hill’, but Playboy Is Still Banned
The government lifted the ban for 240 publications but 17 titles remain prohibited for being obscene or contrary to public interest.
Commonwealth Youth Demand That Leaders Stop Talking and Act
The Commonwealth youth leaders meeting in Malta want their governments to walk the talk.
Ahmadi Muslims Once Again Become a Target for Violence in Pakistan
"We bleat about the West callously turning back refugees while we sit in abject silence at continued Ahmadi persecution in Pakistan."
‘If There Is One Thing the Angolan Government Is Scared of, It Is People’
Read part two of an interview with Laurinda Gouveia, who is accused of inciting rebellion against the Angolan government for participating in a book group.
Iranian Cartoonist Who Drew Sadness of Paris Attacks Jailed
It's not the first time Iranian cartoonist Hadi Heidari has been a target for arrest.
Chinese Netizens Have Their Own Version of Thanksgiving: Fried Rice With Egg Day
"Sixty-five years ago, a plate of fried rice with egg changed the fate of China. We would have become North Korea without this dish (although the two are becoming alike)."
With Messaging Apps Still Banned, Bangladeshis Turn to Tor (and Twitter)
It is not clear whether the government has blocked the Facebook portal or banned the use of Facebook altogether.
Pot Isn’t Legal Yet in Mexico, But a Landmark Supreme Court Decision Has Opened the Door
Debate over the legalization of marijuana goes all the way to Mexico's Supreme Court.
Welcome to the #StandwithRussia Movement
Russian Internet users are getting quite inventive about conveying to Turkey how they feel about an attack on a Sukhoi Su-24 jet earlier this week.
An Interview With Laurinda Gouveia, a Young Woman Charged With Conspiring Against the Angolan Government
"Even today, physically, I bear physical evidence of this beating. And, obviously, my way of looking at these men is not the same as it was before..."
The Place to Be for African Web Activism Will Be Dakar, Senegal From November 26-28
On November 26, Senegalese and Guinean bloggers will launch a league of African bloggers and cyber-activists in Dakar known as Africtivistes.
How the Ruling Oligarchy Imperils Japanese Democracy
How committed is Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to Japan's national defense, and what does that mean for the country's Constitution?
As Toxic Mud Ravages Brazil's ‘Sweet River’, People's Trust in Government Sours
"I feel an enormous sadness, a profound anger and unspeakable shame to live in a such negligent and irresponsible country."
If You Want to Know What #1in5Muslims Thinks, Don't Ask UK Newspaper The Sun
The British tabloid inspired the hilarious hashtag after twisting the results of an already dubious telephone poll into the Islamaphobic headline: "1 in 5 Brit Muslims' sympathy for jihadis".
‘Charlie Hebdo’ Tweets Are Now Banned Throughout Russia
A municipal court in Chechnya has banned the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's Twitter account. In accordance with Russian federal law, the ban is effective nationwide.
How Manila Became a ‘Walking Dead’ City During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit
Leaders from 21 nations arrived in Manila to attend an economic summit. As part of security measure, major roads were closed and flights were cancelled, which inconvenienced thousands of residents.
New Ukrainian Police Banned from Using Russian Social Networks
VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, the top Russian social network sites hugely popular in Ukraine, are now off limits for Ukrainian police officers.
Following Hostage Crisis, Mali Celebrates Its Heroes and Gets Back to Work
Grateful for its heroes, Mali has already resumed its ordinary economic activities, ignoring the risk of more attacks and the national state of emergency (which is still in force).
Nord-Ost Siege Survivor Remembers Captivity After Paris Attacks
With the tragic attacks in Paris earlier this month, many Russians are now remembering how bullets and bombs littered their own capital thirteen years ago.
Zambian Journalist and Global Voices Contributor Gershom Ndhlovu Dies
Respected journalist Gershom Ndhlovu, whose worked to "leave a better Zambia for our children and their children", passed away over the weekend.
Molenbeek, the Complex Reality of a Community Vilified by the Media
In the heart of the Belgian capital lies Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, a low-income community with a connection to those suspected of carrying out the attacks on Paris and other acts of violence.