Stories from May, 2019
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.
‘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.
‘You can't run from the truth': Iconic art protests preface Kazakh presidential vote
A police state that once hungered after a shiny international image now seems resigned to painting itself as it really is.
In Myanmar, Buddhists offer white roses to Muslims during Ramadan
"There is no place for religious extremists in our country."
Russia: Kommersant staff walk out in protest of censorship, triggering journalism ethics debate
The entire politics desk of Kommersant, several dozen people in total, has since resigned out of solidarity with their colleagues.
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."
‘We’re caught in mid-air’: Raising a child with autism in Georgia
From individual therapy to special education teachers in schools, parents of children with autism in Georgia face a constant battle with the authorities to provide the services their children need.
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.
Can’t wait to be married: hundreds of same-sex couples celebrate their weddings in Taiwan
May 24 opens the gates to marriage equality for same-sex couples in Taiwan. Hundreds of couples got married on the island, celebrating social recognition and the end of discrimination.
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.
Russian website attempts to impersonate established news outlet covering the Balkans
"The purpose of publishing under the name Balkanist in Russian is to confuse readers at home, in Russia and elsewhere into questioning our sincerity, what and who we support."
North Macedonia vows to remedy injustices against NGOs, closes legal loopholes abused by former government
"NGOs were penalized and unjustly fined for mistakes they had not made," said Deputy Prime Minister Radmilla Šekerinska.
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.
