Stories from February, 2020
Can a beloved Tashkent theatre resist the wrecking ball?
The famed Ilkhom Theatre may have survived decades of censorship and economic upheaval, but now it faces another foe: massive urban redevelopment in the Uzbek capital.
Despite calls to move, a women-led protest in India challenges the Citizenship Amendment Act
"If we can sacrifice so much for this protest, can’t people tolerate a slight inconvenience?"
Chinese censorship demonstrates it can afford the cost of ‘the death of media’
A massive number of groups and user accounts were removed by platforms following the death of Dr. Li Wenliang, which set social media on fire.
Pipeline problems for indigenous peoples on Russia's Yamal Peninsula
As gas pipelines creep across Russia's Yamal Peninsula, the lives of local reindeer herders are changing radically. Russia's energy companies say it's for the best — indigenous rights activists are sceptical.
Two Iranian rights activists revisit the November 2019 internet shutdown
“Hundreds of protestors were killed in a matter of three days and most of the world was not aware of what happened.’’
Nigeria’s Victor Olaiya: Trumpeter and ‘evil genius’ of highlife music (1931-2020)
"They thought I moved highlife music out of the ordinary. My highlife was a little bit out of this world, beyond explanation..." — Victor Olaiya
Inflation and corruption rattle Nigeria's economy
"Nigeria is a powerful country! Our corrupt government is the reason we are on our knees!"
Indonesian superhero cartoon fights for the environment and the Balinese language
"The inspiration for the creation of the superhero character of Luh Ayu Manik Mas is the strong, tough and resilient Balinese women who themselves are like superheroes."
Trinidad & Tobago Carnival's steel pan competition in photos
There's only one place you can hear the best steelbands in the world compete against one another: the annual Panorama competition during Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival.
Holy controversy over proposal to mention God in Russia's constitution
The patriarch's proposal to mention God in the preamble of the new constitution has divided Russian commentators. Their debate is less about belief in the Almighty — and more about faith in the state.
North America has mustangs, Bosnia and Herzegovina has the wild horses of Livno
A herd of horses released in the wild decades ago has been thriving in the mountains near the city of Livno in the South of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Japan edges ever closer to a COVID-19 epidemic
As a ship with 454 infected passengers remains quarantined at berth in Yokohama, the likelihood of a potential epidemic within Japan has slowly started to sink in.
Life on the margins: The Lyuli people of Uzbekistan
Aleksandr Barkovsky, a photographer who has worked with the community, says that ordinary Uzbeks still know little to nothing about their Lyuli neighbours.
For Rohingya refugees, ID systems have brought coercion, violence and denial of ethnic identity
"They told us they would withhold rations and that we couldn’t stay in the camps. So we had no choice."
China travel ban heightens threats to Australia's trade, tourism and education sectors
"#Coronavirus is more than a minor cold for the Chinese economy... They’ve got more to worry about than another week’s travel ban to Australia."
Azerbaijan's snap parliamentary election produces the normal results
Azerbaijan's latest parliamentary elections were called well ahead of schedule. Otherwise, they were quite normal: with allegations of ballot stuffing and a huge majority for pro-government candidates.
Pakistan's draconian rules on social media take activists by surprise
The new rules require social media companies to hand over user information and remove content deemed unlawful when requested by the authorities.
Groundbreaking film on Russia's HIV epidemic goes viral
Nearly one percent of Russia's population is HIV positive, but the authorities have remained silent about the epidemic. It looks like Yury Dud's latest YouTube documentary has broken that silence.
#MarginalizedAadhaar: Is India's Aadhaar enabling more exclusion in social welfare for marginalized communities?
India's biometric-based digital ID Aadhaar seems to bring more exclusion to marginalized communities rather than solving it.
The feminist translators and interpreters revolutionizing the profession in Argentina
"Feminism is always growing and diversifying, and feminists must come together and create areas of common interest and practice unique forms of activism that move away from hegemonic feminism"
Hong Kong's labor laws aid and abet the abuse of foreign domestic workers
Hong Kong immigration rules such as the one that requires foreign domestic workers to live with their employers are putting women's safety at risk, activists say.