Stories from May, 2021
European Parliament calls for ‘immediate’ and ‘unconditional’ release of Armenian prisoners
On May 20, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Azerbaijani government to release all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives.
Approval of benefits for employees of the Assembly of the Republic causes protests in Mozambique
Other Mozambican civil servants do not enjoy the same benefits.
Hacker group Anonymous leaks Colombia's police and army files amid protest crackdown
The police data leak was in retaliation for "aggressive and cruel repression to the demonstrations of popular and democratic power," a member of the Anonymous group told Global Voices.
In honour of World Turtle Day, meet the five species that frequent Trinidad and Tobago
Despite protection efforts, the species continues to face numerous threats, including continued attempts at harvesting, bycatch, habitat loss, climate change and plastic pollution.
Belarus grounds Ryanair flight, detains independent journalist amid regime's crackdown on media
Pratasevich was formerly an administrator of NEXTA-Live, the Telegram channel covering the anti-government protests in Belarus. He is currently editor-in-chief of Belarus Golovnogo Mozga, another independent media outlet.
‘Kakoli Furniture’ viral video spawns funny memes in Bangladesh and West Bengal
A low budget video advertisement containing a repetitive six-word sentence “Low price, good quality, Kakoli Furniture” has become an online sensation in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.
People of Gaza take to social media to share days of horror and loss under Israeli fire
Of horror, pain, anger and resistance, Gazans wrote on social media about how they suffered from Israeli bombing, attempted to escape death or coexisted with it.
In Turkey, a mafia boss's YouTube videos give Netflix some stiff competition
Among the figures targeted the string of YouTube videos posted by Turkish mafia boss Sedat Peker are the Minister of the Interior and the president's son-in-law.
Istanbul mayor surprises users on live streaming platform Twitch
The first appearance on the platform of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul mayor and member of the main opposition Republican People's Party, coincided with a national holiday celebrating youth and sports.
Resistance, rebellion, and rage: Japan's opposition to the Tokyo Olympics
As Japan continues to struggle with a new wave of COVID-19 infections, opposition to the upcoming Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games continues to build.
Ukraine commemorates 77th anniversary of Crimean Tatar deportation
The trauma and memory of the deportation remain central to the history and identity of the Crimean Tatars and have gained renewed attention since Russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014.
Netflix’s new series on Yasuke, the African samurai, is a new dawn for Black characters in animation
Rather than a biography of the African Samurai, the a six-part series takes the void of knowledge post-1582 as a starting point to a re-imagined alternate reality and fantastical story.
In photos: Chileans vote for a new future
In historic vote, Chileans elect people to re-write the constitution.
Tunisians left to themselves to fight COVID-19
Once the pride of Tunisia, the public health system has deteriorated since the 1990s because of corruption and deregulation in favour of the private sector.
‘Support your local beekeeper': Caribbean concerns on World Bee Day
This year's event aims to increase awareness of the threat to bees in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and food insecurity, and find ways to protect these vital pollinators.
France, Turkey, Poland: The reality of the new COVID-19 spike crisis
“The figures serve to discount the Western implication that Indian democracy and civil society have failed in the last analysis to match the achievements of the richer nations.”
WATCH/LISTEN: What Eurovision tells us about Europe
Missed the live stream of the May 20 Global Voices Insights webinar on the Eurovision Song Contest? Here's a replay.
Instances of online gender-based violence pile up in Kenya
In Kenya's male-dominated online space, women are often targets of verbal abuse.
Australian government ‘mute’ on more ambitious plan to address climate crisis
"Australia stands on its own as being particularly out of step. Alone among more than a hundred nations, Australia has no target for reaching net zero emissions"
Hong Kong to toughen up privacy law against doxxing
If the law passes, will the Privacy Commissioner implement the law fairly, taking against doxxing regardless of the victims' (real or perceived) political affiliations?
Women in Science: Theologian Regina Polak on interfaith conflicts and womanhood
'Interreligious dialogue cannot the solve social, political and economic causes underlying hostilities towards Muslims. But it can, most importantly, contribute religious ideas to a more peaceful and just coexistence.'