Stories from September, 2021
Saudi's first batch of women military graduates encourages more debate on gender roles
Reactions on social media varied between those welcoming the decision, others who praised Saudi rulers for enabling it, and those who consider women unfit for combat or cited religious bans
From vaxxing to doxxing: The social media power of Nicki Minaj
After reporter Sharlene Rampersad pressed Minaj's relatives for an interview by implying their privacy would be more quickly respected by her local news outlet than by CNN, Minaj doxxed her.
Singapore’s The Online Citizen news website stops operating after government suspends its license
"The licensing regime is simply meant to strike fear in the minds of the would-be donors and subscribers to prevent them from supporting independent journalism in Singapore."
Athletes’ mental health is neglected in post-Olympic phase, new study finds
With the Olympic Games and the Paralympics both over, there have been concerns about what the fame and spotlight does to athletes post-Games.
China as a cultural threat in Ethiopia: From food to cultural appropriation
Public interest in Chinese exotic eating habits and in potential appropriation of Ethiopian traditional culture speaks of the larger rifts in Sino-Ethiopian encounters
Forgotten history: American aeronaut Jeanette Van Tassel lies buried in Dhaka Christian Cemetery
A daredevil aeronaut from the US took part in the first manned balloon flight in present-day Bangladesh in 1892, which ended in a tragedy.
Ahead of September elections, Russia tightens grip on remaining online freedoms
Ahead of Russia's parliamentary elections on September 17-19, the state's crackdown on opposition groups, circumvention tools and internet infrastructure has escalated to a fever pitch.
What did Japanese people really think about the Olympics?
To gauge public sentiment following the end of the Olympics, Global Voices used the Twitter API to track the online conversation.
Asking for a cousin's friend: The viral load of Nicki Minaj's vaccine misinformation tweet
The controversial tweet followed others that dealt with COVID-19 vaccination, including Minaj's announcement she would forego the Met Gala because attendance was vaccine contingent and she hadn't done “enough research.”
Jamaican activist filmmaker takes on extractive industries in the Caribbean
"In 2020, there was a very popular narrative that the COVID-19 pandemic was saving Planet Earth [...] I created GEFF 2021 to counter this narrative, because it is simply untrue."
Investigative journalism group OCCRP says it will no longer work in Russia
Drew Sullivan, OCCRP's co-founder and editor-in-chief, said their work in Russia at the moment would do local reporters "more harm than good."
Chinese higher education programs attract increasing numbers of students from Kazakhstan
Education abroad and study exchanges have become instruments for the Chinese government to attract foreign students, especially from Kazakhstan. Does studying in China trigger support among Kazakhstani students?
In Turkey, first large anti-vaccine rally gets green light from the local government
The rally that took place at one of Istanbul neighborhoods, was approved by Istanbul Governor Office and was attended by well known vaccine opponents.
The construction of Chinese patriotic masculinity: ‘sissies will ruin the nation’
The Chinese regulators have banned effeminate images and idols on both television and video streaming sites since September 2, 2021.
Constitutional changes and mistrust mark Angola's election announcement
The 2022 election is due to be held in August 2022, but is already causing debate among Angolans, especially due to mistrust over how the process has been managed.
Chinese soft power in Kyrgyzstan grows through culture and language
Still looking to publicize its language and culture in Central Asia, China is using the instrument of Confucius Institutes to strengthen its soft power in Kyrgyzstan
Russia blocks popular website for worker complaints
Antijob, an online database of anonymous complaints about Russian employers, has been blocked by censors following a defamation case brought by a Moscow real estate firm.
In Georgia, a taxi service for women by women
A new taxi service in Georgia, called TaxiWoman is promising safe journeys as it will serve only women, with women drivers behind the wheel.
Dalit erasure, or how Rolling Stone India failed to demonstrate diligent storytelling
A special cover by pop culture magazine Rolling Stone India and music platform Majjaa carrying interviews of singers Dhee and Vincent de Paul stirred controversy and widespread displeasure.
China-funded Kaliwa dam in the Philippines flagged for irregularities
"Indigenous Peoples should not be sacrificed on the altar of development aggression, which would just benefit big businesses and Chinese investors."
Diverging narratives on the Belt and Road Initiative in Greece and China
After years of investment in the port, information on the hurdles that China’s BRI is facing in Greece differs across the language of the media reporting it.