Global Voices

Malaysian journalist briefly detained for sedition over a question during a public lecture "Can a journalist be deemed to have committed sedition or caused public mischief simply by asking a question at a public forum?

"Can a journalist be deemed to have committed sedition or caused public mischief simply by asking a question at a public forum?

The marble mirage: Ashgabat’s record-breaking facade contradicts Turkmenistan’s reality The regime uses this "White City" as a visual tool to project power and stability to the outside world, masking the country’s deep isolation.

By creating a sprawling, sterile environment of “perfection,” the government attempts to manufacture a narrative of national prosperity, even as the streets themselves remain silent and disconnected from the people they were supposedly built for.

‘Are refugees being traded?’ UN questions the UK-France asylum swap A “one in, one out” deal linking deportations to legal admissions draws criticism for detentions, force and risks of refoulement.

A controversial “one in, one out” agreement between the United Kingdom and France linking forced returns of people arriving in small boats to matched legal admissions has drawn sharp criticism from United Nations human rights experts.

Action images from Venezuela serve as political messaging and narrative control for Trump For professor Clotilde Perez, spoken to by Pública, contemporary geopolitics has become “media-performative”, where no image is neutral.

Among this collection of symbolic images, a blindfolded, handcuffed, and faltering Maduro contrasts with the organized American rooms, full of screens and authorities in action. What is shown is less the operation itself and more a visual narrative of victory, control, and legitimization of power.

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Papua New Guinea journalist assaulted over prison reporting "No journalist should ever face intimidation or physical harm for reporting on matters of public interest."

Veteran Papua New Guinea journalist Rebecca Kuku said she was assaulted by correctional service officers at the Bomana remand facility after she reported on the living conditions of inmates residing there. The incident has alarmed local media groups, which called for an immediate investigation.

The social media battlefield: Political campaigns in Bangladesh’s national elections Bangladeshi political parties compete for Gen Z’s attention with viral content, while battling misinformation alongside street campaigning, as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube become central arenas for political messaging and debate.

Bangladeshi political parties compete for Gen Z’s attention with viral content, while battling misinformation alongside street campaigning, as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube become central arenas for political messaging and debate.

The In Translation StoryBundle is almost over! The In Translation StoryBundle is almost over! Get a bunch of great, translated books at a low price, AND support GV Lingua! View this email in your browser. Last day to get the In Translation StoryBundle and support Global Voices Lingua! Get a fantast...

A few hours remain to get the In Translation StoryBundle and support Global Voices Lingua! Get a fantastic selection of literature in translation, and support human translation at Lingua!

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Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai receives a 20-year jail sentence Jimmy Lai's sentence marks the harshest punishment among all prosecutions under the 2020 National Security Law, enacted by Beijing in Hong Kong.

Jimmy Lai's sentence marks the harshest punishment among all prosecutions under the 2020 National Security Law, enacted by Beijing in Hong Kong. @oiwan.bsky.social

Hongkonger fights in Ukraine as diaspora marks grim anniversary Four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a Hong Kong volunteer soldier battles in Ukraine while the local Ukrainian community grieves from afar.

Nid sees parallels between Ukraine’s resistance and Hong Kong’s own struggles. “We’re both being occupied by a neighboring power that’s gradually eroding our political autonomy and assimilating us.”

Mexican government partially unblocks secure internet The Tor network is used by millions of users daily to securely access the internet, safeguard their right to information and freedom of expression, and avoid censorship or government surveillance.

Across at least the last two six-year presidential terms in Mexico, and through the first year of the current administration, access to the federal government's primary websites for information and public services over the Tor network was blocked.

Thailand Election Commission faces multiple legal challenges over electoral integrity "Most of the complainants based their petitions on the controversial barcodes, which they argued could make ballots traceable and compromise ballot secrecy."

The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) faces legal challenges in three courts over the integrity of the February 8 elections after major irregularities were reported.

Last hours for this! 📚💙

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Action images from Venezuela serve as political messaging and narrative control for Trump For professor Clotilde Perez, spoken to by Pública, contemporary geopolitics has become “media-performative”, where no image is neutral.

For professor Clotilde Perez, spoken to by Pública, contemporary geopolitics has become “media-performative”, where no image is neutral.

The In Translation StoryBundle is almost over! The In Translation StoryBundle is almost over! Get a bunch of great, translated books at a low price, AND support GV Lingua! View this email in your browser. Last day to get the In Translation StoryBundle and support Global Voices Lingua! Get a fantast...

Last day to get the In Translation StoryBundle and support Global Voices Lingua! Get a fantastic selection of literature in translation, and support human translation at Lingua!

storybundle.com/translation

War, bloodshed, and legitimacy: Is Iran witnessing another internal coup? As war, succession anxieties, and public grief converge, debates resurface about how Iran’s system reshapes itself under extreme internal and external pressure

As war, succession anxieties, and public grief converge, debates resurface about how Iran’s system reshapes itself under extreme internal and external pressure.

Is it useful to talk to a dictator? Belarusian opposition have doubts Maria Kalesnikava made several calls to negotiate with the Belarusian dictator. This goes against the usual policies of both the Belarusian opposition in exile as well as the EU politicians

Maria Kalesnikava made several calls to negotiate with the Belarusian dictator. This goes against the usual policies of both the Belarusian opposition in exile as well as the EU politicians

A rose by any other name? How one Trinidad Carnival band’s intimate gesture has sparked controversy “You may dislike the choice [but] to declare that it denigrates culture is to flatten centuries of complexity into a single anxious conclusion.”

“You may dislike the choice [but] to declare that it denigrates culture is to flatten centuries of complexity into a single anxious conclusion.”

Impunity and unsolved crimes against journalists kill public trust The safety of journalists is no longer just about physical protection, but a complex intersection of legal resilience, digital hygiene, and psychological support.

The safety of journalists is no longer just about physical protection, but a complex intersection of legal resilience, digital hygiene, and psychological support.

Environmental defenders labeled ‘terrorists’ for bringing renewable power to Philippine communities Accusing activists of having links to terrorism has led to non-profit funds being frozen and local climate projects being delayed or scrapped.

Accusing activists of having links to terrorism has led to non-profit funds being frozen and local climate projects being delayed or scrapped.

Pakistan jails two lawyers for 17 years over old tweets Two Pakistani human rights lawyers received 17-year sentences under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) after criticizing military abuses online, raising concerns about due process and free expression.

Two Pakistani human rights lawyers received 17-year sentences under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) after criticizing military abuses online, raising concerns about due process and free expression. @multithinker.bsky.social

Inside Bangladesh’s Rohingya camps where fire continues to shape the existence of refugees Between May 2018 and December 2025, 2,425 documented fires have struck the world’s largest refugee settlement in Southeast of Bangladesh, affecting over 100,000 Rohingya refugees and destroying more than 20,000 shelters.

This fire safety theatre reveals the system’s central paradox. Humanitarian actors optimize for theoretical emergency responses, while the fundamental conditions that guarantee fires remain untouched.

Thailand Election Commission faces multiple legal challenges over electoral integrity "Most of the complainants based their petitions on the controversial barcodes, which they argued could make ballots traceable and compromise ballot secrecy."

"Most of the complainants based their petitions on the controversial barcodes, which they argued could make ballots traceable and compromise ballot secrecy."

StoryBundle's In Translation bundle to benefit Global Voices Lingua: Interview My primary goal was that the bundle be representative of our broader world, without a focus on the regions most already represented in collections of translation.

What if your next favorite read came from a region rarely translated—and your purchase helped fund multilingual journalism at Global Voices? You have 1 day left to celebrate the power of translations!

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Mexican government partially unblocks secure internet The Tor network is used by millions of users daily to securely access the internet, safeguard their right to information and freedom of expression, and avoid censorship or government surveillance.

The Tor network is used by millions of users daily to securely access the internet, safeguard their right to information and freedom of expression, and avoid censorship or government surveillance.

The marble mirage: Ashgabat’s record-breaking facade contradicts Turkmenistan’s reality The regime uses this "White City" as a visual tool to project power and stability to the outside world, masking the country’s deep isolation.

By creating a sprawling, sterile environment of “perfection,” the government attempts to manufacture a narrative of national prosperity, even as the streets themselves remain silent and disconnected from the people they were supposedly built for.

‘Are refugees being traded?’ UN questions the UK-France asylum swap A “one in, one out” deal linking deportations to legal admissions draws criticism for detentions, force and risks of refoulement.

A controversial “one in, one out” agreement between the United Kingdom and France linking forced returns of people arriving in small boats to matched legal admissions has drawn sharp criticism from United Nations human rights experts.

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’A reading group produces conversation, surprise, challenge, emotional commitment‘: Reading in the AI Era Reading is a space where chronological time is replaced by another one, a mental time that surrenders the rhythm of what's read.

"AI is a lot of help, but it doesn't replace anything from the deepest of our critical and creative potential. And if we look to replace that potential, we lose a part of our humanity."

This was a wonderful read addressing the importance of healthcare in conflict areas and that it can give people a safe haven or further conflict if absent. It'll be something I think about for a while.