International news

Nepal has designated lands inhabited by the Indigenous Chepang Community as an Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM) to help meet international biodiversity targets of protecting 30 percent of land by 2030. The Chepang people, numbering over 84,000 and classified as highly marginalized, have traditionally managed approximately 300 hectares of biodiverse forest across six hills using sustainable practices and traditional ecological knowledge. While this OECM designation could create opportunities for sustainable financing and recognize community-led conservation, it raises serious concerns about Indigenous land rights, potential restrictions on traditional practices like hunting, and access to resources that sustain Chepang livelihoods. The designation is currently under review, with governance to be shared between Community Forest Users Groups and the Divisional Forest Office, though many Chepang lack formal land ownership certificates and face uncertainty about how state-led conservation structures might affect their customary land use and cultural practices.

President Trump announced U.S. military strikes against ISIS militants in northwestern Nigeria's Sokoto State, characterizing the action as defending Christians against Islamic extremists, which coincided with growing criticism about heavily redacted Jeffrey Epstein documents. The strikes, conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities according to the Pentagon, drew immediate pushback from Nigerian officials who rejected the religious framing and emphasized that terrorism affects all faiths in their country. The rhetoric has particular resonance in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, which houses approximately 27,570 Nigerian immigrants among its significant African diaspora population concentrated in Prince George's and Charles Counties. Nigerian leaders, including President Tinubu and Foreign Minister Tuggar, stressed their commitment to protecting citizens of all religions while asserting the operation targeted terrorists without religious distinction. # Key Takeaways

Verse, a Burmese filmmaker, left traditional journalism in 2018 after experiencing systemic gender discrimination that prevented her from covering political assignments, subsequently transitioning to women's rights advocacy and filmmaking. Her feminist worldview was shaped by her grandmother, a Rakhine businesswoman who defied gender norms by running a sawmill and teaching Verse that gender should never limit opportunity. After attending Yangon Film School in 2020, where she successfully advocated for the institution's first sexual harassment policy following a discriminatory incident, Verse began creating films that center marginalized women's experiences. Her notable works include "Exit," an animated film about sex workers, and "Fight for Freedom," a documentary about an exiled woman resisting Myanmar's military patriarchy, both amplifying voices often erased from mainstream narratives. Despite expanded professional opportunities abroad, she remains in Myanmar to care for her aging grandmother while continuing to challenge oppression through visual storytelling.

In Senegal, despite ratifying the Maputo Protocol in 2004 which permits medical abortion in cases of rape, incest, and health emergencies, the country has failed to incorporate these provisions into national law. Women who become pregnant from sexual violence are forced to carry pregnancies to term or resort to dangerous illegal abortions, with nearly half of female prisoners incarcerated for infanticide. The government's inaction contradicts Senegal's secular constitution, as religious and traditional arguments continue to dominate debates that should focus on medical and legal considerations. Human rights organizations are demanding legal reforms to align with international commitments and protect rape victims from further criminalization and trauma.

PEN International's Tomorrow Club, founded in 1917, has relaunched with an Asia-focused edition featuring 30 young writers under 35 from 20 countries to amplify youth voices and foster cross-border connections. The initiative addresses how censorship in many Asian nations restricts expression and aims to share personal stories that transcend geographic and political boundaries. Featured writers include political prisoners, activists, and refugees who document challenges like detention in the Philippines, civil society persecution in Vietnam, and the Rohingya statelessness crisis. PEN International representatives emphasize the need for greater institutional support to help young writers create platforms for sharing experiences and building solidarity across fractured societies.

Despite the December 4th Washington Accords peace agreement intended to end violence between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, armed conflict resumed and escalated throughout the month. Rwandan forces and the M23 rebel group attacked Uvira, killing at least 74 civilians and displacing 200,000 residents by December 10th. UN officials expressed concern that repeated ceasefire violations are undermining diplomatic credibility and trust in peace processes. Humanitarian advocates argue that peace efforts mask ongoing exploitation of Congo's vast mineral wealth, estimated at $24 trillion, while the majority of Congolese citizens live in extreme poverty and face continued violence. # Key Takeaways

The article examines the growing crisis of online violence against women journalists and public figures across Africa, particularly focusing on South African journalist Kgomotso Modise's experience with sexual harassment and threats. Cybercrime now represents over 30 percent of reported crime in West and East Africa, with women journalists facing coordinated attacks including doxxing, deepfakes, and threats that force many to self-censor or leave digital platforms entirely. African Union and European Union officials recently addressed digital violence as a security threat at their summit in Zambia, announcing initiatives including a convention on ending violence against women that prioritizes cybersecurity. While countries like Kenya have data protection and cybercrime laws, weak enforcement and inadequate platform responses allow online abuse to proliferate unchecked, threatening press freedom and women's participation in public life. # Key Takeaways

Deepa Devkota, a disability rights activist from Nepal's Sindhuli District who lives with spina bifida, made history by becoming the first Nepali woman with a disability to complete a wheelchair bungee jump from a 160-meter height at Bhotekoshi River. She accomplished this feat on her birthday, December 16, 2025, at Nepal's first bungee jumping site, which is popular among adventure enthusiasts worldwide. Devkota dedicated her achievement to her parents, who faced social stigma for raising a child with a disability, and expressed hope that her accomplishment would inspire others with disabilities to pursue their goals. Two other Nepali men had completed similar wheelchair bungee jumps earlier that month at the same location.

The House Ways and Means Committee voted on December 10 to retroactively extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 2028, prompting celebrations among African diplomats and advocacy groups on Capitol Hill. AGOA, originally enacted in 2000, grants duty-free access to U.S. markets for over 6,500 products from eligible Sub-Saharan African nations, benefiting countries like Kenya, Madagascar, and South Africa through exports of textiles, agricultural goods, and crude oil. However, the extension still requires approval from the full House, Senate, and President Trump's signature to become law, creating uncertainty given the administration's hostile rhetoric toward African nations. The legislation has become increasingly important as China expands its influence in Africa, making AGOA crucial for maintaining U.S.-Africa economic partnerships and supporting democratic development across the continent.

Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, 78, has been convicted of collusion with foreign forces and sedition following a two-year trial that began in December 2023 and lasted over 150 working days. The three-judge panel found that Lai used his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper to lobby foreign governments for sanctions against China and Hong Kong, and published seditious content meant to incite hatred against authorities. The court concluded that Lai's ultimate goal was regime change in China, citing his meetings with senior U.S. officials and his extensive foreign connections as evidence of conspiracy. Lai, who has been detained for more than 1,800 days since December 2020, faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with a mitigation hearing scheduled for January 2025.

Cameroon's forests, which comprise 45 percent of its territory and represent the second-largest rainforest in the Congo Basin, are experiencing severe degradation due to illegal logging and timber trafficking. While timber harvesting has been legally regulated since 1994 with quotas and reforestation requirements, authorities struggle to enforce these rules as operators illegally divert wood for export. European demand for tropical timber declined sharply between 2010 and 2020 following stricter legality requirements, causing Asian markets, particularly China, to become the dominant importers of Central African timber. Criminal networks exploit weak border controls and use falsified documents to smuggle illegal timber through neighboring countries like Gabon and Chad, disguising it as legitimate merchandise. This widespread illegal activity costs Cameroon billions in lost revenue while threatening biodiversity, local communities, and the country's role in combating climate change.

The article examines how Trump administration immigration policies during his second term have severely impacted migrants, particularly women and girls, attempting to cross the US-Mexico border. These policies include suspending asylum and refugee programs, shutting down the CBP One appointment app, and reinstating the "Remain in Mexico" program, effectively eliminating legal pathways for migrants fleeing violence and climate-related disasters. Organizations like Border Kindness continue providing humanitarian aid despite funding challenges and risks, while migrants face increased vulnerability to violence, exploitation, and human rights violations during detention and deportation. Grassroots resistance efforts are growing nationwide, with communities organizing to track ICE raids, protest enforcement tactics, and protect neighbors from deportation.

A coordinated shooting attack during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach resulted in at least 16 deaths and 40 hospitalizations, making it Australia's deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. Authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist attack specifically targeting Jewish Australians, with victims ranging from age 10 to 87, including a Holocaust survivor. Police identified the suspects as a father-son pair, with the elder killed at the scene, while a bystander of Syrian refugee descent heroically disarmed one attacker. In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to further strengthen the nation's already stringent gun control laws, which were implemented following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. # Key Takeaways

COP30, held in 2025 in Belém, Brazil, marked a significant shift in climate conferences by centering the participation of grassroots organizations, Indigenous peoples, and traditional communities from the Amazon region. Unlike previous conferences that restricted civil society involvement through logistical barriers or government suppression, the Brazilian edition featured over 900 accredited Indigenous participants, a People's Summit coordinating social movements, and a 70,000-person Global Climate March demanding territorial and climate justice. Key outcomes included the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility to fund forest conservation and recognition in the final text that Indigenous territorial rights are essential to global climate strategy. While progress on phasing out fossil fuels stalled due to governmental disagreements, the conference demonstrated a meaningful expansion of who participates in climate negotiations, shifting power toward communities directly affected by environmental policies.

Australia has implemented a world-first social media ban that prohibits anyone under 16 years old from accessing major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and seven others, which took effect on December 10, 2025. The legislation requires tech companies to take reasonable steps to prevent minors from having accounts or face penalties up to $50 million, though platforms like WhatsApp and Roblox remain exempt. The ban has sparked significant controversy both domestically and internationally, with teenagers, experts, and advocacy groups expressing concerns about unintended consequences, enforcement challenges, and potential harm to vulnerable youth who rely on social media for community connection. Young people are already finding workarounds using VPNs, and legal challenges have been filed against the government, while international bodies including U.S. Congress are closely monitoring the implementation. Critics argue that the ban fails to address underlying safety issues and advocate instead for better platform design and parental involvement rather than blanket restrictions. # Key Takeaways

Philippine journalist Leonardo Vicente "Cong" Corrales has been systematically targeted through "red-tagging," a dangerous practice of falsely linking individuals to communist terrorist groups, after reporting on Indigenous peoples' struggles and other sensitive topics. Between 2019 and 2023, anonymous social media accounts repeatedly posted defamatory content labeling him as a communist rebel, doxxed his personal information, and even placed funeral wreaths bearing his name at his workplace. When Meta refused to reveal the identities behind these threatening accounts without legal compulsion, Corrales filed a complaint with the National Privacy Commission, backed by journalism unions and anti-disinformation lawyers. In July 2025, this legal action achieved a breakthrough when arbitration compelled Meta to disclose at least 10 account identities, with one traced to a government establishment, marking a significant victory in holding both platforms and perpetrators accountable for online harassment campaigns against journalists.

In early November 2025, thousands of Brazilians protested widespread violence against women following a disturbing wave of brutal cases, including murders, kidnappings, and assaults that dominated national news. According to Isabella Matosinhos, a researcher at the Brazilian Forum for Public Security, the current situation reflects not a sudden spike but rather the convergence of historically high violence levels, increased public visibility, and particularly cruel recent cases that have galvanized public outrage. Brazil recorded 1,492 femicides in 2024—the highest number since the femicide law passed in 2015—indicating that despite legislative advances and increased penalties, the country struggles with systemic implementation failures, including inconsistent case classification across states, inadequate protective measure enforcement, and fragmented support networks. The crisis reveals deep institutional weaknesses in preventing violence before it escalates, with experts emphasizing that addressing the problem requires comprehensive prevention strategies, cultural change involving men, improved data collection, and making women's safety a sustained state priority rather than a temporary governmental focus.

The African Union-European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola addressed the escalating cybersecurity crisis facing Africa, where digital threats are growing faster than protective measures. Kenya alone documented over 4.5 billion cyber-attacks in just three months, while journalists face increased digital surveillance and the continent has fewer than 25,000 cybersecurity professionals serving over 1 billion people. Women are particularly vulnerable, experiencing both lower internet access due to a significant digital gender gap and higher rates of online harassment that intensifies when they assume leadership positions. European officials outlined their Global Gateway initiative to strengthen digital infrastructure, with both regions acknowledging that cybersecurity must become central to their partnership rather than remaining a specialized technical concern. The summit emphasized that without robust digital protection addressing these systemic vulnerabilities, Africa's digital transformation risks leaving behind vulnerable populations including women, youth, journalists, and rural communities.

Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA), a transgender-led organization in Karachi, Pakistan, is working to address the compounding challenges facing the khwaja sira community as climate change intensifies existing inequalities around housing, healthcare, and employment. Through initiatives like their EcoDignity program, GIA trains transgender individuals in upcycling discarded materials into marketable products, creating dignified livelihoods while contributing to the circular economy. The organization also uses public art, such as community-led climate justice murals on government buildings, to assert the community's place in urban planning discussions and challenge social stigma. Despite legal setbacks in 2023 that reversed protections for transgender rights, GIA continues advocating for the integration of transgender voices into local and global climate policy discussions, positioning the community as essential contributors to climate solutions rather than passive victims. Their work demonstrates how climate justice and social justice are fundamentally interconnected, particularly for Pakistan's most marginalized populations.

In early November 2025, thousands of Brazilian women participated in "Rise Women Alive" marches across multiple cities to protest the normalization of violence against women and demand action on the country's femicide crisis. The demonstrations were sparked by several recent high-profile cases, including a woman who lost both legs after being dragged by a car, a workplace shooting that killed two women, and multiple domestic violence incidents resulting in deaths and severe injuries. Despite Brazil having progressive legislation against gender-based violence, including laws passed in 2006, 2015, and 2024 that establish severe penalties for femicide, violence against women continues to escalate, with data showing four women killed daily due to their gender. Security experts and advocates emphasize that while laws have improved, implementation and prevention efforts remain inadequate, allowing a dangerous pattern of violence to persist and become normalized in Brazilian society.

Georgia has experienced an unprecedented year of sustained pro-European Union protests following the disputed October 2024 parliamentary elections and the government's subsequent suspension of EU integration efforts. The demonstrations, which began with thousands gathering on Tbilisi's Rustaveli Avenue, have been met with severe police violence including tear gas, water cannons, and mass arrests of over 450 protesters in the initial weeks alone. The ruling Georgian Dream party has responded by implementing increasingly authoritarian measures, including banning protest gear, dramatically increasing fines for road-blocking, restricting media funding, and bringing criminal charges against opposition leaders for alleged coup attempts. Despite facing financial penalties, physical violence, and growing legal restrictions, protesters have adapted with creative resistance tactics and continued daily demonstrations, though their numbers have gradually declined over the year. The movement reflects Georgia's struggle between Western integration and what critics characterize as the government's authoritarian pivot away from democratic norms. # Key Takeaways

Two rebel groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the M23 and Congo River Alliance, have formed an alliance and seized control of major cities including Goma and Bukavu, establishing a parallel government. According to an Oakland Institute report, these rebel groups, backed by Rwanda, are funding their military operations by taking over mineral-rich mining areas containing gold, coltan, tin, and other valuable resources throughout North and South Kivu provinces. While rebel leaders claim they are fighting for their country rather than minerals, evidence suggests Rwanda's strategic goal is controlling DRC's natural resources, with the rebels smuggling hundreds of tons of coltan to Rwanda and generating approximately $800,000 monthly through mining taxes. Despite the Congolese government's appeals to international bodies and a U.S.-brokered peace agreement collapsing, President Tshisekedi has acknowledged his inability to stop the war, though a new framework peace agreement was signed with Qatar's mediation in November 2025.

Vivien Sansour, founder of the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library, created the initiative out of a deep desire to preserve Palestinian agricultural heritage and cultural identity threatened by occupation and displacement. Rather than pursuing traditional academic study, she chose to visit elders and villages throughout Palestine to collect indigenous seeds and the stories attached to them, recognizing that these agricultural varieties represent thousands of years of relationship between people, land, and crops. Her work expanded beyond Palestine into a global grassroots movement as others facing oppression and cultural loss connected with her mission. Sansour views the destruction of Palestinian farmland as part of a larger global crisis involving violence, surveillance capitalism, and climate change, positioning her seed preservation work as creating "tender spaces" of resistance and hope for future generations rather than attempting immediate large-scale change.

In Azerbaijan, where LGBTQI+ individuals face systemic discrimination, violent crackdowns, and hate crimes documented since 2017, a new generation of queer filmmakers is creating an alternative cinematic history through personal storytelling. These independent short films, often made by trans and non-binary directors who are graduates of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, challenge decades of heteronormative representation where queer characters appeared only as caricatures or punchlines. Through intimate portrayals exploring themes of home, safety, and identity, filmmakers like Vusala Hajiyeva, Miray Deniz, and Mehriban Karimova are documenting lives that have been systematically erased from mainstream culture. Their work, which includes films about the 2017 mass arrests, the murder of activist Avaz Hafizli, and personal transition journeys, serves as both resistance and documentation in a country that ranks among Europe's lowest on LGBTQI+ rights indexes.

Following a devastating 5.7-magnitude earthquake in Bangladesh on January 21 that killed at least 10 people, social media erupted into debate over whether women should wear hijabs or headscarves before evacuating dangerous buildings. While men fled freely in minimal clothing without criticism, women faced pressure to prioritize modest dress over their own safety, with some refusing to evacuate due to concerns about their appearance. This controversy reflects deeper issues in Bangladeshi society where patriarchal norms have become so internalized that many women fear social judgment more than physical danger, despite Islamic jurisprudence clearly prioritizing life preservation over modest attire during emergencies. The author argues this incident exposes how Bangladesh's increasingly conservative political climate since August 2024 has intensified the policing of women's bodies and freedoms, with radical Islamist groups exploiting instability to push women out of public life.

Guinea-Bissau's military seized power on November 27, 2025, immediately after ballots were counted in the country's presidential and legislative elections, claiming they were preventing foreign and domestic actors from tampering with results in collaboration with drug traffickers. The military junta appointed General Horta Nta Na Man as transitional president for a one-year period, though many African leaders and international observers are questioning the coup's legitimacy given its suspicious timing. Both presidential candidates had initially claimed victory, but opposition leader Fernando Dias and several prominent African political figures believe former President Umaro Sissoco Embalo fabricated the coup to avoid revealing unfavorable election results. Regional organizations including ECOWAS and the African Union have condemned the military takeover and are calling for the restoration of constitutional order and publication of the legitimate election results. # Key Takeaways

Following a December 2024 boat tragedy that killed over 300 Pakistanis attempting to reach Europe illegally, Pakistani authorities have implemented an aggressive airport screening program that has resulted in thousands of legitimate travelers being denied boarding at the last minute. The Federal Investigation Agency, responding to both domestic pressure and demands from Gulf countries, has been stopping passengers with valid visas and documents through a practice called "offloading," with decisions often based on subjective factors like appearance, home district, and travel history rather than concrete evidence. The crackdown disproportionately affects residents of Punjab's Gujrat and Sialkot regions, areas known for legal labor migration that contribute billions in remittances to Pakistan's economy. While officials claim the measures combat human trafficking, there is no evidence the policy has been effective, as smuggling networks have simply shifted to land and sea routes, while legitimate travelers face financial devastation and constitutional rights violations.

Bangladeshi migrant workers are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated digital fraud schemes that exploit their hopes for overseas employment and better economic opportunities. Scammers use social media platforms, fake job advertisements, and fraudulent recruitment agencies to trap workers who pay thousands of dollars for non-existent jobs, often ending up stranded abroad or trafficked to forced labor situations. The problem has intensified as migration processes shift online without adequate safeguards, with workers losing an estimated two billion dollars to syndicates between 2022-2024, while others are lured into online betting scams and identity theft. Most workers lack digital literacy to distinguish legitimate opportunities from fraud, and despite over one million Bangladeshis migrating for work in 2024, the existing system of informal brokers and fragmented government oversight leaves them extremely vulnerable to exploitation.

Following the United States' designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to religious violence, Nigerian peace advocates and religious leaders from both Christian and Muslim communities are emphasizing that Boko Haram's brutal insurgency affects all faiths equally, not just Christians. The militant group has killed approximately 35,000 civilians and displaced over 2 million people since beginning violent attacks in 2009, with former President Buhari noting that roughly 90 percent of victims have been Muslims. Various Nigerian organizations are rejecting what they characterize as foreign-driven narratives that could inflame religious divisions, instead calling for unity and locally-developed solutions to address the complex mix of ethnic, political, and economic factors driving the violence. The Nigerian government has recently intensified military operations, increased security funding, and invested in rehabilitation programs for former fighters while engaging international partners for technical assistance rather than military intervention.

A dam owned by Congo Dongfang Mining (CDM), a Chinese subsidiary operating in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, collapsed on November 4, 2025, releasing highly toxic water containing lead and arsenic into surrounding communities and the Lubumbashi River. The contaminated water flooded residential areas, killed aquatic life, and poisoned wells that poor residents depend on for drinking water, creating serious health risks for local populations. Local residents claim the company has been illegally discharging acidic wastewater during rainstorms since 2012, using rainfall as cover for their activities. In response to the disaster, the national Minister of Mines suspended CDM's operations for three months, while the Minister of Justice announced an investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for what environmental experts are calling an environmental crime.