International news

Over the past year, Kenyan activists have transformed artificial intelligence from a novelty into a powerful civic tool during protests against the 2024 finance bill. AI-powered technologies enabled activists to translate complex legislation into accessible information, coordinate protest efforts, and maintain communication despite government attempts to restrict internet access. Gen Z and millennial protesters utilized platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, and X to organize digitally before taking physical action, creating a movement that combined street demonstrations with sophisticated digital tactics. Despite facing government crackdowns including internet throttling and physical repression of online critics, these AI-driven approaches successfully influenced public understanding of fiscal policy and pressured the government to modify its proposals.

In the decade-long legal case following Mario Deane's 2014 death in police custody, three officers were finally convicted in 2025 but received lenient sentences, with only one facing prison time pending appeal. Deane died from injuries inflicted by fellow inmates while in a Jamaican police lock-up after being arrested for a minor marijuana offense. The case has highlighted deep issues within Jamaica's justice system, including police accountability, inhumane detention conditions, and unequal treatment of marginalized citizens. Deane's mother, Mercia Frazer, who campaigned tirelessly for justice, expressed disappointment with the outcome and plans to sue the state, while human rights organizations condemned the sentences as undermining public trust in law enforcement.

Recent immigration policy changes under President Trump's second administration have introduced significant hurdles for international students seeking education in the United States. Enhanced border security measures, stricter enforcement tactics, and new legislation have transformed visa processing and student entry protocols, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and increased scrutiny for applicants. International students now face additional challenges including intense scrutiny of their social media activities, where posts expressing political views or criticisms of the U.S. could jeopardize their applications. Despite these obstacles, many prospective students like Anstacia Charles from Trinidad and Tobago still view American education as valuable for academic excellence, career opportunities, and personal growth.

The Sultan Kizlar collective, comprised of four anonymous Uyghur women artists working under pseudonyms, uses contemporary art to address religious experiences and the plight of Uyghurs in China. Their first exhibition in Kazakhstan was prematurely closed, likely due to political sensitivities around Uyghur issues and religious expression. The artists explain that their "Uyghurness" transcends language or ethnicity to encompass the shared trauma of witnessing the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs in China. Despite facing restrictions, the collective remains determined to continue creating art that expresses both their political stance and emotional experiences.

Cuba's Deputy Director of U.S. Affairs Johana Tablada delivered a critique of current U.S. policy toward Cuba during an interview at Black Press USA headquarters, describing the relationship as "at a low point" characterized by "maximum aggression" from the U.S. government. She highlighted that since January 20, the U.S. has imposed more than a dozen unilateral coercive measures against Cuba, including Trump's recent National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) that restored restrictions and strengthened the economic embargo. Tablada specifically criticized Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism as "based on lies," noting how this status prevents the country from receiving essential supplies and financial transfers. Despite current challenges, she expressed hope based on "youth and the truth," while emphasizing the historical solidarity between Cuba and the African American community.

Israeli soldiers have admitted to receiving explicit orders to shoot at Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza, describing it as a "killing field" with over 743 Palestinians killed in such incidents since June. Concurrently, Gaza's Government Media Office reported finding traces of oxycodone, a powerful opioid, in flour delivered through international aid shipments. The United Nations Human Rights Office has condemned the "weaponization of food in Gaza" as a war crime, calling for investigations amid warnings from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification that Gaza faces catastrophic food insecurity with at least 66 children already dead from starvation. Despite these grave revelations indicating potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, international media coverage and calls for accountability have been notably limited.

The article examines how cultural life continues to flourish in the Ukrainian towns west of Kyiv—Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, and Vorzel—despite the devastation caused by Russia's 2022 invasion. The author takes readers on a personal journey through these locations, highlighting their rich artistic history, from Ukrainian impressionist Oleksandr Murashko to composer Borys Lyatoshynsky, while also noting how residents are reclaiming spaces through new bookstores, art installations, and cultural venues. Throughout the piece, the author weaves together descriptions of war damage with symbols of resilience and renewal, emphasizing how these communities are preserving their cultural heritage and creating new artistic expressions as forms of healing amid ongoing conflict.

Bahruz Samadov, a peaceful dissident and PhD student at Charles University, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Baku Grave Crimes Court on treason charges that he maintains are linked to his peaceful activism and criticism of the Azerbaijani government. Samadov, who was arrested in August 2024 after communicating with Armenian nationals on WhatsApp, attempted suicide following his sentencing and expressed deep trauma from being treated "like a terrorist" for his peaceful stance. His case appears to be part of a broader pattern of post-war repression in Azerbaijan, where several of his associates were also interrogated and temporarily banned from travel, and numerous journalists and activists face similar persecution. This crackdown suggests that Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Karabakh War has led to increased authoritarianism rather than democratic reforms, with the government increasingly targeting dissenting voices both domestically and abroad.

The diplomatic relationship between Azerbaijan and Russia has deteriorated significantly following a series of escalating incidents, beginning with tensions over an AZAL plane crash investigation and dramatically worsening after two Azerbaijani brothers, Huseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov, died following raids in Yekaterinburg on June 27. Forensic examinations revealed the brothers had been severely beaten, contradicting Russian authorities' claims of natural causes, while other detained Azerbaijanis reported torture and abuse. In response, Azerbaijan has taken retaliatory measures including raids on Russian media outlets like Sputnik, detention of Russian citizens, and cancellation of bilateral meetings, while Russia has reportedly targeted Azerbaijani businesspeople and blocked Azerbaijani websites. The situation has particularly affected the estimated two million ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Russia, with reports of deportations and growing concerns for their safety.

Turkey's democratic institutions face significant challenges as the state intensifies pressure on political opposition, media, and civil liberties. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) is embroiled in a leadership crisis through a court case that could nullify their 2023 congress that elected Özgür Özel as leader, replacing long-time chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Simultaneously, Istanbul's popular mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu faces multiple legal battles including terrorism charges, potential imprisonment, and a political ban that could prevent his 2028 presidential candidacy. The crackdown extends beyond politics to media freedom, with veteran journalist Fatih Altaylı's arrest for allegedly threatening President Erdoğan, and to human rights, with mass detentions during banned LGBTQ+ Pride marches, reflecting Turkey's deteriorating civic space.

The article explores the creative practices that flourish within Ukrainian prisons, where inmates transform limited materials into art despite confined spaces. Prison-made artifacts range from hand-crafted knives, games, religious items, and tattoos to written works like poetry and stories. The article highlights specific examples from various prisoners including filmmaker Serhiy Parajanov, who created 800 collages while imprisoned, and women prisoners who make decorated handkerchiefs called "marochki." These creative expressions serve as both psychological survival mechanisms and potential pathways to rehabilitation in Ukraine, which has one of the highest imprisonment rates in the Council of Europe.

Following Bangladesh's July 2024 uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the initial promise of democratic reform has deteriorated into increased violence and censorship against women activists. Nadira Yeasmin, a feminist academic advocating for equal inheritance rights, has become a primary target of Islamist backlash after a Women's Affairs Reform Commission report proposed equal inheritance for women. Conservative religious groups like Hefazat-e-Islam and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami have organized protests against the report and Yeasmin specifically, leading to her being transferred from her teaching position to an Officer on Special Duty role with no assigned responsibilities. The interim government has remained silent on these issues while violence against women has escalated across the country.

International Reggae Day (IRD) celebrated its 31st year with the theme "One Love, One Voice, One Day," emphasizing reggae music's role in activism. The celebration featured the awarding of the second annual Winnie Mandela Humanitarian Award to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley for her climate justice advocacy. Events took place globally, from Las Vegas's new "Bob Marley Hope Road" attraction to celebrations in Kenya, Malaysia, and North Carolina. This year's focus included environmental action, with IRD encouraging followers to "plant a reggae tree" in support of the UN's Trillion Tree Challenge, reaffirming reggae's historical power as a vehicle for social change.

of "Regained Culture: Ukrainian voices curate Ukrainian culture" This article examines the parallel struggles of Ukrainian artists across different eras to express Ukrainian identity through public art. It contrasts the experiences of Soviet-era monumental artist Alla Horska, who secretly incorporated Ukrainian symbols into officially sanctioned works while facing political persecution, with contemporary muralists like Yevgenia Fullen and Hamlet Zinkivsky who navigate bureaucracy and public opinion in modern Ukraine. The piece highlights how Horska's artistic resistance against Soviet repression cost her life and nearly erased her legacy, particularly her mosaics in Donbas that are now threatened by Russian invasion. Despite operating in different political contexts, both generations of artists share a commitment to nonconformism and using public spaces as platforms for expression, though contemporary artists face different challenges in war-time democratic Ukraine than their predecessors did under totalitarianism.

The League of Social Democrats (LSD), one of Hong Kong's last pro-democracy groups, announced its disbandment on June 29, 2025, after 19 years of operation, citing "tremendous political pressure." The dissolution came on the eve of the fifth anniversary of Beijing's 2020 security law, adding the LSD to dozens of political parties, labor unions, and civil society groups that have disbanded since the law's enactment. Chair Chan Po-ying could not elaborate further on the specific reasons behind the decision during the press conference. The LSD, founded in 2006 to advocate for democratic reform and support the working class, previously held seats in the Legislative Council and District Councils before a 2021 electoral overhaul effectively barred opposition members from standing.

The Baku Court for Grave Crimes has sentenced seven members of the independent news outlet Abzas Media to lengthy prison terms ranging from seven-and-a-half to nine years on charges including money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal business operations. These journalists, who have been in pre-trial detention since November 2023, were known for their investigative reporting on corruption linked to President Ilham Aliyev's government and family. The arrests occurred just months before Azerbaijan's presidential election, where Aliyev secured another seven-year term amid a lack of political opposition. International organizations have condemned the sentences as politically motivated reprisals against investigative journalism, while Azerbaijani authorities maintain these are legitimate criminal prosecutions.

Aung San Suu Kyi, now 80 years old, remains imprisoned in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, currently serving a 27-year sentence in harsh isolation. Despite having no weapons and being physically frail, "The Lady" is deeply feared by Myanmar's military generals because she possesses something they cannot take by force: the overwhelming trust and support of the people, demonstrated through her party's landslide electoral victories from 1990 to 2020. Her unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and democratic principles has made her the target of repeated arrests, totaling 19 years in detention to date, yet she has survived imprisonment, isolation, and assassination attempts, earning her the nickname "The Iron Rose" among supporters who continue to fight for democracy in Myanmar.

The article details Bangladesh's political transition following the Student-People's uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian government in July-August 2024. Now led by interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, the country faces significant tensions over election timing, with Yunus's administration (supported by the National Citizen Party and Jamaat-e-Islami) advocating for April 2026 elections to implement fundamental reforms, while the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) pushes for earlier elections by December 2025. Despite public commitments to democratic reforms, Yunus's government has struggled with slow progress, leading to protests, political infighting, and reports of his potential resignation, all while various political factions debate whether institutional reforms or swift elections should take priority.

of "Regained Culture: Ukrainian Voices Curate Ukrainian Culture" This article explores the experiences of Ukrainian dissidents who fought against Soviet oppression through human rights activism. Former political prisoners like Mustafa Dzhemilev, Yosyf Zisels, and Miroslav Marynovych share their perspectives on how the Ukrainian Helsinki Group (UHG) connected Ukraine's struggle to international human rights standards while simultaneously fighting for national rights. Unlike Russian dissidents who focused solely on civil liberties, Ukrainian dissidents balanced universal human rights with national identity concerns, creating solidarity among various ethnic groups that suffered under Soviet rule. These former dissidents now view Russia's current war against Ukraine through the lens of imperial collapse, drawing parallels between the Soviet Union's fall and what they see as the inevitable decline of the Russian Federation.

The global refugee population has surged to 36.8 million people, with total forced displacement reaching 123.2 million since 2020 due to ongoing violence and persecution worldwide. Organizations like Noir United International (NUI) and N&Y Creative Solutions are working to humanize refugees through advocacy events, including a workshop held at Meridian Hill Park on June 21 following World Refugee Day. Refugee advocates like Bertha Nibigira, who spent her childhood in refugee camps, and Luan Mayen, who creates empathy-building video games based on refugee experiences, are sharing personal stories to combat hostility toward displaced communities. The advocacy work has taken on greater urgency as recent U.S. policy changes, including refugee bans and travel restrictions, further limit sanctuary options for vulnerable populations.

The Movement for Media Safety Philippines (MMSP) has expressed alarm after jail authorities denied an international press delegation access to detained journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio at Tacloban City Jail. The Media Freedom Coalition representatives, including members from Reporters Sans Frontiers and the Committee to Protect Journalists, were refused entry despite traveling to Tacloban on June 16, with authorities demanding excessive documentation including clearance from the Office of the President. Cumpio, arrested in February 2020 with four other activists after reporting surveillance by state agents, faces non-bailable charges of illegal possession of firearms and terrorism financing. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan has highlighted Cumpio's case to the UN Human Rights Council and called for her immediate release, having personally interviewed the journalist despite government discouragement.

Elizabeth Ragwar, a Ghanaian woman living in Germany, attended a conference on African women in Europe in Denmark and experienced a three-day ordeal of train disruptions while trying to return home. What began as a routine journey transformed into an unexpected bonding experience with two Kenyan women, Rachel and Elizabeth Ragwar, whom she met during the travel chaos. Their shared experiences of migration struggles and discrimination in Europe created a profound connection as they navigated through six different trains, an overnight hotel stay, and multiple service failures. The journey culminated in a disturbing incident of racial discrimination at the Hamburg train station, highlighting the systemic racism faced by Black migrants in Europe despite their efforts to make environmentally conscious travel choices.

Skopje Pride, organized by the National Network Against Homophobia and Transphobia, took place in North Macedonia's capital on June 21, 2025, under the slogan "We stand. We persist. Together!" Unlike previous years, this sixth annual Pride took the form of a protest march rather than a celebration, with participants opposing government policies perceived as anti-LGBTQ+. Several hundred attendees marched through the capital carrying rainbow flags and chanting slogans against fascism, stopping at the Ministry of Education and Science and the Palace of Governance to voice demands. The protest addressed multiple issues beyond LGBTQ+ rights, including solidarity with Palestine, environmental concerns, and criticism of capitalism and fascism.

CAISO, a Trinidad and Tobago-based civil society organization, released its 2024 Insights from Wholeness and Justice Report highlighting significant challenges faced by the local LGBTQ+ community. The report identifies domestic violence (44%), harassment and assault (25%), and employment issues (9%) as the most common problems reported by those using CAISO's services. Many victims avoid seeking legal redress due to economic concerns, migration status issues, or lack of confidence in protective systems. CAISO identifies "state-sponsored discrimination" as a key factor making LGBTQ+ people "disproportionately susceptible to social displacement" and calls for legislative amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act, expanded social services, and better education and training to protect LGBTQ+ rights.

A recently leaked intelligence document from October 2024 revealed Israel's extensive military preparations for striking Iran, including previously unknown assets like the RA-01 stealth drone and deployment patterns of missiles and aircraft. Despite containing significant revelations about US surveillance of Israel and confirmation of Israel's nuclear capabilities, mainstream media largely ignored the contents of the leak, focusing instead on identifying the whistleblower. The leaker, Asif Rahman, was sentenced to three years in prison just days before Israel launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran, which has since killed over 639 people, mostly civilians. The author argues that this case follows a troubling pattern where media focuses on whistleblowers rather than the substance of their revelations, potentially missing opportunities to prevent military escalations.

President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran that appears to be holding despite alleged early violations on Tuesday. The truce follows 12 days of conflict that escalated after Trump ordered U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, which Iran responded to with missile strikes on U.S. bases in Qatar and Iraq. Iran described its retaliation, called "Operation Herald of Victory," as proportionate to U.S. actions, coordinating with Qatar beforehand to minimize casualties. Various Iranian officials have condemned the U.S. strikes as violations of international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, with Iran's military leadership vowing continued response to perceived threats.

China has launched a nationwide crackdown on erotica writers who published content on "Haitang Literature City," a Taiwan-based adult platform primarily featuring Boys' Love fiction. The censorship operation began in early 2024 with Jixi County police arresting over 50 writers, then expanded when Lanzhou City authorities revived the campaign, resulting in approximately 300 arrests, mostly of educated young women aged 20-30. Writers face charges of disseminating pornographic materials under Article 363 of China's criminal law, with sentences ranging from probation to over five years in prison, often accompanied by heavy fines and asset confiscation. This crackdown represents part of China's broader effort to uphold "socialist core values" through internet censorship campaigns that have intensified since President Xi Jinping established these policies in 2013.

Belarusian opposition figure and former presidential candidate Syarhey Tsikhanouski was unexpectedly released from prison on June 21, 2025, after being jailed for five years by Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime. According to Lithuania's foreign minister, a total of 14 political prisoners were released and are now receiving care in Lithuania, including five Belarusian political prisoners and one with dual citizenship. The release was reportedly the result of extensive diplomatic engagement led by the United States, with Tsikhanouski and others being pardoned by Lukashenka at the request of the US president on humanitarian grounds. Despite this development, many political prisoners remain detained in Belarus, with Tsikhanouski urging continued resistance against the regime.

The Vietnamese government has banned the messaging app Telegram, claiming non-compliance with local regulations and citing that 68 percent of its 9,600 channels in Vietnam were linked to illegal activities including anti-government content. With 11.8 million Vietnamese users affected, the ban took effect on June 2, despite Telegram expressing surprise and stating they had responded to all legal requests from Vietnam on time. Critics, including policy analyst Vu Lam and human rights groups, have condemned the ban as lacking due process and representing part of Vietnam's broader campaign to control digital information, following previous cybersecurity laws enacted in 2018 and new internet-related decrees in 2024. The ban has received mixed responses from Vietnamese internet users, with some connecting Telegram to scams while others express concern about communication disruptions.

The article describes the first-ever Pride event organized by and for the queer Malaiyaga Tamil community (also known as Hill Country Tamils) in Sri Lanka's plantation regions. Organized without external funding or support, the event represented a groundbreaking effort by a community that faces multiple layers of marginalization based on their Tamil identity, socioeconomic status, caste, and sexuality. The Pride event aimed to create visibility and celebrate the intersection of their queer and Malaiyaga identities, challenging both invisibility within broader LGBTQ+ movements and the criminalization of homosexuality under Sri Lankan law. Despite concerns about potential backlash, the event received mixed reactions from the local community and meaningful support from allies, creating unprecedented visibility for queer Malaiyagathars.