international news

Nigeria's whistleblower policy, introduced in 2016, offers financial incentives for exposing corruption but fails to provide adequate legal protection for whistleblowers who often face retaliation, including job loss and threats. A national forum organized by the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) brought together Federal High Court judges and civil society advocates to discuss the urgent need for whistleblower protection legislation. Despite multiple attempts to pass comprehensive protection laws, these efforts have stalled in Nigeria's National Assembly, leaving whistleblowers vulnerable despite existing constitutional provisions that could offer some safeguards. The forum highlighted personal accounts of whistleblower persecution and compared Nigeria's fragmented approach with more robust protection frameworks in neighboring countries like Ghana and South Africa.

Khoj Samachar is an independent digital media platform in Nepal founded by investigative journalist Roshan Shrestha that focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices and challenging corruption through Facebook, YouTube, and a dedicated app. The platform stands out among nearly 4,900 registered print media outlets and approximately eighteen online news outlets in Nepal by maintaining complete editorial independence through self-financing via advertising revenue rather than external funding. Shrestha, who began his journalism journey during school and gained experience documenting the 2015 Nepal earthquake, has built Khoj Samachar into a team of four that publishes content in both Nepali and English. Despite facing threats and political pressure, Shrestha remains committed to highlighting stories from rural areas and marginalized communities that mainstream media often ignore.

Turkey's regulatory agency Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has recently fined several major streaming platforms including Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, and Mubi for allegedly violating family values through LGBTQ+ content. This censorship coincides with Turkey's designation of 2025 as the "Year of the Family" and has resulted in the removal of specific films from these platforms. The fines are part of a larger pattern of media restrictions that extends beyond streaming services to include local broadcasters, artists, musicians, and content creators. Rights advocates argue these measures reflect an intensifying crackdown on LGBTQ+ visibility, artistic expression, and women's rights in Turkey, where authorities have increasingly framed diverse identities as threats to traditional values.

Adriane Alfred founded Peace Thru Culture (PTC) in 2006 to provide youth with global cultural exposure through various educational programs. The organization features multiple initiatives including the recently launched Global Leadership Program, which introduces high schoolers to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and encourages them to create community projects addressing these global challenges. PTC held its inaugural Global Youth Symposium in September 2023, where student leaders hosted sessions using art, STEM, civics, and advocacy to promote social change. Through international travel experiences and leadership development, PTC aims to empower young people to become changemakers who understand that their voices matter in solving global issues.

The article discusses how technology, particularly AI systems, can be used simultaneously to benefit certain groups while harming others in conflict zones. It critically examines Israel's deployment of AI-powered surveillance and weapons systems against Palestinians in Gaza, with a focus on technologies developed through partnerships with international corporations like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Elbit Systems. The article challenges the idea of evaluating technology through a balanced "benefits versus harms" approach, emphasizing instead the human decision-makers behind these systems and their intentions. It highlights the devastating human cost in Gaza, where AI-powered weapons have contributed to massive civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction, despite claims of precision targeting.

In Pakistan, despite the passage of the Child Marriage Restraint Bill in May 2025 setting the legal marriage age at 18, child marriages remain prevalent due to weak enforcement, social pressures, and lack of proper age documentation. The law faces political opposition from groups like JUI-F, which claims the legislation contradicts Islamic teachings, while others like PPP celebrate it as progress. UNICEF reports 29 percent of Pakistani girls marry before 18, with rates increasing following climate disasters like the 2022 floods that caused an 18 percent surge in child marriages. Despite the grim statistics, there are signs of change through individual resistance from educators, religious leaders, and families who are beginning to prioritize girls' education over early marriage.

A recent study reveals how misinformation about Rohingya refugees spreads across South Asia, transforming narratives from portraying them as victims to depicting them as threats. Over 20 fact-checked reports identified false narratives circulating on Indian social media that wrongly paint Rohingya refugees as criminals, terrorists, or demographic threats using doctored images, misleading captions, and fabrications. This transnational misinformation is particularly potent in India due to its undocumented Rohingya population, existing anti-Muslim sentiments, partisan media amplification, and highly connected social platforms. The Rohingya, who lack media platforms or political representation, are effectively silenced twice—first by statelessness and then by digital distortion.

In Niger, the Wahaya practice allows men to bypass Islamic law's limit of four wives by obtaining "fifth wives" who serve the household without legal rights or protections. Ibrahim Oumarou Yacouba, a Nigerien activist working with the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (GFoD), advocates for these marginalized women who are often sold into this arrangement as young as 12 years old. The caste systems in Niger enforce strict hierarchies where certain groups, including the Wahaya, face severe discrimination, preventing them from accessing education, healthcare, and equal opportunities. Despite these challenges, Yacouba documents personal stories of resilience and continues to fight against descent-based discrimination through research, cultural mediation, and advocacy work.

Beninese journalist Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, who had refugee status in Togo, was arrested in Côte d'Ivoire and extradited to Benin despite international refugee protections that should have safeguarded him. Sossoukpè, director of "Olofofo" publication and a vocal critic of Beninese President Patrice Talon, was in Abidjan covering the Ivoire Tech Forum at the invitation of Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Digital Transition when authorities arrested him at his hotel on July 10, 2025. The Beninese government has charged him with "online harassment," "rebellion," and "glorification of terrorism," while Côte d'Ivoire justified the extradition by claiming they were unaware of his refugee status and were following judicial cooperation agreements with Benin.

A joint investigation of 100,000 leaked documents revealed that Chinese company Geedge Networks has been exporting internet censorship and surveillance technology similar to China's Great Firewall to several autocratic regimes. Founded in 2018 by Fang Binxing, known as the "father of the Great Firewall," Geedge has provided these systems to governments in Myanmar, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Kazakhstan, while also conducting testing projects within China, particularly in Xinjiang. The technology enables website filtering, real-time surveillance, internet blackouts, VPN blocking, malware deployment, and user tracking capabilities. Research teams discovered that Geedge maintains remote management of these systems, with client countries' user data being shared with Chinese research institutions, raising serious privacy and national sovereignty concerns.

Haiti is experiencing one of the Western Hemisphere's most severe security crises, with gang violence causing mass displacement and deaths, particularly in Port-au-Prince where gangs control 90% of the city. The Organization of American States (OAS) has introduced a plan called "Towards a Haitian-Led Roadmap for Stability and Peace," which outlines five pillars of action: security stabilization, political consensus, electoral legitimacy, humanitarian response, and sustainable development. The Roadmap aims to empower Haitian leadership while acknowledging the need for international support, with UN officials emphasizing that security measures must be paired with pressure on those fueling violence and adequate funding for humanitarian aid.

Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party is intensifying crackdowns on opposition groups, with the government freezing bank accounts of civil society organizations and summoning NGO leaders for investigation. Authorities have detained hundreds of protesters, sentenced numerous individuals to prison terms, and targeted journalists, including a recent assault on Hungarian journalist László Mézes during a Tbilisi rally. The European Commission has warned of potential consequences, including expulsion from the Council of Europe and suspension of visa-free travel, if Georgia fails to implement key reforms, while the U.S. has passed legislation that could lead to sanctions against Georgian officials undermining democratic processes.

Surveillance technology has evolved dramatically from the era of East Germany's Stasi to today's digital landscape, where monitoring is often framed as protection or care. Modern surveillance capabilities dwarf historical precedents, with the NSA able to store nearly a billion times more data than the Stasi once collected. This surveillance expansion affects numerous sectors including education, where "ed-tech" tools monitor students; workplaces, where employee surveillance doubled between 2020-2022; and even automobiles, with 84% of car brands selling personal data to brokers. These monitoring systems disproportionately impact marginalized communities and raise significant privacy concerns despite being marketed as beneficial security measures.

Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), is facing a significant political crisis after a court ruling on September 2 annulled the party's Istanbul Provincial Congress and dismissed its current provincial chair. The situation escalated on September 8 when police escorted a court-appointed trustee into CHP's Istanbul headquarters amid protests and internet restrictions. This comes ahead of a crucial September 15 court hearing that could potentially annul the November 2023 party congress that elected Özgür Özel as party leader, replacing long-time chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Critics view these developments as government interference in opposition politics, with the CHP's leadership calling the rulings invalid and scheduling an extraordinary congress for September 24.

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) remains a widespread human rights violation affecting over 230 million girls and women worldwide, with high prevalence in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This harmful practice, which involves partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, causes severe physical trauma, psychological damage, and lifelong health complications including childbirth difficulties and chronic pain. Despite international laws and advocacy efforts to eliminate FGM by 2030, cultural traditions, social pressure, and inadequate enforcement of bans allow the practice to persist, although some countries like Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Ethiopia have made significant progress in reducing prevalence rates through community-led initiatives and changing attitudes.

Afghan refugees worldwide are facing a new crisis as countries increasingly adopt deportation policies, abandoning prior humanitarian commitments. Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Western nations including the US, Germany, and the UK are all participating in mass deportations that separate families and violate international principles of non-refoulement. These deportations are sending vulnerable people back to an Afghanistan suffering from extreme poverty, gender apartheid, climate crisis, and food insecurity affecting over 15 million people. The deteriorating situation represents both a humanitarian crisis and a failure of international protection systems as nationalistic policies gain momentum globally.

Brazil's Supreme Court has convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro and seven others for plotting a coup d'état following his 2022 election loss, with sentences ranging from 2-27 years in prison. This historic ruling marks the first time Brazil has not granted amnesty for a coup attempt, with Justice Alexandre de Moraes arguing that Bolsonaro had been plotting since 2021, escalating attacks on the electoral system that culminated in the January 8, 2023 storming of government buildings. The conviction comes under the Law of Crimes Against Democracy, which Bolsonaro himself signed in 2021, and has created diplomatic tensions with the United States under President Trump, whose allies have threatened responses to what they call a "witch hunt."

Following his college graduation, 23-year-old photographer Daniel Bainbridge documented the conditions of approximately 18,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's Kutupalong camp. Bainbridge's mission was to humanize the refugees rather than defining them solely by their suffering, aiming to draw attention to this urgent humanitarian crisis through photography and first-person accounts. He observed severe overcrowding, inadequate food supplies, limited education opportunities, and environmental hazards such as flooding in the camp, where refugees rely almost entirely on aid rations. Despite these hardships, Bainbridge was moved by the hospitality he experienced from families who welcomed him into their homes, reinforcing his goal to highlight both the urgent needs and the humanity of the Rohingya people.

The article presents a collective perspective on the Palestinian struggle, emphasizing connections between Palestine and other statelessness struggles worldwide. Contributors from various backgrounds share personal experiences of solidarity with Palestinians, drawing parallels to their own experiences of statelessness, displacement, and colonial oppression. They highlight how Palestine represents one of the world's longest and largest cases of statelessness, arguing that this issue reveals the limitations of international legal frameworks and the complicity of global powers. The writers collectively frame Palestinian resistance as inspiration for global solidarity movements against colonial violence, while expressing concerns about the inadequate international response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Hong Kong's Legislative Council has rejected the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill with only 14 lawmakers supporting it while 71 voted against it and one abstained. This marks the first time the opposition-free legislature has voted down a government bill, which aimed to provide limited rights to same-sex couples with marriages or civil unions registered overseas. The bill was introduced in response to a 2023 Court of Final Appeal ruling requiring the government to establish a framework for recognizing same-sex relationships by October 27, 2025. Despite support from some independent lawmakers and the New People's Party, most legislators opposed the bill, arguing it would undermine Hong Kong's traditional heterosexual marriage system.

The article investigates how American investors, particularly the Blattner family, have controlled large tracts of land in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Isangi territory since 2004, first through logging concessions and later through carbon offsetting projects. Around 30 villages, including Yafunga with 8,000 residents, signed away their land rights in exchange for promised development benefits such as schools, healthcare facilities, and roads, but most of these promises remained unfulfilled. Despite generating millions from carbon credit sales through their Isangi REDD+ project, the Blattners provided minimal compensation to displaced communities, and in January 2024, DRC's Ministry for Environment terminated several of their conservation concessions due to procedural violations. The investigation reveals the Blattners' extensive business empire in DRC spanning multiple sectors, with at least 40 connected companies managing assets including mining, banking, logging, and carbon offsetting projects.

Azura Nasron's film "Hai Anis" confronts the hidden issue of cyber grooming in Malaysia by exposing how predators manipulate vulnerable youth online. In an interview with Izzah Dejavu for EngageMedia, Nasron reveals her personal experiences with cyber grooming and discusses the challenges of creating authentic content that resonates with younger generations while addressing sensitive topics. Nasron emphasizes that predatory behavior often disguises itself as genuine care and attention, making it difficult for victims to recognize danger. She advocates for comprehensive systemic changes, including better education, stronger enforcement of existing laws, and shifting cultural attitudes that currently silence victims and protect perpetrators.

Frei Betto, an 81-year-old Dominican friar, writer, and political activist, has maintained his advocacy throughout a life that included imprisonment during Brazil's military dictatorship. He played a crucial role in President Lula's Zero Hunger program, which successfully addressed food insecurity in Brazil before the country regressed under Michel Temer's government. Betto has been outspoken about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, characterizing Israel's actions as genocide and comparing the significance of Gaza to that of Auschwitz in marking a historical turning point. In this interview, he discusses hunger as a human rights violation, criticizes international spending priorities favoring weapons over humanitarian aid, and advocates for Palestinian statehood.

In September 2025, youth-led demonstrations against corruption in Nepal resulted in over 19 deaths and 350 injuries after security forces cracked down on peaceful protesters. The protests were triggered by government corruption, nepotism, and a recent ban on 26 major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, which the government implemented after these companies failed to comply with the 2023 Social Media Directive requiring registration and local offices. While international media often portrayed the demonstrations as primarily about social media restrictions, protesters emphasized their movement (known as the "Nepo Kid" movement) was fundamentally about combating corruption, nepotism, and demanding accountability from political leadership. Following the widespread protests, the Nepali government ultimately reversed its ban on social media platforms.

Dr. Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, an anesthesiologist who was acquitted of false sexual assault allegations in Canada, claims that Canadian authorities and media have refused to clear his name despite his exoneration. The doctor, who established the Salem Anesthesia Pain Clinic in British Columbia to serve Medicare patients without out-of-pocket costs, alleges he was falsely accused by multiple patients after he confronted or refused their inappropriate requests. Despite court rulings that found significant inconsistencies in the accusers' testimonies and ultimately acquitted him of all charges, Dr. Bamgbade maintains that he suffered severe professional and personal damage due to systemic racial bias in Canada, which he compares to discrimination in the United States.

The article presents a personal reflection on Palestinian identity and the complex relationship with "statelessness," arguing that international legal labels fail to capture the political reality of Palestinian displacement. Dr. Shahd Qannam explains how Palestinians exist across various legal categories - refugees, residents, citizens with limited rights - which are not accidental but deliberate products of settler colonialism. She rejects the reduction of Palestinian identity to legal statuses, asserting that these classifications are mechanisms of control rather than neutral descriptors. The author concludes by emphasizing that regardless of documentation or legal status, Palestinian identity transcends these imposed categories and represents a collective resistance against fragmentation and displacement.

China's DeepSeek R1, launched in January 2025, has disrupted the AI landscape by providing an affordable, open-source AI model that challenges Western dominance in the field. The Chinese government is strategically promoting this technology to developing nations through initiatives like the Digital Silk Road and the proposed Global AI Cooperation Organization, positioning China as a key tech partner for the Global South. However, research indicates DeepSeek aligns its outputs with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) viewpoints and could serve as a vehicle for exporting political narratives and propaganda. Security experts warn that Chinese AI systems are already being used for sophisticated opinion manipulation and surveillance, raising significant human rights and security concerns as China seeks to establish itself as a leader in global AI governance.

Global Voices Insights is hosting an online discussion event in both Arabic and English focused on Palestine, statelessness, and solidarity efforts regarding the Gaza situation. The event, scheduled for September 10, 2025, will feature speakers including Palestinian activist Lubnah Shomali, French-Palestinian lawyer Salah Hammouri, and a third unnamed speaker whose identity is withheld for security reasons. Moderated by interdisciplinary scholar Areej al-Khalifa, this one-hour session is organized in partnership with the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion as part of the Standing with Palestine initiative. The announcement emphasizes the importance of Palestinian human rights and invites participants to register for this conversation about statelessness, solidarity, and resistance.

In Mali, where most young women are married before age 18, local communities are taking action to protect girls and support their education. Child marriage rates are particularly high in rural areas due to factors like family traditions, economic challenges, limited education access, and ongoing insecurity from armed conflicts. Community protection committees, such as the one in Diondori village, are working to prevent child marriages through awareness campaigns, mediation with families, and providing educational support. While Mali has ratified children's rights protections, its Family Code still allows exceptions for marriages under 18, prompting organizations like Wildaf Mali, AJM, and UNICEF to advocate for legal reform establishing 18 as the strict minimum age for marriage.

The article critically examines how surveillance technologies, often marketed as "smart" solutions, are being deployed by governments and law enforcement agencies worldwide with mixed impacts. While facial recognition has helped identify child abusers and locate missing Indigenous people in some cases, the same technology has shown significant racial and gender biases, disproportionately misclassifying darker-skinned females and perpetuating existing social inequalities. The piece details how algorithmic systems have been weaponized against vulnerable populations, from asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border to Palestinians in the West Bank, highlighting how technologies reflect and amplify the biases of their human creators and operators. These surveillance tools, regardless of their marketing terminology, ultimately serve to extend existing power structures and can reinforce discrimination when deployed in societies with documented concerns of bias and control.