Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Kazakhstan’s authorities on Thursday to guarantee a fair appeal for an investigative journalist sentenced to prison for spreading false information. The rights group also called on the country to revise its laws concerning speech offenses to align them with international standards for freedom of expression. HRW considered the reporter’s imprisonment [...]

The Leninsky District Court of Kursk in Russia issued an arrest order for France 24 journalist Catherine Norris Trent and several other unidentified individuals on Tuesday. In a statement issued on Telegram, the court alleged that the group crossed into the Sudzhansky District of Kursk illegally while filming a report with Ukrainian armed forces. According [...]

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) published a report on Tuesday highlighting the worsening condition of press freedom in Afghanistan, with journalists encountering increasing limitations, arbitrary detentions, and a widespread atmosphere of fear and self-censorship, since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Under Taliban control, Afghan journalists face numerous dangers, such as [...]

Google and Meta Platforms appealed to the Australian Government on Tuesday through written submissions to delay a bill imposing a social media ban for children under 16 years old. In their submissions, both Google and Meta contended the bill should be delayed until the Government’s Age Assurance Trial results are obtained. The Age Assurance Technology [...]

The Scottish Parliament passed the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday to reduce short-term prisoners’ time served from 50 percent to 40 percent of their sentence. The legislation, introduced on November 18, aims to alleviate pressure on the prison system, with changes expected to take effect in February 2025. The bill applies to prisoners [...]

The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) filed an application on Wednesday for an arrest warrant against Myanmar’s military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, over alleged crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya minority. ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC announced the move, citing “reasonable grounds to believe” that Min Aung Hlaing [...]

Istanbul police detained dozens of protesters on Monday during demonstrations calling for stronger protections against violence targeting women in Türkiye. The protest, held on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, saw police blocking access to İstiklal Avenue by closing surrounding streets to prevent the gathering. The We Will Stop Femicides Platform, [...]

Six environmental activists have been released from police custody in Cambodia on Monday after they were detained over the weekend for trespassing in the Vern Sai Siem Reap National Park. This comes following the detention of Ouch Leng, Prum Mao, Mon Mab, Ot Latin, Tat Udom, and Heng Sros near Talat commune, Sesan district, Stung [...]

Police forces clashed violently with supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan in Pakistan on Monday as nationwide protests erupted against Khan’s detention, local media reported. The confrontations led to injuries among both demonstrators and police officers as well as the death of four Pakistani paramilitary officers. Protests began on Sunday when demonstrators across Pakistan [...]

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a South African opposition party, brought a case to the Constitutional Court on Tuesday seeking to revive impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The proceedings relate to allegations stemming from the “Farmgate” scandal, which involves claims that Ramaphosa concealed a burglary at his private game farm in 2020 and failed [...]