Stories from December, 2023
Key geopolitical shifts in 2023 influencing Africa's position
As 2023 draws to a close, African nations stand at a compelling inflection point influenced by global realignments, emerging south-based alliances and growing demands for historical redress.
After a year in power, Malaysia’s Madani government falters on reform agenda
"The current government still attempts to restrict alternate views and the independence of media through the use of law and arbitrary practices."
Undertones: 2023, a year of narratives
We unpack the narratives surrounding our times’ most pressing topics
Will organized crime survive the government onslaught in Central Asia?
Organized crime groups in the region are retreating, but the question remains whether the government onslaught will succeed in eliminating their influence.
Mozambique: Digital landscape and internet disruption in the context of elections
This is a new situation and could be indicative of a violation of the right to information enshrined in Mozambican law.
How one artist is attempting to change Hong Kong’s work culture
Luke Ching’s art attempts to inspire low-income workers to carry on the labour rights movement in their everyday lives.
Do you condemn?
The question "Do you condemn?" serves to delegitimize the Palestinian struggle for rights and justice, deflecting attention from the root causes of the conflict by encouraging blanket condemnations.
In Azerbaijan, an entire village was vacated for the President's son-in-law
Ten families were forced to relocate from their ancestral lands so that Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev's son-in-law could build an agrocomplex. Much of the project was funded by state financing.
The invisible labor cost of famous clothing brands in Thailand
"Making demands was like banging your head against the wall. It was pointless, because we got nothing."
Azerbaijan to host next UN Climate Summit
Azerbaijan’s relationship with environmental protesters has been complicated in the past year.
Turkey bans access to 16 VPN providers
Pundits say, the goal of the recent ban is to prevent access to already blocked news websites in the country that were only accessible with VPN services.
Retelling the history of Nepal's Gurkha fighters
Nepali Artist Suzana Thapa Shris’s recent exhibition focuses on retelling the stories of the famous Gurkha soldiers from the perspective of their wives.
In Hong Kong, bedbug infestations are a neglected nightmare for the poor
Bedbugs have caused a lot of suffering for low-income families in Hong Kong, but the long-standing issue has failed to capture people’s attention as much as foreign outbreaks.
In Turkey yet another television show finds itself in hot water
In a country deeply divided between secular citizens and pious Muslims, the show hit a nerve. The question remains whether, this time, a show can make a difference in society.
Kazakhstan’s ‘foreign agent’ list threatens NGOs
After the list was published in September, at least one NGO was singled out for extra financial scrutiny.
Head of Azerbaijan's Presidential Security Service implicated in corruption scandal
Baku's InterContinental hotel has a suspicious history. When the land around the hotel was put up for auction, the details of the land's address and size were purposefully blacked out.
‘Matilda': Australian word of the year following magnificent 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Some fans made the ultimate sacrifice to attend the quarter final game against France: 'I gave up Taylor Swift tickets for the Matildas'
Digging into the reality of internet shutdowns in Latin America: An insidious threat
The use of internet shutdowns by authoritarian regimes in Latin America has led to organisations and experts increasingly noting various nuances and contexts in methods to interfere with internet access.
Russian musicians sing about war resistance — few people take them seriously
Through the musical project “We Exist” that premieres on December 12, anti-war artists oppose the narrative of Russian war resistance as a marginal point of view.
Bethlehem church creates rubble nativity scene this Christmas
A church in Bethlehem has decided to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ differently this year, symbolizing the suffering of children in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing indiscriminate war.
Year in review: In 2023, the climate crisis was top of mind for the Caribbean
Of the many stories Global Voices Caribbean covered this year, the lion's share have been linked to global warming, and the importance of climate justice to the region's survival.
