Since the 1950s, Europe's human rights protection system has gradually strengthened guarantees of freedom of assembly and political protest. In practice, however, exercising this right increasingly comes with financial, legal, and social costs for those who take part in demonstrations.
A new piece examines how leaders in the US and other countries are using the rhetoric of "protest equals terrorism" to suppress civil actions. The authors analyze examples of legislative and political initiatives aimed against protest movements.
In the countries of the Central Sahel, military juntas claim to be restoring popular sovereignty while simultaneously dissolving political parties. More than a thousand civil society organizations have had their activities suspended.
Experts note that Beijing is transplanting its 'west-east' model into Xinjiang: the region supplies energy and labor for artificial intelligence computing power. Meanwhile, issues of forced labor and surveillance of the Uyghur population continue to go unaddressed by authorities.
As part of Global Voices' September 'Protest in Democracy' feature, community members share examples of protest music from various countries — both past and present. The piece is a collaborative article bringing together voices and stories from around the world.
Cambodia's law on peaceful assembly formally permits demonstrations only in specially designated "freedom parks." In practice, authorities are increasingly restricting and banning even such approved rallies, which critics call a tool for suppressing the right to protest.
An analysis of more than 1,180 Facebook posts and 100 TikTok videos showed that the real protest by Romanian farmers was significantly exaggerated through coordinated accounts. The protest topic was subsequently used to promote anti-government, anti-European, and pro-Russian narratives.
Following another severe forest fire season, Indonesian authorities have established a new agency to protect peatlands, though experts doubt its approach will differ from the unsuccessful efforts of a decade ago.
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A new study has shown that rising sea levels could affect hundreds of thousands of properties and millions of hectares of coastal land in Australia by 2100, resulting in enormous economic losses.
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On September 24, Giraldo Alayón García, known as the Cuban "Spider-Man," passed away after devoting decades to studying and classifying Cuba's spiders and scorpions. Thanks to his research, the island's little-studied fauna received detailed scientific description.
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Documents obtained by Mongabay through a freedom of information request show that Vantara, a billionaire-owned private zoo housing more than 150,000 animals, has been in talks with Brazilian authorities since August on a "strategic partnership" for species conservation. The talks were initiated by Vantara itself.
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Scientists from the Netherlands and the UK discussed in a podcast how justified it is to classify attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as a mental disorder.
read at Undark ↗
Scientists have found that the wolves relocated to Isle Royale in 2018–2019 to save the population have generally managed to establish themselves, although they face challenges due to inbreeding and isolation. A new study shows that the pack's numbers have grown compared to the original two individuals remaining on the island in 2016.
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Four communities of the Wounaan and Emberá-Wounaan peoples in Panama's Darién forest have launched a biodiversity monitoring project to counter illegal logging and the expansion of farmland, recording more than 200 species across an area of over 18,000 hectares.
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Trucks are hauling mineral raw materials out of Myanmar en masse through a border crossing in northern Thailand, which then make their way to China with Thai companies acting as intermediaries; the extraction of these resources is linked to serious environmental pollution.
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Former hostage Emily Damari, who was held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023, shared previously unseen photos from her captivity and stated that she considers the very fact of her survival to be a real miracle.
read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
A specialist who previously worked in journalism spoke about her shift to combating online violence in Armenia. According to her, digital violence is often disguised as care, attention, or love, which makes it difficult for victims to recognize.
A world-famous musician from Trinidad and Tobago, known as the 'Calypso King of the World,' has passed away. He was 91.
American country singer Zach Bryan appeared in public wearing a T-shirt with a slogan supporting Palestine, sparking discussion about the possible consequences of political pressure on musicians who speak out on the Middle East conflict.
read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Since early August and throughout September, dozens of informal traders in Haiti have been holding protests demanding that authorities protect them from gang groups. The vendors say they can no longer work amid constant violence and threats from armed gangs.
At the 8th Annual Capital Markets Seminar, jointly organized by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the European Stability Mechanism, Commissioner Piotr Serafin delivered a keynote speech. He stressed the importance of deepening the integration of European capital markets to finance investment and strengthen the EU's economic resilience.
The European Commission and Ukraine have issued a joint statement outlining the sources of funding for Ukraine's budgetary and defense needs in 2026. The parties also confirmed further steps to support the country amid the ongoing conflict.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Podgorica, where she delivered a joint statement with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić. The visit coincides with the opening of a new National Coordination Center.
The European Commission has transferred €2.9 billion to Ukraine to maintain financial stability and ensure the functioning of public administration amid the war with Russia. For the first time under this tranche, €800 million was provided through the Ukraine Support Loan component.