On the night of March 2 one year ago armed men burst into the home of the indigenous environmental activist Berta Cáceres Flores in La Esperanza, Honduras, and gunned her down. On […]
Anniversary of Cáceres’ assassination is marked by global tributes and calls for justice
Aboriginal land owners say government is pandering to Indian mining conglomerate
Members of a traditional owners council in Australia have accused the national government of pandering to the interests of the Indian mining conglomerate Adani, and the mining industry in general, in its […]
Honduras: ‘the deadliest country in the world for environmental activists’
The non-governmental organisation Global Witness has just released a scathing report about the murder of environmental activists in Honduras. The NGO names the president of Honduras’ ruling party, Gladis Aurora López, as […]
Mesmerising poets, harrowing stories, and heated debate – Jaipur festival sends sparks flying
This year’s Jaipur Literature Festival set the Diggi Palace ablaze with a multitude of debates and readings, along with performances from musicians and poets from across the world. The five-day event, which […]
Kolkata’s literary festival: conversing to make the world more inclusive
The eighth edition of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF) will cast the spotlight on the need for inclusion in a traumatised world. The festival’s co-director, Maina Bhagat, said: “The year that […]
Diversity and free speech: Jaipur festival serves up a literary feast
The largest free literary festival in the world, held in the Indian city of Jaipur in Rajasthan, will this year be attended by more than 250 speakers ranging from writers, academics, journalists, […]
Environmentalists sound alarm over proposed rezoning of Leuser wildlife corridor
Environmental groups in Indonesia have called on the country’s forestry and environment ministry to reject plans to construct a geothermal plant in one of the world’s most precious areas of rainforest. A […]
Malaysia’s Federal Court rules against Dayaks on Native Customary Rights
In a pivotal judgement, Malaysia’s Federal Court has ruled that the Native Customary Rights (NCR) of the indigenous Dayak people apply only to a limited area of farmland and not to the […]
News in Brief: Anwar judgement and Kayong murder
Malaysian judges refuse to review Anwar case Malaysia’s federal court has rejected an application by the jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to have his case reviewed. The panel of five judges ruled […]
Standing Rock: ‘water protectors’ celebrate as Army Corps denies Dakota pipeline access
The United States Army Corps of Engineers has announced that it will not approve an easement that would allow the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe. Instead, the corps […]
Released Malaysian civil rights activist receives a rapturous welcome
The freed Malaysian civil rights activist Maria Chin Abdullah received a rapturous welcome when she arrived at Kuala Lumpur’s Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) last night. Even pouring rain could not dampen the […]
Stop press: Malaysian civil rights activist Maria Chin Abdullah has been released
Malaysian civil rights activist Maria Chin Abdullah has been released. Maria Chin, who is the chairwoman of the Bersih 2.0 Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, was arrested on November 18, the […]
Malaysians hold nightly vigils in solidarity with detained civil rights activist
Hundreds of Malaysians are taking part in vigils for the civil rights activist Maria Chin, who is still being held under terrorism legislation and is spending her ninth night in detention. The […]
Malaysian human rights activist still held under terrorism law
The Malaysian activist Maria Chin Abdullah, who is being held under legislation intended to be used against terrorists, is spending her seventh night in detention. The civil rights leader is being held […]
Appeals grow for the release of Malaysian activist, detained in solitary confinement
The leading Malaysian activist Maria Chin Abdullah is being held in solitary confinement in a windowless cell in an undisclosed detention centre. She has only a wooden board to sleep on, and […]
Thousands of Malaysians take to the streets for Bersih 5 protest
Tens of thousands of Malaysians braved threats of arrest and menaces from the pro-government Red Shirts and came out onto the streets of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday (Saturday) to demand fair […]
Writers & readers festival in Bali fosters collaboration and catalyses change
The 2016 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF), held on the Indonesian island of Bali, brought together an extraordinary mix of authors, journalists, poets, activists, and musicians from 25 different countries, gathered […]
Writers festival in Bali aims to break down barriers and dissolve division
“I am you, you are me” (Tat Tvam Asi in Sanskrit) is the theme of this year’s Writers & Readers Festival in Ubud on the Indonesian island of Bali. “Tat Tvam Asi […]
Malaysia is intensifying its crackdown, says Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released another damning report about Malaysia in which it says that the authorities’ abusive use of criminal laws to arrest, question, and prosecute people for peaceful expression […]
Australian landholders pit their strength against the might of the gas companies
Helen Bender is a woman of inordinate courage. Not only is she grieving for her father, who was so driven to distraction by coal seam gas company harassment that he committed suicide, […]
