Freedom of speech

Blue British National Overseas passports (BNO) and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China passports are displayed

Tens of thousands of Hong Kongers have applied for special new UK visas

August 11, 2021Migration

Under Britain’s BNO visa program, people fleeing from oppression in Hong Kong are trying to make the most of their new lives in the UK. And though they are looking forward to more freedom of expression, some of them are finding it difficult for their families to settle in and adjust.

Members of the Zone 9 blogging collective in December, 2012

Ethiopia’s Zone 9 bloggers acquitted of terror charges

October 16, 2015Justice

In Bangladesh, an app that lets women speak without fear

April 5, 2015Development

After Charlie Hebdo, what next? Readers weigh in on the long-term effects of the attack

January 7, 2015Global Politics

Suited up for the news, a cartoon by Slovakian cartoonist Marian Kemensky.

An international cartoonists’ conference shows off the artists’ wit and predictive power

October 9, 2014Arts

An American high school student says ‘Democracy is for cool kids’ — and got in trouble

June 6, 2014Arts, Culture & Media

An American high school senior ran into some trouble with Chinese school authorities. Henry DeGroot, an 18-year-old from Newton, Massachusetts, just spent his spring semester on a study abroad program in China. While he was there he wrote something in the notebooks of some Chinese students that got him in hot water. An American high school senior ran into some trouble with Chinese school authorities. Henry DeGroot, an 18-year-old from Newton, Massachusetts, just spent his spring semester on a study abroad program in China. While he was there he wrote something in the notebooks of some Chinese students that got him in hot water.

A local resident watches a TV broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin's news conference, in Kiev.

Members of Ukraine’s Parliament beat a TV station chief for airing Putin

March 20, 2014Global Politics

Russian media has been saying that fascists run Ukraine’s new government. Now some members of the far-right, nationalist Svoboda Party — which is part of the governing coalition — have helped that image, by beating the head of Ukraine’s state TV and posting a video of it.Russian media has been saying that fascists run Ukraine’s new government. Now some members of the far-right, nationalist Svoboda Party — which is part of the governing coalition — have helped that image, by beating the head of Ukraine’s state TV and posting a video of it.

Korea’s K-pop stars have to dance around… the censors

March 3, 2014Arts, Culture & Media

K-pop is a South Korean success story of music exports and glamour. But even the best-known artists like Psy, behind the hit Gangnam Style, can face unpredictable censorship by an array of TV networks and government agencies.

Ukraine’s new law cracks down on free speech, protests and the Internet

January 17, 2014Global Politics

The Ukrainian parliament has passed a law that restricts free speech, peaceful protest and free communications in the country, leaving citizens and journalists outraged.

When women drive, Saudi Arabia arrests a man

November 1, 2013Conflict & Justice

Six days ago a Saudi writer was arrested for lending his support to the right of women in his country to drive cars. Now, netizens call for his release.