Stories about South Asia
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: A springboard for the Indian National Congress's path back to power?
The India Unity and Justice March, led by the opposition Indian National Congress, is currently traversing various Indian states aiming to engage the common people ahead of the general elections.
The perils of extracting limestone in Nepal's Indigenous Chepang communities
The escalating mining for energy transition minerals poses a direct threat to Indigenous rights and territories in Nepal, especially for the indigenous communities like Chepang, whose plights remain often unheard.
Exploring migration, belonging and the meaning of home in Sri Lanka
At an arts exhibition in the Sri Lankan capital, multidisciplinary artist Firi Rahman portrays the agony of Slave Island residents who face the threats of gradual gentrification.
Do national parks and wildlife conservation regulations in Nepal benefit Indigenous people?
Nepal has seen many successes when it comes to wildlife conservation. However, Nepal's Indigenous communities have endured a series of human rights abuses due to oppressive conservation policies.
Establishing Nepal in the international literature scene: An interview with translator Jayant Sharma
Global Voices interviewed Nepali writer, editor, and literary translator Jayant Sharma, who is a staunch advocate for the global recognition of Nepali literature.
Three Maldivian deputy ministers disciplined over social media comments about India's PM
The relationship between India and the Maldives further deteriorated after some Ministers criticized Indian PM Narendra Modi online. Amidst call to #BoycottMaldives, three Maldivian Deputy Ministers were suspended.
Bangladesh is heading for a one-sided general election
The ruling Awami League (AL) is expected to win this election for the fourth consecutive term as major opposition parties refuse to participate, claiming there is lack of electoral oversight.
In the shadows of self-censorship: The impact of the Cyber Security Act on Bangladesh’s LGBTQ+ movement
Several sections of the newly enacted Cyber Security Act (CSA) restrict the advocacy and movement for LGBTQ+ rights, criminalising published contents highlighting injustices faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Bangladesh.
Want to learn more about Nepal? Visit Ask me about Nepal
Global Voices interviewed Nepali writer and Photograher Nikki Thapa about her initiative "Ask me about Nepal" which is a unique portal, aiming to answer all the queries about Nepal.
Looking forward to 2024: A year of crucial elections in South Asia
In 2023, pre-election implications were evident in certain South Asian nations as repressive laws stifled free expression and targeted critics. Opposition leaders faced arrests and judicial harassment, reflecting a concerning trend.
Warm my hands: The story of a Nepali newlywed
"Now in Kathmandu, Kalpana finds that things run contrary to the narrative she had heard on repeat back home."
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.
Khurram Parvez, wrongfully incarcerated, completes two years in prison in India
In Kashmir, the "policies of the Indian government have proceeded at an extraordinary speed, choking and diminishing any remnants of free space and expression."
Four change leaders combating gender-based violence in Africa and India
Intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence(NPSV) are two of the most common forms of violence experienced by women.
Graves of Nepali migrant soldiers in Russia shocked their family members
Russia is recruiting job seeking Nepali migrants under a Special Military Operations agreement to fight for the country at the Russo-Ukrainian War and a number of Nepalis had been killed.
Undertones: From India to Bharat, a decolonial rebrand or an erasure?
India is a wider term encompassing the country’s secular and multicultural nature, while Bharat comes from a Sanskrit term with ethnoreligious undertones.
As Nepali villages modernize, mokha art is on the verge of disappearing
Nepal’s village landscapes were once dominated by bamboo and mud-walled houses and Tharu homes were decorated with beautiful mokha art. However, modernisation is killing this artform.
Maldives’ new president formally requests India withdraw troops from its borders
On the first day of his office, pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu formally requested the Indian Government to withdraw its troops stationed in the Maldives, making headlines in both countries.
Nepal's TikTok ban is the first step towards more government control on social media
On November 13, 2023, the Nepali government imposed a blanket ban on Chinese social media platform TikTok, alleging that the platform was fostering social discord among Nepalis.
Widespread labour standards violations among Japanese businesses with so-called technical interns
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan found record-high labour standard breaches in worksites where “technical interns” work in 2022. Can future legislative reform effectively address this issue?
Jazzing up the ‘Mandu’ for 20 years
“Initially, we were met with some reluctance and confusion regarding jazz, but now there is no need to explain, Jazzmandu has put both jazz and Kathmandu on the map.”
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