Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · 9h

The interview with Lu Pin is a welcome reminder of a more open and questioning China.

Showing my age, I remember the NGO forum at the Women’s Conference. In 1994 we also ran an amazing summer school in Beijing for young Chinese women. I wonder what those women are doing now.

China Media Project @chinamediaproject.bsky.social · 9h

2/3 Read our interview with Lü Pin, who attended that 1995 conference as a young reporter and went on to found Feminist Voices—China's leading feminist platform until authorities shut it down in 2018. chinamediaproject.org/2024/05/09/a...

A Feminist Odyssey - China Media Project

One of the pioneers of China’s feminist movement opens up about her experience as a journalist for state media and how the movement has adapted in the years since her outlet Feminist Voices was shut d...

chinamediaproject.org

Reposted by Nicola Macbean

CHRD人权捍卫者 @chrdnet.bsky.social · 9h

🚨 October 17 marks the tenth anniversary of Swedish publisher #GuiMinhai ’s initial #EnforcedDisappearance by #China authorities in Thailand. His current whereabouts and wellbeing remain unknown.
👉 www.nchrd.org/2025/10/chin...

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 3d

1/ Today, 10 October, marks World Day Against the Death Penalty. This year, World Day is dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty can make people and communities safer. #NoDeathPenalty

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Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · 3d

On World Day Against the Death Penalty I was pleased to introduce a webinar organised by prisonersrights.org/english/ on the death penalty in Asia and contribution of www.klguidelines.com

@rightspractice.bsky.social was pleased to have helped facilitate drafting of the KL Guidelines.

About us | NPO法人監獄人権センター

About us NPO法人監獄人権センターは、刑事拘禁施設の人権状況を国際水準に合致するよう改善していくこと、死刑制度を廃止すること等を目的として活動しています。

prisonersrights.org

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

The Rights Practice @rightspractice.bsky.social · 10d

1/ On 3 October 2025, UN experts expressed alarm that lawyer Kevin Yam (Yam Kin Fung) was disbarred and financially penalised on 16 July 2025 in direct connection with public statements he made about the independence of judges and prosecutors in Hong Kong www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

UN experts condemn reprisals against Hong Kong lawyer Kevin Yam

GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed alarm that lawyer Kevin Yam (Yam Kin Fung) was disbarred and financially penalised on 16 July 2025 in direct connection with public statements he made about the in...

www.ohchr.org

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 4d

Here's a genuine risk to free speech in UK universities – from overseas states – that the government is doing little to prevent. @indexoncensorship.org have highlited the case of Roshaan Khattak, a Pakistani human rights defender and film maker:

www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/10/inde...

Index joins call for robust protections against transnational repression in the higher education sector - Index on Censorship

Film maker and postgrad researcher Roshaan Khattak was targeted after researching enforced disappearances in Balochistan

www.indexoncensorship.org

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PEN International @peninternational.bsky.social · 10d

#Malaysia #Thailand: We join PEN Malaysia in expressing concern over the arrest of writer & journalist #MurrayHunter by the Thai police, reportedly at the behest of the Malaysian authorities. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia must reflect on the signal this sends. abcnews.go.com/Internationa...

Australian says he was improperly arrested in Thailand over his criticism of Malaysia

An Australian man arrested in Thailand on a defamation charge he says originated with Malaysia's government claims he is a victim of transnational repression, in which Southeast Asia countries coopera...

abcnews.go.com

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Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · 13d

A lovely reflection on Jerry’s life and engagement with the law and China. It was a privilege to know him. China’s most optimistic critic
economist.com/china/2025/0...
from The Economist

China’s most optimistic critic

Jerome Cohen kept a liberal vision of China alive

economist.com

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Andreas Landwehr @andreaslandwehr.bsky.social · 14d

A Chinese court sentenced 16 people linked to a notorious Myanmar-based telecoms fraud group to death on Monday for crimes including fraud, drug trafficking and prostitution
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...

Chinese court sentences 16 people linked to Myanmar crime family to death

Amid Beijing’s crackdown on cross-border syndicates, notorious gang found to have engaged in fraud, drug trafficking and prostitution.

www.scmp.com

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 28d

Author copies for

Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics

by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social arrived today!

If you re-post this by Sept 30 we'll put you in a drawing & send the winner a free signed copy anywhere they happen to be on the planet.

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Reuters @reuters.com · 15d

China's former minister of agriculture sentenced to death with reprieve in bribery case reut.rs/46IPyEE

China's former minister of agriculture sentenced to death with reprieve in bribery case

Tang Renjian, China's former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, was sentenced to death with reprieve for bribery at a court in Jilin province on Sunday, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

reut.rs

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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 19d

Pretty big news in global trading circles

China will no longer ask for or avail itself of benefits and flexibilities for developing countries as a part of World Trade Organization negotiations, Beijing announced on Tuesday.

China says it will no longer seek developing country benefits at the WTO | InsideTrade.com

China will no longer ask for or avail itself of benefits and flexibilities for developing countries as a part of World Trade Organization negotiations, Beijing announced on Tuesday.

insidetrade.com

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Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · 20d

For anyone following Chinese law this is sad news. Jerry was a pioneer in the field and a lovely man who cared deeply for those who suffered from China’s appalling human rights violations. He will be sorely missed.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...

Jerome Cohen, the First American to Practice Law in China, Dies at 95

An expert on China—and a sometime critic—Cohen defended companies and dissidents.

www.wsj.com

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Yalkun Uluyol @yalkun.bsky.social · 20d

Beijing is threatening to imprison student-activist Zhang Yadi for years for speaking out against racial injustice and peacefully exercising her rights. She should be starting graduate school in London, not jail. Governments should press for her freedom.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

China: Free Student Advocate for Tibetan Rights

Chinese authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Zhang Yadi, an advocate for Tibetan rights who had been an international student in France.

www.hrw.org

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Thread Reader by Skywriter @unroll.skywriter.blue · 20d

The thread as a shareable webpage: https://skywriter.blue/pages/did:plc:aday7msfnpqba7psqpjq3pij/post/3lzi4nmosv22u.

Page by Michael Pettis | @michaelpettis.bsky.social - skywriter.blue

1/6 Reuters: "China’s central bank head pledged on Monday to use a range of monetary policy tools to ensure ample liquidity, try to drive down funding costs and support economic recovery." www.reuters.com...

skywriter.blue

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Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · 20d

China detains Chinese student for her efforts to encourage understanding of Tibet rights concerns. She was visiting China prior to taking up new studies at SOAS. Sad reflection of the long reach of PRC repression.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

China: Free Student Advocate for Tibetan Rights

Chinese authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Zhang Yadi, an advocate for Tibetan rights who had been an international student in France.

www.hrw.org

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Nicola Macbean @nicolamacbean.bsky.social · 22d

This was a fascinating listen.

The Little Red Podcast @littleredpodcast.bsky.social · 22d

In our most recent episode, we examine the history and development of incel culture on China’s internet. Guests Ling Tang, @qianhuang.bsky.social and Yihuan Zhang provide insights into where online misogyny takes place and give us an introduction to terminology from China’s manosphere.

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Turquoise Roof @handle.invalid · 23d

Our latest case of #transnationalrepression: a young Chinese woman studying in France has disappeared some seven weeks ago while on a trip to visit her family in Hunan province.

She is an editor for the digital platform “Chinese Youth Stand for Tibet” (CYST)
www.tibetanreview.net/chinese-intl...

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

RSF @handle.invalid · 23d

#China: Journalist Zhang Zhan was sentenced to 4 years according to RSF sources. She was 1st jailed for reporting on COVID-19, then re-arrested for covering rights abuses. Diplomats were barred from her trial, as the regime hid all details. RSF again calls: #FreeZhangZhan! Her persecution must end.

COVID-19 journalist Zhang Zhan will be tried this week in China, RSF calls on international community to act

Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan spent four years in prison for breaking some of the earliest COVID-19 stories from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus took hold. Now, she is about to be tried in the...

rsf.org

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Hong Kong Free Press HKFP @hongkongfp.com · 24d

Chinese officials on Friday turned diplomats and journalists away from a Shanghai court where rights groups said the trial of a prominent citizen journalist was taking place. In full: buff.ly/l1F59uI

Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan reportedly on trial again

Chinese officials on Friday turned diplomats and journalists away from a Shanghai court where rights groups said the trial of a prominent citizen journalist was taking place.

buff.ly

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

CHRD人权捍卫者 @chrdnet.bsky.social · 25d

Chinese journalist #ZhangZhan to face trial on Friday, Sept. 19, in Shanghai after over 1 yr in detention. She should be released immediately.
👉 www.nchrd.org/2025/09/chin...

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Hong Kong Free Press HKFP @hongkongfp.com · Sep 10

The HK government's proposed bill to recognise same-sex partnerships has failed to pass in the Legislative Council (LegCo), with just 14 out of 86 lawmakers voting in favour. In full: buff.ly/WjX1Xeg

BREAKING: Hong Kong’s Legislative Council votes down same-sex partnerships bill

The Hong Kong government’s proposed bill to recognise same-sex partnerships has failed to pass in the Legislative Council (LegCo), with just 14 out of 86 lawmakers voting in favour. A total o…

buff.ly

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Turquoise Roof @handle.invalid · Sep 10

Volker Türk Emphasises Rights of #Uyghurs, Other Muslim Minorities, and #Tibetans in China tibet.net/unhrc-60th-s...

UNHRC 60th Session: High Commissioner Volker Türk Emphasises Rights of Uyghurs, Other Muslim Minorities, and Tibetans in China – Central Tibetan Administration

Geneva, 8 September 2025: At the opening of the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, High Commissioner Volker Türk issued a stark warning: human rights, the foundation of peace, ju...

tibet.net

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Katharine Derderian @kderderian1.bsky.social · Sep 3

Unprecedented.

The United States might be on track to become the first country to fully walk away from the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a regular, important human rights related review.

www.amnestyusa.org/press-releas...

Trump Administration Seeks to Elude Human Rights Scrutiny by Not Participating in UN Human Rights Review

The UPR is one of the few processes where every government, including our own, has an opportunity to both report on its progress and hold others to account.

www.amnestyusa.org

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Reposted by Nicola Macbean

Asian Lawyers Network (ALN) @asianlawyersn.bsky.social · Sep 3

Joint statement on #KevinYam’s disbarment
@lawyersforlawyers.bsky.social @thelawsociety.bsky.social @rightspractice.bsky.social @ibahri.bsky.social

Attn: @unsr-judges.bsky.social

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