Stories about Politics
Lessons from Indonesia's 2024 election: Social media, censorship, and youth vote
During the elections, generative AI content was used in the campaigns by many parties and there were a variety of attitudes towards its use.
Digital partisans: Dissecting Facebook sentiment towards Sri Lanka's main presidential candidates
Facebook’s approximately eight and a half million users in Sri Lanka post far more content and commentary at any time and on any issue or politician than other social media platforms.
How can Moldova unite the country amid Russian pressure?
The report’s authors called on Western partners to support Moldova’s struggling independent media and encourage the creation of trustworthy Russian-language media outlets
Why do girls and women keep dying in Turkey?
A confession by one of the detained village residents brought further horror to a story that is all too familiar in a country that withdrew from Istanbul Convention in 2021
‘Peringatan Darurat’: Youth-led protest against corruption and nepotism in Indonesia
"The Peringatan Darurat movement represents a significant moment in Indonesian politics, demonstrating the power of social media to rapidly mobilise mass protests."
Georgian lawmakers inch closer to final approval of anti-LGBTQ+ law
Critics have pointed out that laws like the one adopted by Russia in 2013 to “protect children from information advocating a denial of traditional family values” have also increased hate crimes.
China’s top nationalist influencer Hu Xijin silenced for over a month, but very few miss him
Hu Xijin, the former chief editor of the Chinese-state-funded Global Times and a prominent nationalist commentator, has been quiet on social media for over one month, since he critiqued party policy.
Georgian Dream Party vows to ban opposition if they win parliamentary majority
Speaking at the opening of the new head quarters of the ruling party, it's founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili threatened legal sanctions against opposition figures following the vote.
Pacific leaders’ statement removes Taiwan reference after China complaint
China intervened in the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), insisting Pacific leaders remove any mention of Taiwan from their communique on the forum.
Line of conflict shifts from the Donbas in Ukraine to Mali in the Sahel
Owing to the actors involved and the leading figures’ objectives, the July 27 attack in Tinzaouaten was a vivid reproduction of the Donbas in the Sahel.
The election dance in Azerbaijan: Carousel voting and ballot stuffing
Independent election observers and journalists documented voter violations throughout the day, proving that Azerbaijan's most recent elections were staged just like elections in the past.
New Russian-style law censors mentioning LGBTQ+ in the Bulgarian school system
Recent legislative changes forbidding “propaganda, promotion, or incitement” of LGBTQ+ “ideas and views” in Bulgarian school system mirror similar legislation passed in Russia and Hungary, civil society activists warned.
Despite promises, Azerbaijani people continue to face water shortages
Meanwhile, as experts voice concerns over the state’s failure to address the country’s water shortage problem, it is the local population and village residents who are paying a heavy price.
Hong Kong NGOs for sexual minorities suffer government funding cuts and pressure
Apart from government cut of funding, LGBTQ+ groups face huge pressure for organizing public activities and they have refrained from applying foreign funding to prevent political risk.
Guyana's Sir Shridath Ramphal, esteemed international statesman, dies at 95
"[Some men] have become famous because in their fight for human justice, they have chosen the entire world as their theatre. Shridath Ramphal is one of those men."
Azerbaijan clears out critics ahead of COP29
Azerbaijan has had one of the lowest international rankings on citizens’ rights and freedoms. Even so, Azerbaijani President Aliyev has insisted persecutions against civil society are justified.
What online narratives tell us about the aftermath of the election in Venezuela
For Venezuelans, one of the main narratives shows that the current situation exceeds the region's traditional dichotomy of left versus right and evidences a sense of overcoming polarization.
Two Hong Kong journalists found guilty of sedition after a 2-year trial
Two former chief editors of the now-defunct Stand News were found guilty of sedition, marking the first such conviction of journalists since the former British colony returned to China in 1997.
Top officials in Kazakhstan dodge independent journalists
Their attitude toward the media shows their attitude not only towards journalism, but also towards the citizens of the country.
Jamaica's finance minister’s appointment as deputy managing director of the IMF, a first for the region, brings plaudits and some local concerns
The IMF lauded Jamaica's remarkable economic transformation, adding that Clarke has demonstrated “it is possible to build strong institutions, to have a remarkably resilient economy [and] to overcome challenges.”
From Myanmar to Thailand: Displaced journalists tell their stories
"I still have concerns that police will raid our office and arrest us because we have no permit to operate a news agency."
