Stories about Politics from February, 2015
Iran Reacts to the Latest Snowden Leak on SIM Card Hacks
Middle East & North Africa28 February 2015Iran's Minister of Information and Communication Technologies told Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency that he urges all state employees and ordinary Iranians to rely on their landlines for most communications.
Russian Opposition Politician Boris Nemtsov Shot and Killed in Moscow
Eastern & Central Europe28 February 2015Boris Nemtsov, a prominent Russian opposition politician and one of Vladimir Putin's top critics, has been shot and killed in Moscow.
Parliament Watchdog Connects Ugandans to Women MPs Through Twitter
Parliament Watch Uganda organized the #MPsEngage Twitter chat with women members of parliament to discuss the topic 'Making Women Count in Legislative Processes'.
The Political Violence in Bangladesh Is Claiming Too Many Lives
I close the windows of my car, and think of buying a fire extinguisher. [Then], if a bomb is thrown inside my car, I'd be able to douse the fire.
Why John Legend Should Perform In Bahrain
Middle East & North Africa27 February 2015On the eve of John Legend's concert in Bahrain, a former Bahraini torture victim now living in exile asks the US singer to spare a thought for the country's persecuted.
Behind the Scenes of Mayor Antonio Ledezma's Arrest in Venezuela
Clashes in Venezuela escalated this weekend with the arrest of the mayor of Caracas, who is accused of being part of a plot to force the current administration from power.
5 Bills Threatening the Amazon That Brazil's Congress Might Consider in 2015
Demarcation of indigenous lands and mining in protected areas are among the subjects that will be discussed in the Brazilian legislature this year, experts told Infoamazonia.
Bangladeshi-American Blogger Hacked to Death in Dhaka
South Asia27 February 2015Roy is the second Bangladeshi blogger killed since 2013. Horrifying photos of he and his wife, bloodied and injured on the street, were circulated on social media.
Anonymous Twitter Account Blows the Whistle on Wounded from Ukraine in Russian Military Hospital
Eastern & Central Europe26 February 2015An anonymous account on Twitter claiming to be a Russian soldier at a military hospital in Russia is providing undercover reports on the wounded brought from the frontlines in Ukraine.
The Political Apartheid Against Women in Venezuela
Desireé Lozano, a blogger for the Spanish-language website Voces Visibles (Visible Voices), reflects on the existing limitations on women’s political participation in Venezuela. According to the sociologist Evangelina García Prince, a kind of political apartheid that excludes women from decision-making reigns in the Venezuelan parties: En los partidos venezolanos, el discurso oficial...
Lawrence Maxwell, the Chilean Man Who Came Face to Face With Mexican Police Brutality
Lawrence Maxwell was in downtown Mexico City to take part in a peaceful demonstration in support of the missing Ayotzinapa students when he was arrested and threatened by Mexican police.
Russian Lawmakers Propose Banning Women Under 40 from Smoking
Eastern & Central Europe25 February 2015“Female smoking,” the legislation’s explanatory note says, “harms the body’s reproductive system, causing irreparable damage to the genetic stock of the nation.”
Remembering Ukraine's ‘Heavenly Hundred’
"It's dangerous and frightening, and today one must be [in the east], like one had to be in Kyiv a year ago. Maidan has moved. It's now at the frontline."
‘Ministry of Truth’ Recruits Ukrainians for ‘Internet Army’
Eastern & Central Europe25 February 2015Ukrainian Ministry of Information Policy has launched a website to recruit Ukrainian social media users for a government-run "Internet Army."
The Dress Rehearsal for the Belarusian Crackdown
Eastern & Central Europe24 February 2015"Belaruskaya Pravda" chief editor Yuri Dubina says the recent crackdown in Belarus on independent online media is only "the dress rehearsal" before the presidential election this November.
Unlawful Deals by 5 Biggest Ebola Contractors in Sierra Leone
Five companies are said to have misappropriated funds for fighting Ebola in Sierra Leone: Here are the 5 companies who were awarded the biggest contracts to provide goods and services to Sierra Leone’s ebola response as listed in the Ebola Funds Audit Report covering the period from May – October...
Rio's Carnival Cozied Up to Equatorial Guinea's Brutal Dictator. But Why is Everyone Surprised?
Outrage followed revelations that the winning samba school, whose parade theme was Equatorial Guinea, reportedly received 3.5 million euros from the country's President Obiang.
‘Birdman’ Director Puts Mexico Front and Center at Oscars
The "Birdman" director electrified Twitter with his acceptance speech at the Oscars, discussing the Mexican government and the situation of Mexican immigrants in the United States.
The Stale Catch in Croatia's “Fresh Start” Debt Erasure Program
Eastern & Central Europe23 February 2015Croatia's government has received praise for its decision to wipe the debt of its poorest citizens. But will this "Fresh Start" really help Croatians?
Egyptian Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah Sentenced to Five Years in Jail
Middle East & North Africa23 February 2015Prominent Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah, an icon of the Egyptian revolution, was sentenced to five years in prison today.
