Stories about Politics from June, 2017
The Sad State of Tajikistan's Online Opposition
"While one [fake account] should play the role of an “angry bird” and mercilessly bomb everyone who speaks against you, another one should use softer, more diplomatic language."
Is It the 20th Anniversary of Unification With China…or the Fall of Hong Kong?
Hong Kongers have several reasons to be unhappy with the city's relationship with China.
Vietnamese Blogger Phạm Minh Hoàng Detained, Stripped of Citizenship, and Exiled to France
"I wrote blogs and continued to express my views on issues like democracy, corruption, territorial sovereignty. This is something that anybody could do, and to be honest, everybody should do."
At Thailand's Request, YouTube Blocks Video Clip of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’
"Juntaland's dictator blocking Charlie Chaplin's satirical film mocking dictator is hilariously insane and dictatorial," wrote a journalist on Twitter.
Satirical Cartoonists Take Aim at Bulgaria's Media Distribution ‘Monopoly’
"When holding this newspaper is a reason for jealousy. There is expression, but no freedom. #Prass-Press"
A Win for Citizen Activism After UNESCO Asks Macedonia to Stop All Construction Projects on Lake Ohrid
Lake Ohrid in Macedonia is the oldest lake in the European continent but the previous Macedonian government wanted the natural heritage area to be converted into a mega resort.
Iran's Revolution In Waiting
Without the active presence of justice in all its forms, it will remain impossible for any Iranian government to achieve coexistence among all of the country’s ethnic nations.
Mexico's Drug War Makes Everyone a Target
The rise in use of digital surveillance tools has become part and parcel of Mexico's ongoing internal armed conflict.
An Angolan Governor Loses His Job After Criticizing His Own Political Party in an Interview
Isaac Maria dos Anjos, ex-governor of the Angolan provínce of Benguela, is famous for his criticisms of the ruling MPLA party.
Is the End Near for Telegram in Russia?
Blocking Telegram in Russia would surely decrease its popularity, but there is no guarantee that it will help stifle communication among violent extremist groups.
The Rise of the Hirak Protest Movement in Morocco
Six years after the Arab Spring, Riffian protesters are leading the way in expressing popular grievances in Morocco.
Romania Seeks to Draw Lines Around Notions of Family
But as shown by the increasing numbers of children with parents working abroad, the lines are already being redrawn by economic pressures.
Kazakhs Ridicule ‘Self-Made Man’ Puff Portrait of Presidential Grandson
"While the man toils towards the welfare of Kazakhstan, his policies are something that every prominent person can emulate."
Tanzanian Media Misrepresent the Dispute Between the Government and the World's Third Largest Gold Mining Company
The chairman of the mining company Barrick Gold said one thing, but the media said something completely different.
In a Guardian Story About an Environmental Conflict in Kenya, the White Saviour Rides Again
The Guardian's portrayal of an Italian expat as the central figure in a noble fight to save the environment from local hordes erases the complex reality of a Kenyan region.
ISIS Attempts to Exploit Balkan War Wounds With Localized Propaganda
The region has a painful legacy of war that has divided people along ethnic and religious lines.
Nigerians Celebrate the Election of Seven British-Nigerians to the UK Parliament
While the federal government of Nigerians is congratulating the new MPs, some Nigerians say the government should not appropriate the electoral victory of the British-Nigerians.
Detained Telegram Channel Admins Go on Hunger Strike in Iran
The centrist administration of President Hassan Rouhani has been publicly criticized by Iran's hardline political factions for refusing to censor some of Telegram’s features.
Where Did Indians’ Ancient Ancestors Come From? The Indo-Aryan Migration Debate Rages Once More
"The linguistic evidence for the #AryanMigration theory is very strong. [Now there is something] for those that need hard science."
How the Mexican Government Puts Citizens Under Systematic Surveillance
Evidence shows that espionage tools have been used for years against Mexican activists, journalists and people who hold dissenting opinions or oppose the current government in some form.
More Than a Year Later, Landslide Victims Scrape By in a Resettlement City in Myanmar
"A year after the resettlement, residents only just received power and still do not have running water. They are left to rely on collecting rainwater and deliveries from aid groups."
