Stories about Politics from July, 2017
Crisis in Maldives Parliament: Rejection of the ‘No-Confidence Motion’ Sparks Lockdown
The country is tilting toward authoritarianism as growing accusations mount against President Yameen for silencing dissent and imprisoning political opponents including former President Nasheed, under allegedly made up charges.
Greenpeace's Taiwan Map Error: Oversight or Consequence of China's NGO Management Law?
"In Taiwan, it is very easy...to chant the slogan of independence...but in China, the price is that the dozen people in the office would disappear the next day.”
Brunei Government Employee Complaining About Halal Certification Charged with Sedition Over Facebook Post
"Anyways that guy that's being charged with speaking out against the govt is a reminder that we don't have freedom of speech," wrote a Twitter user.
As Kenyans Go to the Polls on August 8, Here Are the Things to Watch
After avoiding a repeat of 2007 with peaceful elections in 2013, "the odds this year appear once again stacked against the smooth running of the polls."
What Do Election Results Signal About Women's Political Participation in Iran?
Iranian election results, although mixed, signal hope for an Iran where women’s voices matter on both national and local levels.
Vietnamese Activist Trần Thị Nga Sentenced to 9 Years for ‘Propaganda’
The 40-year-old Trần Thị Nga, also known by her pen name “Thúy Nga,” is a prominent advocate for migrants and land rights.
Syrians Fleeing the War Seek Refuge in Brazil Where the Assad Regime Has Some Powerful Supporters
Syrians fleeing the country's civil war are trying to find a place in Brazil they can call home.
Venezuela: The Horror Beyond the Door
"The stench of the tear gas is everywhere. You can still hear the muffled echo of explosions, sometimes far away, sometimes close by. A constant, incomprehensible chain of events. ""Seguí sin comprender el motivo del ataque. ¿Existe alguna justificación a su potencia desproporcionada? El mero pensamiento me llena de amargura. No la hay, por supuesto."
This Jamaican Scientist's Marijuana-Based Anti-Cancer Drug Has Been Approved by the FDA
Should Dr. Lowe try to launch the drug himself if he can raise the funding? And what of the Jamaican government's role in taking the lead regarding ganja?
Puerto Rican Newspaper Cans Popular Comic Strip, Raising Concerns Over Censorship
Pepito is known for its sharp critique of the government and of elected officials in both the governments of Puerto Rico and of the United States.
A Final Glimpse of Cambodia’s Iconic Phnom Penh White Building Before Its Demolition
The Cambodian government plans to build a multipurpose complex in the land occupied by the iconic White Building in the capital city.
Jamaica's First Woman Prime Minister Retires Amidst Praise, Criticism — and a Contentious Battle to Succeed Her
"Portia Simpson came to representational politics at the parliamentary level in 1976 when political tribalism and its ugly pickney, political violence, were on the upswing."
French Bank BNP Paribas Accused of Complicity in the Genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda
"France contributed to training and the international recognition of the government which organized the massacres (in Rwanda)".
Arrest Over a Facebook Rant Brings Trinidad & Tobago's Cybercrime Legislation Into Sharp Focus
"Overbroad content offences are always illegitimate, but are particularly dangerous online, where many people are still in the process of discovering their voice."
Russia's Parliament Went on a Censorship Binge Today
The Kremlin is cracking down on online anonymity. Again.
Lebanese Government Bans All Protests Right Before a Syrian Refugee Solidarity Sit-In
Activists called for a protest after four Syrian refugees died while in the custody of the Lebanese army.
Three Decades After Dictatorship, Theater Aids the Search for Identity and Truth in Argentina
"There are already two generations that do not know their identity, we do not want to witness a third."
Thai Academics to Be Summoned by Military for Raising ‘Anti-Junta Placards’ at an International Conference
The Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights reminded authorities that the country's constitution does not forbid people from holding up placards.
I Dread Setting Foot on U.S. Soil While Trump is President
Visiting the U.S. now "would mean having to overcome too much frustration over how the country I used to know has changed."
A Water Weed Is Damaging Ethiopia's Largest Lake and Putting Livelihoods at Risk
The lake has become a symbol of the dire state of Ethiopia’s natural resources at a time when Ethiopia’s fast-growing population needs more of everything.
Is the Legalisation of Marijuana in Trinidad & Tobago an ‘Idea Whose Time Has Come'?
"The only ones benefiting from keeping marijuana illegal are the drug gangs and they will be forced out of business by legitimate dealers..."
