Stories about Politics from August, 2017
Is Cameroonian Journalist Ahmed Abba’s Imprisonment Because of Security, or Is It an Attack on the Press?
"This is an attack on the press. It's as if they want to criminalize journalism as an occupation in Cameroon. All they're accusing Ahmed Abba of is being a professional."
India’s Latest Internet Shutdown Hits Haryana and Punjab
According to the New Delhi-based Software Freedom Law Centre, India has seen 106 internet shutdowns since 2012.
Rape Conviction of an Indian Cult Chief Leaves Millions of Followers in Limbo
As the chief headed to court in Panchkula with a convoy of 700 cars, thousands of followers gathered on the streets of Haryana and Punjab in support of their 'godman.'
Guatemala's Top Court Rules President Can't Expel Anti-Corruption Commissioner
Guatemalans headed back to the streets to celebrate the court's decision and demand that the president step down.
Provisional Election Results Show Angola's Longtime Ruling Party Is Staying Put
On 23 August, more than 9 million Angolans were called to elect the new president.
The Evolution of China's Great Firewall: 21 Years of Censorship
Technically speaking, circumvention technologies have outwitted the Great Firewall. Yet the new legal regime has changed the rules of the game.
Thousands of Rohingyas Fleeing Violence Are Stranded on the Bangladesh-Myanmar Border
"Desperate scenes at Bangladesh's border as Border Guard try to prevent entry to fleeing #Rohingya"
Guatemala’s Battle Against Corruption Reaches a Critical Tipping Point
On a rocky road toward more transparency, Guatemalans are back on the streets to protest corruption and demanding their president to step down... again.
New Zealand Artists Launch ‘We Are Beneficiaries’ Social Media Campaign to Highlight Welfare Concerns
My wish for Work and Income New Zealand is that they treat our older citizens with deep respect, especially if they are caring for grandchildren."
Nigeria's President Surprises With a Speech Not About His Health, but About Ethnic Tensions
President Muhammadu Buhari finally returned after three months in the UK on medical vacation, and his first public address flagged online comments that "question[ed] our collective existence as a nation."
30km Protest ‘Swim’ from Tobago to Trinidad Turns Into ‘Another Post-Colonial Tale’
"Those Tobago transport woes are real. Maybe it's a PR stunt, but it's a bold move to draw necessary attention to travel challenges between Trinidad and Tobago."
Chinese Tech Firms Are at the Cutting Edge of Artificial Intelligence — But at What Cost?
China has a more open attitude toward new technology, but is their success built upon a lack of awareness of individual rights?
Cambodia Shutdown of Media Outlets: Tax and Licensing Issue or Censorship?
"It appears that the Cambodian government has been using legal technicalities to hide behind its real aim of silencing independent voices."
China to Ban Anonymous Online Comments, Blacklist Users
"With or without real name registration, they know who you are. What they intend to do is to make you fearful."
Social Media Goes Off the Deep End Over Politician's Planned 30km Protest Swim from Tobago to Trinidad
"The Coast Guard cannot provide any dedicated resources or give any assurances for a voluntary expedition of this nature at this time."
Could Trinidad and Tobago’s Media Shake Up Usher in a Return to ‘Total Local’ Programming?
While the commitment to local content excites filmmakers and media producers, state media employees share concerns over job security, especially in a slow economy.
Venezuelan Government Wants to Regulate Hatred on Social Media
Today, with an all-powerful ANC composed solely of representatives from the governing party, it seems unlikely that anything will be able to stop the law from being approved.
Residents of Ethiopia's Oromia Region Strike to Demand Release of Political Prisoners
Normally crowded streets and shops were empty as Oromos stayed home from work.
Macedonian Citizen Fined 400 Euro For Insulting Turkish President Erdoğan on Facebook
A Macedonian court ordered a person to pay 400 euros for writing "ironical statements and insulted a leader of a foreign country."
Diplomatic Row Between Serbia and Macedonia Thwarted, No War in Sight
As diplomatic tensions between Serbia and Macedonia defuse, citizens reaffirm their common goal to live normal lives without threats of war.
A Popular Japanese Cosmetic Surgeon Is Called Out for Admiring Nazism
"The last thing our world needs today is the embrace of Nazi ideology, under whose banner physicians carried out unspeakable crimes in the name of ‘progress.’"
