Stories about Politics from February, 2019
The repatriation of African artifacts to countries of origin is tricky business
Many of Africa's "stolen artifacts from colonial times were generally given or donated to French public collections. Thus, these artworks ... have become a property of the French state."
USCYBERCOM attack gives Russian legislators new justification for tighter internet controls
Both pro-Kremlin experts and their opponents see the USCYBERCOM's attack on the "troll factory" as ammunition for isolationist policies.
Tensions mount between Pakistan and India after retaliatory manoeuvres by both nations
The current situation represents the biggest escalation of tensions between the two South Asian nuclear-armed rivals in over three decades.
Protests in Haiti may have halted, but its fragile institutions still struggle
The government announced new measures to relieve the suffering of Haitian citizens, but are they enough to solve the current crisis and stem further unrest?
What diapers taught me about Europe
"With unrestricted access to information, my critical consciousness was awakened, and I began to reconsider binaries like “developed” and “backward” and re-analyze politics both in Turkmenistan and West."
Russian cathedral choir's performance of a song about US nuclear annihilation shows that parody doesn't quite work in 2019
As Russian state TV regularly airs segments simulating total or partial nuclear destruction of the United States, this was bound to raise a few eyebrows.
A ‘digital nomad’ from the UK advocates for solar power in all island nations
"The Caribbean is no different from other parts of the world. Most people do not think about where their electricity is being generated. The big difference is its phenomenal cost."
Will Felix Tshisekedi bring an end to turmoil in Democratic Republic of Congo?
President Felix Tshisekedi said that the court's confirmation of his win was a victory for the entire country and promised to build a nation of unity, peace and security.
Albania's democracy hangs by a thread as opposition quits parliament, launches mass protests
The EU and other Western powers criticized the lawmakers' decision. NATO-member Albania aims to begin full EU-membership negotiations in 2019.
How Saudi leaders are using religion to consolidate power and silence critical voices
''Oppression is a comprehensive system, and [in our country] it is enabled by religion.''
Journalists, teachers, and activists targeted in attacks on free speech in the Philippines
"These are attempts by those in power to drown out the voice of the marginalized...displaying Duterte’s fear of committed journalism that seeks to inform, educate and guide the public."
Tension between India and Pakistan mounts after terror attack in Kashmir
"amidst the political upheaval, some are urging the public to remember that when there is violence -- everyone suffers"
Facebook, robot vacuum cleaner and pro-surveillance politician voted worst privacy intruders in Czech Republic
The Big Brother “anti-awards” ceremony is designed to shame those who violate people's rights to privacy and data protection.
As Putin preaches ‘sovereignty’ and tech modernization, experts lament loss of online freedoms
As Vladimir Putin promises Russians a faster, more reliable internet, two reports by independent expert groups paint an unrelentingly bleak picture of more crackdowns on online freedom of speech.
Samoa arrested blogger ‘King Faipopo’ accused of defaming prime minister
"New legislation, based on old criminal libel laws from colonial times, forces Samoa leaders to look backwards, not forwards."
Kashmiri students face persecution in India after 46 soldiers were killed in terror attack
Kashmiri students face violence and discrimination after a terror attack that killed 46 soldiers.
Hungary's Viktor Orbán is pouring cash into military sports and historical reenactments to boost patriotism
This approach matches the broader education strategy of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose government has rewritten the national curriculum multiple times to include military training and military history.
Female Brazilian legislator attacked on social media for revealing outfit
"The participation of women in society is so tiny that a neckline can become a huge issue."
A Tibetan-Canadian student was attacked online after winning student council elections. She thinks Beijing is to blame.
Chemi Lhamo faced a barrage of threatening comments on social media from overseas students who appeared to be from mainland China.
To change the system from within or without: the dilemma for feminists in ‘New Armenia’
Most feminists concede that the new government is not quite educated on what women’s movements are about. But many have been forgiving, at least for now.
