Stories about Politics from September, 2023
The vanishing asterisk: Evolution of the EU’s approach towards Kosovo
There exists a noticeable lack of uniformity in how EU institutions, bodies, committees, and agencies refer to Kosovo in official capacities. However, the gradual fading away of the asterisk and footnote has become subtly apparent.
Central Asian people's path to the American dream is full of dangers
Among the dangers of traveling this route are being robbed or taken hostage by cartels in transit countries, being attacked by wild animals, and drowning in the Caribbean Sea.
In China, questions remain ahead of Huawei’s launch of the Mate 60 phone series
As China's Huawei launches its new phone brand, Mate 60, questions over the origins of their processing chips and the timing of the launch remain.
The government of Bangladesh quietly passed the new Cyber Security Act 2023
The Bangladesh parliament passed the new Cyber Security Act 2023 after scrapping its predecessor, the controversial Digital Security Act, 2018. The new law poses similar threats to the freedom of expression.
Pakistani movie ‘Zindagi Tamasha’ is finally made available online after injunctions on its release
Pakistani Punjabi-Urdu film Zindagi Tamasha, originally scheduled for release in theatres in 2020, but halted after receiving threats from religious hardliners, was finally made available to viewers on Youtube.
Shifting tides: Do Kazakhs still like Russia?
Public opinion is split: for some, Russia is an unavoidable, yet dangerous partner, but a lesser evil compared to others.
Winning a million Lira won't get you far in today's Turkey, but its worth celebrating anyway
The amount may have meant a lot in 2011 when the show first premiered on Turkish television, but in 2023, the amount isn't likely to go too far.
Jamaican government swiftly returns a boat full of Haitians, as Caribbean officials express disappointment after latest talks
Thirty-six Haitian refugees landed in northeastern Jamaica on September 9 and were sent back two days later, while CARICOM noted the "alarming deterioration" of Haiti's security situation.
As Xi Jinping snubs the G20 Summit, India replaces China as leader of the Global South
China said it welcomed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project, provided that it would not turn into a geopolitical tool.
The complex historical tapestry of media and music in Sudan
Sudan's media has faced political influence and censorship, from radio's promotion of music to state-controlled television and print media challenges. However, private radio stations offer alternative voices, signaling potential progress.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ Mayreau island is a cultural bastion where — despite challenges — community spirit is alive and adaptive
'My interest in entangled colonial and imperial histories [has] fuelled questions about how Vincentian heritages are affected by the communities’ relationship to land, foreign investment/settlement, and the more-than-human world.'
Without the ability to renew their passports abroad, Belarusians in exile are left in limbo
Belarusian leader Lukashenka signed a decree saying Belarusians living abroad will not be able to renew their passports at consulates abroad.
Malaysian government told to stop playing ‘Big Brother’ to media
"What is more worrying is the fact that much of the so-called 'offending' content is mere reports and opinion pieces deemed critical of the government."
Indigenous leaders apply Mayan justice to officials hindering democracy in Guatemala
The ancestral authorities of Guatemala symbolically applied Xik’ay to officials who tried to suspend the party of the president-elect, Bernardo Arévalo.
A conversation with Paula Lucie-Smith, founder of Trinidad & Tobago's Adult Literacy Tutors Association, on the occasion of International Literacy Day
'Literacy is invisible ... the stigma means that those who need help instead [perfect] the art of keeping their poor literacy hidden. So, we need an international day to [hear] about literacy.
Azerbaijan continues to keep its land borders closed, citing COVID-19 as a concern
Three years on, while the world, including Azerbaijan, lifted most, if not all, pandemic-related restrictions, Azerbaijan continues to keep its land borders closed for passenger traffic, citing the pandemic as a threat.
FC Barcelona opens its first academy in Central Asia and commits to build more
The academy in Jalalabad was FC Barcelona's 29th in the world and first in Central Asia.
Somaliland election delay stalemate has led to an unprecedented political crisis
Somaliland opposition parties have accused President Musa Bihi Abdi of trying to delay the upcoming election in order to stay in power beyond his mandate.
How Kurdish language divisions hinder access to information
The ongoing disputes among Kurdish languages and their lack of standardization create obstacles to accessing online information, impedes the flow of information, and curtails active participation in the digital realm.
India or China: the upcoming Maldives Presidential elections will determine future foreign policy
The pro-India incumbent president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is likely to face intense competition as seven other candidates have challenged him in the upcoming presidential elections in Maldives.
Jamaica's financial fraud investigation continues, but for affected investors — including Usain Bolt — the news is not good
Usain Bolt's lawyers say that his account value fell from JMD 2 billion (USD 12.7 million) in October 2022 to JMD 1.8 million (USD 12,000) in January 2023.
