Stories about Politics from February, 2021
Myanmar introduces ‘draconian’ cyber security bill amid growing anti-coup protests
'It can be expected that the true aim of the bill is to repress freedom of expression online and ban social networks.'
New Russian law demands self-censorship from social media platforms
Experts believe that the most likely reason for the new self-censorship legislation is the state's desire to curtail the growing discontent and protest activity in the country.
Is Mozambique trying to expel a foreign journalist?
Bowker is the founder of the news website Zitamar News, which in recent years has been praised for its coverage of the armed conflict in the Cabo Delgado province.
Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei formally arrested for alleged spying in China
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has dismissed claims by China that Australia is trying to interfere in their judicial system.
Security concerns and legal ambiguities threaten the future of Ukraine's ‘State in a Smartphone’
On the anniversary of its launch, the revolutionary e-government app Diia boasts 6 million users, but seems to fall short when it comes to security standards and privacy.
Beijing to drill Hong Kong schoolchildren with national security education
New education guidelines circulated on February 5 require teachers of all levels to teach the criminal offences outlined in Hong Kong's national security law.
Saudi court reduces sentence of prominent doctor held since 2017
Unfamiliar pressure from the U.S. is seen to drive a breakthrough in the case of Dr Fitaihi, who was arrested, tortured, and banned from travel since 2017.
Some Western observers share Central Asia's misgivings about Alexey Navalny
"Western policy-makers even turn a blind eye to the fact that Navalny’s foreign and security policies run directly counter to Western objectives. Maybe they think it’s worth the gamble."
China blocks Clubhouse after netizens discuss Xinjiang and Tiananmen
For a brief moment in time, Clubhouse cracked the Great Firewall.
Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago as examples of how smaller countries have been responding to COVID-19
The Lowy Institute, an Australia-based international think tank, has attempted to deconstruct various countries’ response to the pandemic.
‘You messed with the wrong generation’: Daily protests pose strong challenge to Myanmar coup
"Today the people of Myanmar are rising up against the military regime, demanding democracy. This is no longer a protest. It's an uprising."
Indian farmers’ protests: Twitter withholds, then restores, prominent accounts by government order
Twitter restored the accounts after concluding they were "speech and newsworthy," a decision the Indian government decried: "Twitter cannot assume the role of a court and justify non-compliance."
Queer and single French women face uphill legal battle to have biological children
The French Senate voted against permitting fertility treatments for queer women and single women.
Protests rock Istanbul's most prestigious university over appointment of new rector
In 2016, President Erdoğan secured the right to appoint universities' rectors who previously were elected by the academic body.
Nearly a hundred Kurdish activists detained by Iran's security forces in 2021
An interview with Switzerland-based KMMG’s director reveals how recent arbitrary detentions of Kurds and other minorities coincides with the regime’s bid to fortify its rule amidst piling internal challenges.
Citizens launch civil disobedience campaign on second day of Myanmar coup
"Than Pone means iron bucket. Than Pone Tee means Playing Iron Buckets. In our tradition, playing Iron Buckets means casting out evil spirits."
What Kyrgyzstan’s hasty transition to presidential governance says about the state of its democracy
Since its government fell last October, Kyrgyzstan has experienced a political whirlwind, with January elections consolidating the interim leader's position and a referendum that changed its system of governance.
Supreme Court steps in after sexual assault verdict leads to public outcry in India
Judge courts controversy by stating ‘no skin contact means no sexual assault’ in case of a child groping victim.
COVID-19 vaccine in Africa: Caught between China’s soft-power diplomacy and the West’s vaccine nationalism, Part II
Is it not hypocritical to heckle China for their soft-power vaccine diplomacy in Africa while Western governments conveniently pursue vaccine nationalism?
COVID-19 vaccine in Africa: Caught between China’s soft-power diplomacy and the West’s vaccine nationalism, Part I
The storage of Chinese Sinovac’s CoronaVac and Sinopharm are more suited for Africa’s hot temperatures, unlike those produced in the West, which require deep-freezer temps.
What happened in Myanmar on the first day of the coup
"People are disheartened by the news and mostly sharing information about each other’s whereabouts and safety measures. We have all seen this coming but it’s surreal when it actually happens."
