Stories about Politics from November, 2021
Paper lives: Turkey's trash collectors face deportations, arrests, and midnight raids
Istanbul police conducted raids on waste collectors' depots last month, allegedly to address potential health hazards, public security concerns, and the employment of unregistered migrants.
Nepal: Drowning in sorrow
Despite protests, defiant sand mining and quarry contractors have continued to leave large abandoned pits along Nepal’s rivers in which children drown by the dozens every year.
Democratization in South Korea and the legacy of the Gwangju Uprising
"Youth participation and engagement in politics are promising. ... I see that the South Korean political system is gradually developing and the general public are embracing institutionalized democratic practices."
Antigua and Barbuda says polluters ‘must pay,’ as climate change remains existential threat to Small Island Developing States
Many small island developing states (SIDS) are struggling to survive, prompting the Caribbean island state of Antigua and Barbuda to call for financial compensation at COP26 for "loss and damage".
A dive into young people's discontent through the Hong Kong indie band, My Little Airport
A dive into the discography and lyrics of My Little Airport (MLA), a 17-year-old indie band in Hong Kong, offers a perspective into young people's discontent in the city.
An all-women coral conservation team is helping to revive Indonesia's world-famous Gili reefs
"I believe that empowering women and promoting gender equality is crucial to accelerating sustainable development."
Poland reinforces border with Belarus as migrant crisis escalates
The EU had previously accused Belarus' Lukashenka of flying in migrants from the MENA region and South Asia and bringing them to the EU's borders to retaliate against sanctions.
Meet the Pacific Islanders fighting for climate action at COP26
"We are resilient people, but we recognise the need for other countries to build their resilience as well if we are to have a fighting chance!"
In Georgia, demonstrators gather in support of jailed former president
In Georgia, hundreds of opposition supporters gathered on November 6, calling for an immediate release of former president Mikheil Saakashvilli from prison.
In Turkey, 30 people face investigation over social media posts that ‘insulted the president’
When the hashtag #ölmüş (is said to be dead) started trending on November 3, it took only a few hours for the General Directorate of Security to take action.
The EU and Armenia, partners in reform?
Recent promises of multi-billion-euro investments in Armenia by the European Union signal a deepening relationship between Yerevan and Brussels and renewed EU confidence in the legacy of the 2018 Armenian revolution.
Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley's defence of Small Island Developing States at COP26 makes her a regional rock star
"How does Barbados feel about [Prime Minister] Mia Mottley? Because the rest of the Caribbean feels as though y’all won the lottery in the PM dept."
Behind the success of the Kenyan Twitter disinformation campaign to discredit the Pandora Papers
Kenya’s disinformation industry successfully manipulated Twitter’s trending algorithm to attack the Pandora Papers and protect President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose family was implicated in the exposé.
Why can't Japan's opposition parties win?
Despite an all-out effort to coordinate campaign activities, opposition parties once again failed to gain traction with voters.
#HandsOffOurLibraries: Scholars protest removal of ‘subversive’ books from Philippine universities
"An attack on the library is an attack on the very heart of the University itself."
Belarus authorities block access to more independent media added to extremist list
The websites of Deutsche Welle, Current Time and the employees and readers of BelsatTV and NEXTA are the latest targets in Belarus' ongoing crackdown on independent media and free expression.
How Burhan's coup could halt Sudan's return to the international community
A telecommunications blackout couldn’t stop more than four million citizens around Sudan from taking to the streets to demand a civilian government
The Zhang Gaoli sexual assault scandal: Political power struggle or #Metoo?
"It reveals the real life of Chinese top leaders and lets people have a glimpse of their hypocrisy, corrupted lifestyles, excessive power abuse and fear underneath their moralistic masks."
Turkey: new report highlights the extent of censorship online
A new report explains how a series of amendments made to Turkish law No. 5651 will have a "burning and destructive effect" on freedom of expression in Turkey.
The best of both worlds? Guyana wants to be a low-carbon oil producer
The South American nation believes it is time to make its citizens rich, and thinks it can do so while keeping the forests intact and pursuing a prolific oil industry.
Thai protesters demand the abolition of royal defamation law
"We believe it would be better to live in a society where people are not imprisoned for simply expressing their political opinions, for demanding a better society..."