Stories about Politics from May, 2022
The Philippines: Protests erupt as a former dictator’s son leads the presidential election tally
"It is difficult for voters to be confident in election proceedings marred by machine errors and breakdowns."
In Sri Lanka, a people’s uprising for system change
Sri Lankan jurist, author, poet, and activist Basil Fernando contemplates what lies ahead of Sri Lanka amidst the intensified anti-government protests and the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Nigerian ministers’ political campaigns stir up legal debate
Nigerian cabinet ministers running for office are caught in a legal web between an electoral law that prescribes immediate resignation and the constitution that says they can wait.
Thugs attacked peaceful protesters, Sri Lanka in turmoil
After 30 days of peaceful protests, the Rajapaksa regime unleashed its thugs on the anti-government protesters in Colombo. The resignation of the Prime Minister followed and violence broke out amid curfew.
In Turkey, a comedy show lands in hot water over a political sketch
The Guldur Guldur Show, a popular comedy show in Turkey, had its sketch removed by a television channel over a satirical bit about Minister of Finance and Treasury Nureddin Nebati.
Nigerians demand central banker's resignation for dabbling in partisan politics
"It is difficult to imagine that a person who occupies the sensitive office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria will be this brazen in actualizing his ambition."
Sri Lankan state of emergency condemned locally and internationally
In the span of five weeks, the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared another state of emergency amid ongoing anti-government protests highlighting the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
Turkey unveils an initiative that would send one million Syrian refugees back
{lans to send close to one million Syrian refugees living in Turkey back to Syria are at "advanced stage", President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a video message on May 3.
What does Elon Musk's Twitter purchase mean for Venezuelan Twitter?
Twitter will change now that Elon Musk is its new owner. Will it change the way Venezuelans, inside and outside of the country, shape the political conversation?
In Azerbaijan, the state of media freedom is dismal, experts say
When at least four journalists remain behind bars, independent and opposition websites are blocked, and censorship prevails in Azerbaijan, there is little cause for celebration on this day.
For acclaimed journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, winning a Nobel Peace Prize offers no protection
For Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Russian editor Dmitry Muratov, winning the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize has not provided protection from their attackers and state threats as they continue their investigations.
World Press Freedom Day in the Caribbean is a mixed bag
'The environment within which journalists in the Caribbean operate is becoming increasingly perilous.'
Hong Kong’s press freedom plunged from satisfactory to a ‘difficult situation’ in a matter of years
Hong Kong’s ranking was dragged down by the enactment of the National Security Law and the prosecutions of journalists.
Could the proposed return of British Virgin Islands to temporary UK rule be a case of pot, meet kettle?
In a recently concluded Commission of Inquiry into disgraced BVI premier Andrew Fahie's administration, it was recommended that the overseas territory revert to temporary British rule: netizens respond.
China: Weibo’s new location tag exposes the whereabouts of users, opinion leaders and tiny pinks
Despite privacy concerns, the location data has unexpectedly exposed the whereabouts of pro-government opinion leaders and patriotic trolls.
Thousands of protesters in Armenia demand Prime Minister Pashinyan's resignation
The anti-government protests began in April when Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hinted at making concessions regarding the final status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Brazilian artists campaign to mobilize youth to vote in upcoming elections
A campaign led by Brazilian celebrities is trying to reverse the drop in registered voters ages 16 to 18 over the last decade, and highlights the importance of voting in presidential elections in October 2022.
Andrey Zakharov, BBC News Russian: For eight years, propaganda has been preparing people to support the war in Ukraine
In his opinion, Russia has lost the information war abroad, even though many Russian citizens support the regime.
Malaysian writer faces blasphemy probe for Facebook post
"Uthaya Sankar SB’s arrest for his social media post highlights the limits of free expression in Malaysia on issues such as religion."