Stories about Politics from December, 2016
Belarus Moves to Block Tor in Fight Against Online Anonymity
Belarus is ramping up efforts to crack down on Tor. But does Minsk actually have the ability to block the anonymity network?
Little Dolls From a Vietnamese Prison Carry a Big Message
"What the authorities didn’t realize was the messages the dolls bear were right in front of their faces–they just couldn’t comprehend them."
Native American Pipeline Resistance at Standing Rock Resonates Around the Globe
"Stay strong. Be strong. And you have relatives all over the world to stand with you."
Taiwanese Are Disappointed With the Foreign Media’s Response to Donald Trump’s Tweet
Donald Trump, the next president of the United States, shocked the people of Taiwan on Dec. 2, when he tweeted about a congratulatory phone call he'd received from Taiwan's president.
Possible Agreement on the Cyprus Issue Postponed Until 2017
Cyprus has been split in two since Turkish forces invaded the northern part of the island in 1974. Current negotiations are described as the “last chance” for a successful resolution.
These Short Films by Young Cambodian Men Aim to Stop Sexual Harassment
Why stop sexual harassment? Young amateur filmmakers from Cambodia explored this question to encourage the public -- especially men -- to understand the impact of sexual harassment.
Hong Kong's Pro-Beijing Chief Executive Is Leaving. But There Are Plenty More Where He Came From
"[Leung] follows the recent stability control principle of mainland China, magnifying small conflicts into national security threats and tearing society apart."
Opposition-Minded Venezuelans Have Their Say on the Legacy of Cuba's Fidel Castro
Few countries were as in thrall to Castro as Venezuela, where many accuse him of enabling the abuses of the socialist government.
Ghana Proves That Peaceful, Free and Fair Elections Are Not a Dream in Africa
"Ghana is consistently one of those African countries that gives the Western media nothing negative to report about Africa."
After a Wild Campaign, Macedonia Holds Important Elections This Sunday
Very often, upcoming elections in polarized societies are said to be “historic” events. Hugely important to the future of the country's political system, Macedonia's elections this Sunday certainly feel historic.
Two Young Activists Get 10 Years in Jail Each After Graffiti on Azerbaijan Patriarch's Statue
"I don’t want to be remembered by apologising in my final statement. I refuse to see myself as a prisoner. I am a lover of freedom."
Now That's Epic: Kyrgyz Woman Singer Remakes Poem Traditionally Sung By Men
"The whole might of the Kyrgyz Nomadic Spirit, the intimate, magical fluid of our mountainous country."
Activist Arrested on Royal Insult Charges for Sharing BBC Article About Thailand's New King
Almost 2,500 Facebook users shared the post, but the police singled out an activist calling for the restoration of democracy in Thailand.
Report Shows Ghana's Opposition Presidential Candidate Leads in Facebook Likes, Incumbent President Leads in Twitter Followers
"[T]he report has shown that social media has become a normal and central form of communication for all segments of the population, particularly, political parties and their leaders..."
Russian Blogger Launches Campaign to Annul Anti-Extremism Law He Was Convicted of Violating
Blogger Anton Nossik wants to annul Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code, a catch-all statute that prohibits "ctions aimed at the incitement of hatred or enmity."
Fake News, Peaceful Voting and Other Things on Ghanaians’ Minds Ahead of Elections
"Friendly reminder that clever retorts on social media, passion, facts & figures won't be counted. Your vote will. Go & vote! "
Filipino Activists Hold Solidarity Fast in Support of Political Prisoners
"They are persons caring for the marginalized sectors of the society but they were jailed for trumped up charges."
Vietnamese Court Upholds Jail Sentence for Land Rights Activist
"The Vietnamese government should urgently amend the land law and its grievance processes to protect farmers’ rights."
Russian Media Regulator Backpedals on Google Pressure
Hours after Russian news outlets began reporting that state media regulatory agency Roskomnadzor had issued instructions forcing Google to re-register in Russia or face sanctions, an agency representative backpedaled, telling roem.ru that Izvestiya, the newspaper that broke the news, had misreported the story. Izvestiya quoted Vadim Ampelonsky in their initial report as saying that...
Macedonian Election Campaign Started with Attempt of Identity Theft on Opposition Party
Upcoming parliamentary elections in Macedonia began with electioneering campaign tactics that were suspiciously sneaky.
A Decades-Long ‘Conversation’ Between Yugoslav and Polish Rockers
Rock music available online shows how a peculiar bridge, bringing the people of former Yugoslavia and Poland closer together, developed over the last four decades.