Q&A Beset by Scandals, France’s Macron Is Going on the Offensive—Against the Press Elliot Waldman Monday, June 24, 2019 During his campaign for the presidency, Emmanuel Macron assiduously cultivated good relationships with French journalists. But since taking up residence at the Elysee Palace, Macron’s strategy for dealing with the press has become markedly more heavy-handed, says Matthieu Lardeau in an interview.
Africa Watch Under Sisi’s Authoritarianism, Egypt Even Restricted Reporting on Morsi’s Death Andrew Green Friday, June 21, 2019 The death of Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, in a Cairo courtroom Monday has put another spotlight on the repressive regime that replaced him in a 2013 coup. True to form, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government even restricted how journalists could report on Morsi’s death.
Q&A In the Eyes of Protesters, Liberia’s Weah Has Gone ‘From Hero to Let-Down’ The Editors Friday, June 21, 2019 Thousands of people gathered in Liberia’s capital earlier this month to protest against a faltering economy and rampant corruption in President George Weah’s government. Elizabeth Donnelly discusses the recent demonstrations and whether there is anything Weah can do to regain his “man of the people” image.
Q&A Despite Death Threats, Armenia’s LGBT Activists Are Fighting for Recognition Elliot Waldman Thursday, June 20, 2019 On April 5, Lilit Martirosyan, a transgender Armenian woman, became the first member of Armenia’s LGBT community to speak in the country’s parliament. Sadly, but not surprisingly, her speech was followed by a torrent of death threats. Hasmik Petrosyan discusses the challenges facing Armenia’s LGBT community.
China Note Xi’s Landmark Visit to North Korea Will Be Overshadowed by Standoffs With Trump Benjamin Wilhelm Wednesday, June 19, 2019 Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on Thursday, the first such trip by a Chinese president in 14 years. China and North Korea are celebrating 70 years of bilateral ties. But both countries are locked in tense standoffs with the United States, which is likely to loom large over the summit.
Q&A Protests Against Kazakhstan’s ‘Stage-Managed’ Election Test Tokayev’s Legitimacy The Editors Wednesday, June 19, 2019 Authorities in Kazakhstan cracked down on a series of large-scale protests before and after the tightly controlled presidential election on June 9, arresting thousands of demonstrators. In an interview, Paul Stronski discusses the implications of the protests for Kazakhstan’s new leadership.
Abe’s Visit to Iran Showed the Value of Diplomacy. Will Trump Get the Message? Elliot Waldman Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s trip to Tehran last week did not succeed in deescalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. But if more world leaders follow Abe’s lead, and if Abe himself continues to advocate for diplomacy, that could nudge President Donald Trump toward a less belligerent stance.
Q&A Supreme Court Ruling on Homophobia Was a Rare Victory for Brazil’s LGBT Community The Editors Monday, June 17, 2019 Brazil’s highest court officially ruled last week that homophobia and transphobia should be criminalized. The verdict was a much-needed victory for Brazil’s LGBT community. In an interview, James Green discusses the challenges facing LGBT Brazilians and the significance of the court’s decision.
Q&A Will Papua New Guinea’s New Leader Make Good on His Reform Promises? The Editors Friday, June 14, 2019 James Marape, the new prime minister of Papua New Guinea, has pledged to take on corruption and ensure that benefits from oil and gas reserves are shared more equitably. But at this early stage, it is not yet clear that Marape will follow through on those promises, Michael Kabuni says in an interview.
Africa Watch Tit-For-Tat Killings in Mali Escalate a Cycle of Ethnic Violence Andrew Green Friday, June 14, 2019 With the massacre of at least 35 civilians this week in a small village in central Mali, including 24 children, the country’s ongoing cycle of ethnic violence appears to be escalating. A militant Islamist uprising that began in 2012 has exacerbated existing tensions between Dogon pastoralists and Fulani herders.
Q&A Opposition Protests in Malawi Threaten Mutharika’s Already Fragile Mandate Elliot Waldman Thursday, June 13, 2019 Malawi’s capital has been rocked by demonstrations over the past two weeks as opposition protesters challenge the legitimacy of President Peter Mutharika’s recent reelection. But no matter who wins the legal battle over the election results, it is the Malawian people who have the most to lose, says Lise Rakner.
China Note How Much of a Headache Will Hong Kong’s Extradition Protests Give Beijing? Benjamin Wilhelm Wednesday, June 12, 2019 The massive protests against a controversial extradition bill that have rocked Hong Kong in recent days “cannot be what Beijing wanted,” according to commentator Yi-Zheng Lian. The simmering anger in Hong Kong poses a major headache for China’s leaders as they attempt to extend control over the territory.
