Dec 13, 2019

Win for insider in presidential election sparks protests in Algeria

Rashaan Ayesh

Newly-elected Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune. Photo: Billal Bensalem/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The announcement of Abdelmadjid Tebboune, a former prime minister, as the winner of Algeria's presidential election was met with protests on Friday, Al Jazeera reports.

Why it matters: Tebboune will be the country's first elected president since pro-democracy protesters ousted ex-President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April. However, many Algerians consider this election a sham since all five presidential candidates had ties to the Bouteflika and the ruling elite.

  • Tebboune served as prime minister in 2017 under Bouteflika and is a known army loyalist.
  • Protesters called for a boycott of the vote which led to a turnout of just 41%. Tebboune won 58.15% of the votes cast.

Go deeper: Algeria's president to step aside after mass protests

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Rashaan Ayesh

India shuts down internet as protests over citizenship bill continue

Photo: Biju Boro/AFP via Getty Images

The Indian government has blocked phone and mobile internet service in parts of the country where protests persist over the country's new citizenship law that excludes Muslims, AP reports.

The big picture: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government suggests temporary blackouts help to maintain law and order, has suspended internet access more than 100 times so far this year, AP notes. The internet has been down in the city of Aligarh for six straight days as of Saturday, and the heavily student-run protests have turned violent as well.

Go deeperArrowDec 21, 2019
Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, Orion Rummler

China signals hardline approach to Hong Kong with new top official

Wang Zhimin addresses a symposium to mark China's sixth Constitution Day, Dec. 4, 2019. Photo: Liu Siuwai/Xinhua via Getty

The Chinese government replaced its top Hong Kong representative on Saturday with a senior Communist Party official known for bringing party discipline to unruly provinces, the New York Times reports, citing the state-run Xinhua news service.

Why it matters: After seven months of often violent pro-democracy protests, Beijing decided to make a change in personnel to a role that operates mainly through behind-the-scenes influence. But the selection of Luo Huining as top representative likely indicates not a softening of Beijing's position toward Hong Kongers' demands, but rather a further entrenchment of its hardline approach.

Go deeperArrowJan 4, 2020
Rebecca Falconer

Hong Kong police use tear gas on protesters ahead of key China talks

Demonstrators wave protest flags in Edinburgh Place, Hong Kong, on Thursday. Photo: Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images

Hong Kong police used tear gas on protesters as late-night clashes erupted in the Asian financial hub ahead of a Monday meeting in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the city's embattled leader Carrie Lam, Reuters reports.

Why it matters: Violent clashes between police and demonstrators have often left the Chinese territory paralyzed since the pro-democracy protest movement began six months ago. But the protests had been notably peaceful in recent days.

Go deeper: Hong Kong protests show no signs of slowing as movement enters 6th month

Keep ReadingArrowDec 16, 2019