· January, 2012

Stories about Breaking News from January, 2012

Russia: Community of Election Observers Launched

RuNet Echo  24 January 2012

Creators of popular citizen crowdsourcing projects RosYama and RosPil Alexey Navalny and Georgiy Alburov launch a new project RosVybory [ru], a community of election observers. Users submit their data to the website, then project moderators apply for the necessary observer documents and send registered users to the nearby voting ballots.

Mozambique: Mayor Shares Photos of Storm Damage on Facebook

  23 January 2012

Newly elected mayor Manuel de Araújo of Mozambican city Quelimane shared photos on Facebook of the damage, flooding and suffering caused by tropical storm Funso in his coastal home. Last week another heavy storm, Dando, caused serious flooding in the capital city of Maputo, displacing hundreds.

Madagascar: Exiled Former President Ravalomanana Refused Return

  23 January 2012

Since January 18 2012, former president Marc Ravalomanana has announced that he would return to Madagascar soon after being in exile in South Africa for three years. On January 21, the capital city anxiously anticipated his return as thousands gathred on the roads leading to the airport waiting for the plane to land. However, a few minutes after the plane entered the Malagasy airspace, the plane was told to divert from its route and land in a different city. Malagasy citizens reacted in real time to the tumultuous event.

Yemen: Saleh Gets Impunity After All

  22 January 2012

Yemen's parliament has endorsed the law granting outgoing Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh total immunity from any crimes committed during his rule, including the killing of protesters since the beginning of the popular uprising against his regime in February. Netizens react to the news.

Pakistan: In The Time of Rumors

  17 January 2012

Recently rumors about a military coup were being pushed along by TV channels and were all over on social media in Pakistan, especially on Twitter. The Twitterati were informing each other about the latest developments on the political front in the country.

Myanmar: Video Reporter Released from Prison

  13 January 2012

A reporter from the Democratic Voice of Burma is among the political prisoners released today by the Myanmar government. The reporter was given an 18-year prison term for documenting a grenade attack in the capital.

Singapore: Ministers to Take a Pay Cut

  4 January 2012

Singapore politicians are among the highest paid leaders in the world but they will receive salary cuts this year after a government committee has recommended hefty cuts to the pay of the city-state's leaders. Netizens react using the #ministerpaycut hashtag

Peruvians Debate Possible Pardon for Alberto Fujimori

  4 January 2012

One of the most debated topics right now in Peru, especially on social networks, is the possibility that ex-President Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a sentence of 25 years in prison for crimes against humanity and corruption, may receive a humanitarian pardon.

Brazil: Military Police Strike and Looting Cause Panic in Fortaleza

  3 January 2012

On the eve of the New Year's festivities, the population in the state of Ceará, Brazil, was taken by surprise with a strike by the military police and firefighters. Propagating both facts and rumors surrounding the violence, the hashtag #CaosEmFortaleza (ChaosInFortaleza) has brought together general grumbling, formal complaints, ironic musings and misinformation on the social and political atmosphere in the capital city of Fortaleza.