Stories about Governance from January, 2015
How Putin Secretly Conquered Russia's Social Media Over the Past 3 Years
In a special column for RuNet Echo, TV Rain's online chief editor, Ilya Klishin, discusses the Kremlin's slow but steady capture of online social media in Russia.
Nepal's #SmashChairChallenge Pressures the Constituent Assembly to Draft the Constitution
By satirising the infamous incident in which Constituent Assembly members threw chairs in protest over a new national constitution, the Nepali blogosphere is having a smashing time on Twitter.
Tajikistan's President Talks About Problems, Parliament Applauds?
Tajikistan's outgoing parliament is good at cheering the president and rubber-stamping his decisions. Don't expect any changes when a new one arrives in March.
Russian Politician Tells Public to ‘Eat Less,’ As Food Prices Rise
“If you’re short on money,” Gaffner said, “just remember that we’re all Russian citizens. We just need to give some thought to our health and eat a bit less.”
Indonesia's Pick for Top Cop is a Suspect in a Bribery Scandal
The police chief nominee also made suspicious bank transactions as a police officer, according to the country's anti-corruption agency. Many Indonesians think this makes Budi Gunawan unfit for the job.
One Month on, Pakistanis Pledge to #NeverForget the Horrific Peshawar School Massacre
Campaigners urged overseas Pakistanis to join “not just by sending funds, but by going to Pakistani embassies wherever they live” to send a strong message to the government.
Reports of Forced Religious Conversions Grab Headlines in India
On Christmas day, 59 Christians in Kerala reportedly were "converted" to Hinduism by two Hindu nationalist organizations with ties to the leading BJP party. What happened to religious tolerance?
Colombia's New Minimum Wage Generates Minimum Enthusiasm
On December 30, 2014, Colombia's government raised the minimum wage by 4.6 percent to 644,350 Colombian pesos ($273). On social media, the disappointment of many has been palpable.
Philippines Evicts Small Vendors Ahead of Pope's ‘Mercy and Compassion’ Visit
The Luneta street vendors have protested the eviction notice: "We love the Pope. We will not harm him. We are not terrorists."
What Snow Can Tell You About Russia's Local Politics
Russia is notorious for having a weak civil society and an oppressive government, but that reputation isn't equally deserved throughout the country.
Voting For Ourselves
As a result of her no-holds-barred commentary on life and politics, Trinidad and Tobago blogger Rhoda Bharath is often asked who she's voting for in this year's general election.
A New Era Begins for Sri Lanka After President Mahinda Rajapaksa Concedes Defeat
The two-time president lost to former Health Minister Mithripala Sirisena, the candidate for the main opposition United National Party, who earned 51.28 percent of the votes.
How #EuroMaidan and War with Russia Have Changed Ukraine's Internet
Global Voices takes a look at how #EuroMaidan and Russia's interventions in Crimea and the Donbas have changed Internet use in Ukraine.
The Mobile Money Revolution Is Transforming Bangladesh
One study found that nearly 76% of rickshaw-pullers in Dhaka send money back home to their villages through mobile banking due to its safety and cost efficiency.
Your Guide to Sri Lanka's 2015 Presidential Election
Incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa faces off against his former health minister, Maithripala Sirisena, in a presidential contest rife with electoral violations, social media manipulation, and constitutional stakes for Sri Lanka.
Protests Against Peru's Labour Law Multiply, But Government Holds Firm
Some 20,000 young people took to the streets of Lima on December 22 to oppose controversial labour legislation proposed by the Peruvian government.
Chinese Police Are Buying Spyware — And Posting Their Purchase Orders Online
Netizens now can see exactly what surveillance tools police are using, and exactly how much they paid for them.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Indian E-Tail
One man complained on Facebook that in October he was delivered a bar of soap and a brick instead of the smartphone he had ordered from Snapdeal.com.
A Death Sentence for Trafficking 15 Grams of Heroin? Singapore Groups Say No More.
Groups say the death penalty isn't an effective deterrent, pointing out how capital punishment makes even small offenses a matter of life and death, motivating criminals to be more violent.
Corruption, Climate Change and Chik-V Stole Headlines in the Caribbean in 2014
A mass outbreak of the Chikungunya virus and an environmental activist's hunger strike along with several good news stories were the talk of the Caribbean's blogosphere in 2014.
Activists Persecuted for Opposing Land-Grab-Driven Slavery in Mauritania
Dah Abeid and a few other human activists were arrested by the police in November and are now awaiting their trials.
