Stories about Governance from May, 2016
Some in Trinidad & Tobago Are Royally Sceptical of the Tourism Ministry’s Soca Cruise Idea
One Facebook user called the plan a "Ship of Fools", while another wondered, "An investment has returns. What are the returns on this shit?"
Europe Expects Big Progress From Angola Following Prisoner’s Liberation
The liberation of the Angolan activist, Marcos Mavungo, could be the start of the Angolan government respecting human rights, says an EU spokesperson.
Vietnam's Growing Number of Pet Lovers Are Challenging the Meat Industry's Treatment of Dogs
Việt Nam is still a long way from becoming a safe and friendly country to pets, but changes are happening.
The Meteoric Rise of (Recently Censored) Chinese Internet Celebrity Papi Jiang
Only a few days after Internet censors took down most of her clips for foul language, she sold advertising space on her weekly videos for $3.5 million.
Ghanaians Oppose Shutdown of Social Media Platforms During Elections
"This kind of thinking is unacceptable."
Russian Officials Make Plans for an Autonomous, State-Controlled Internet
Although the bill is in its early stages, should it become law, all of the RuNet's critical infrastructure would fall under complete control of the Russian state.
Now's Not a Good Time to Wear a Hammer and Sickle T-Shirt in Indonesia
"Fear of communism, fear of liberalism, fear of LGBT, fear of Chinese and foreign powers: personalities of those with inferiority complexes. Fearing their own stupidity."
The Threat That Was Cyclone Roanu, and the ‘Success’ That Was Bangladesh's Response
"Even 10 years ago, a cyclone such as Roanu would kill hundreds, devastate thousands of lives, look how [the] situation has change[d], how the death toll has dwindled..."
Ghanaian Minister Vows Not to Ban Whatsapp, Skype and Viber Calls
"Methinks the telcos need to smell the coffee because the traditional 'voice game' is over, and with it, the monopoly profits they used to make."
In Japan, the Panama Papers Are Met With a Collective Shrug
"If the government doesn't get mad and stays quiet, it's the Japanese people who will have the last laugh."
Incessant Rain Triggers Deadly Landslides and Massive Flooding in Sri Lanka
"What a difference a day makes, from a flood selfie to mass burial of 100's in a landslide #SriLanka"
Filipino Farmers Hit by El Niño Are Protesting and Demanding Food Aid
"We can look for alternative crops to plant. But right now there is simply nothing – just hectares of dust that even weed won’t grow on."
Protests and Looting Rock Venezuela as Public Chaos Spreads
With shortages rising and a political crisis brewing, many have voiced worries that Venezuela seems to be flirting with potential disaster.
Macedonia’s Government Is Subsidizing Bad Patriotic Rock Music and People Aren’t Happy
The selection of music involves categories such as "compositions that affirm the history of Macedonia" and "compositions that affirm family values and families with multiple children."
Cue the Next Witch-Hunt Against Russia's News Media
If Moscow is saddling up for another offensive against “foreign agents,” Ilya Ukhov couldn’t have timed it better when he claimed Dozhd might secretly receive funding from the US government.
Panama Papers Database Only Fuels Indians’ Frustration With Government's Response
"This could help investigators, if they are serious, to at least begin a meaningful investigation."
Draft Law Would Prohibit Showing ‘Disputed Areas’ on Maps of India
A new bill in India has been proposed to ban anyone to call the Pakistan and China borders as "disputed areas" along with several other restrictions.
Gambian Protesters Allege Police Used Live Ammunition During Bloody Crackdown
The protests were part of an unprecedented movement in the Gambia calling for electoral reforms and the resignation of longtime President Yahya Jammeh.
In Bangladesh, Extremists Use Social and Mainstream Media Data to Target Victims
These series of killings have alarmed critics and intellectuals about the power that main stream and social media sites possess.
Facebook Posts Tell the Tale of a Kazakh Land Reform Furore
As Kazakhstan's economic crisis rumbles on, the authoritarian government's PR blunders go from bad to dangerously worse.
For Trinidad & Tobago, the Olympics Gymnastics Furore Is About Perceived Corruption
Netizens weren't happy with one blogger's take, which seemed to brush aside concerns that there was something more sinister behind the last-minute replacement of the country's representative gymnast.
