Stories about Governance from August, 2013
Sri Lanka: “We Asked for Water Tanks And They Sent Us War Tanks”
Soldiers called in to disperse the crowd protesting water contamination reportedly fired into the Church of St. Anthony as demonstrators sought shelter there.
Bhutan's Best Known Blogger Is The New Prime Minister
Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, Member of Parliament representing People's Democratic Party and leader of the opposition of Bhutan has recently sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the country – reports South Asia Revealed. He is also widely regarded as the best known blogger of Bhutan, who started his blog...
Is ‘Free Tibet Movement’ Dying?
Is it any wonder that many Tibetans are now losing hope? Neapali blog Blogdai criticizes the failures of the ‘Free Tibet Movement’ for not being effective enough to reduce Tibetan suffering.
Monsoon Rains, Deadly Landslides Devastate India's Southwestern Kerala
The Indian state of Kerala’s much loved monsoon has gone awry this year, with flash floods and deadly landslides devastating the area.
‘Spirited Away’ Director Criticizes Plans to Amend Japan's Pacifist Constitution
Japan's ruling party wants to modify the constitution so the defense military can deploy overseas.
The Business of Endorsing Navalny
Last week, 37 Russian Internet-industry entrepreneurs tried to shatter the taboo about mixing business and politics by endorsing Alexey Navalny's run for mayor of Moscow.
Kuryente: Philippine Electricity App
Kuryente (electricity), is a new website initiated by the Philippine government to help consumers calculate the power rates in their area. It also provides information on power plants, officials of power cooperatives, and tips on buying home appliances.
United States Embargo Breaks Into the Intimate Lives of Cubans
What do Cuban bloggers think about the United States' embargo against Cuba? Elaine Díaz tells us.
Bangladesh Housing Project Flattens Flora and Fauna in Gazipur
The development near capital Dhaka destroyed the greenery and the ecology of 1,600 acres of agricultural lands, forests and water bodies.
Moscow Police Round Up Migrants in “Concentration Camps”
After last week’s police raids on outdoor markets throughout Moscow, thousands of allegedly illegal migrants have been detained and placed in makeshift camps.
Madagascar Agency Suspended from Network Tracking Money Laundering
Lambo T. reports [fr] on the website of La Gazette de La Grande Ile that Samifin [mg], the agency in charge of cleaning up the financial sector and combat transnational illegal operations in Madagascar has been suspended from the Egmont Group of financial intelligence units. Egmont is an international network that helps tracks...
Iran: Bye, Bye President Ahmadinejad
Iranians using the hashtag #AhmadiByeBye are saying good riddance to a divisive and dysfunctional presidency.
Uruguay One Step Closer to Legalizing Marijuana
Lawmakers and citizens have been debating the government's plan to decriminalize the controlled sale and production of marijuana for more than a year.
Bangladesh Court Disqualifies Jamaat-e-Islami Party from Elections
The ruling comes as the party faced mounting criticism for its opposition to Bangladesh's independence and its top members implicated in war crimes.
Will Vietnam’s New Internet Decree Ban Sharing of Online News?
The government claims the decree is aimed only at protecting copyright but critics describe it as "the harshest offensive against freedom of information”
Abre Latam: Developers and Solutions for the Region
Juan Arellano collects impressions of Abre Latam, an event on Open Data and transparency in Latin American governments that took place in Montevideo, Uruguay.
News Websites Indicted over Land Grab Report
News Websites Rue89 and Basta Mag are indicted [fr] following charges by French investment and industrial holding group Bolloré over a report in which they implicate Bolloré [fr] in land grab activities [fr] in Africa. The report lists the group's activities in Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Politis, a weekly analysis website, reacted...
Mali Looks for Fresh Start with Presidential Race Down to Two
Former Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar Keita and challenger Soumaïla Cissé will face off in a second round of elections.
Brazil Accused of Railroading Indigenous Rights in Proposed Land Bill
Complementary Bill 227, brought to an emergency vote in the senate, will give Brazil the power to economically exploit indigenous lands in the Amazon.
China's ‘Foreign Forces’ Propaganda, Redefined
China's political term "foreign forces" has been reimagined by Chinese netizens to criticize domestic corruption rather than foreign intervention.
Brazilians Ask ‘Where is Amarildo?’, Favela Resident Missing After Arrest
The last time Amarildo was seen, military police were taking him from the Favela da Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro, known as the largest slum in the world.
