Stories about Politics from August, 2013
Crowdsourcing Malaysia’s 2014 Budget
Through the #bajet2014 website, Malaysians can give specific ideas in drafting the government's 2014 budget. They can also use the special page to approve or reject a particular proposal
Lebanon: The Smell of Death
On August 23, two bombs exploded in outside two mosques in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. Forty-seven people were killed, and over 500 injured. Joey Ayoub, at Hummus for Thought, shares a must-read testimony of the heartbreak at the hospital of a friend who was in Al Salam mosque...
Iran: Facebook Diplomacy
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, posted a short piece with six questions about Syria on his Facebook page which received 1,100 comments as of Friday, August 30. Some called Zarif on the hypocrisy of criticizing Western intervention as intervention, when Iran has its own presence on the ground.
Justice Goes Mobile for Residents of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
A fleet of buses painted in the colors of the Pakistani flag have been converted into traveling courtrooms.
Turkmenistan's National Cycling Day: Traditionalists, Penny-Pinchers and President-Pleasers
If you are a citizen of Turkmenistan, you had better be ready to don the Lycra and mount a bicycle: September 1 has been slated as National Cycling Day.
Don't Be Fooled by His Smile: Yekaterinburg's Evgeny Roizman Is Mad As Hell
It seems likely that Russia’s fourth largest city, Yekaterinburg, will soon have as its mayor Evgeny Roizman, one of Russia’s most peculiar public figures.
South Korea: 4500 Catholic Leaders Protest Against the Spy Agency Scandal
Prominent citizen journalist Media Mongu posted a Youtube video of Catholic leaders denouncing the state spy agency's interference in the presidential election. His description read ‘an unprecedented number of 4502 clergy members have gathered at Sogang University, the alma mater of the current President Park, to release a manifesto that calls on President...
The Politics of Moscow's Migrant Crime Statistics
Moscow's next mayor will have little influence over domestic immigration policy, but that doesn't stop candidates from weighing in on the topic.
Ghana's Supreme Court Tosses Case Challenging President's Legitimacy
The landmark decision dismissed a lawsuit from the opposition who argued that there were gross and widespread irregularities at more than 10,000 polling stations during presidential elections in December 2012.
A Historian's Pessimistic Farewell to Macedonia
Historian, analyst and blogger Harald Schenker, who has lived in Macedonia since 1999 and is now moving to Switzerland, created social network buzz with his farewell post, addressed to a “failing Macedonia”, in which he provides a diagnosis for the country's demise and a plea for rebuilding Macedonian society. The...
Ghana Awaits Judgement in Legal Battle for Presidency
Streets are deserted, shops are closed, markets are empty and some bar owners will not sell alcohol today as the nations anxiously wait for the presidential election petition judgement.
Hong Kong's Civil Disobedience Campaign Seeks Inspiration from Martin Luther King
Democrats in Hong Kong are planning to occupy the city center and struggle for universal suffrage. Martin Luther King's civil disobedience campaign serves as their inspiration.
Russia's Unpopular but “Necessary” Illegal Immigrant Camps
At the end of July, Moscow's Governor proposed a new detention center for illegal immigrants on a former military base near the Yegoryevsky district. Not everyone is thrilled.
Trinidad & Tobago: No Action on Dog Control Act
Trinidadian diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch, upset over the news that another person has been mauled to death by a pit bull, wonders why the President hasn't yet proclaimed The Dog Control Act.
‘Million People March’ Against Corruption in the Philippines
Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos gathered in Manila and several cities in the Philippines to denounce rampant corruption in the government.
Russia's Political Firebrand: What Makes Navalny Tick?
Russia's best-known political blogger earned his fame fighting corruption in the private sector, but may now face five years' jail time on (possibly trumped-up) embezzlement charges. In the meantime, he's running for mayor of Moscow.
Online Reporting of Bribery in Thailand
Bribespot Thailand encourages Thais to report cases of bribery and corruption in the country. Through an interactive map, the website also identifies bribery hotspots in Thailand.
Russian Political Prisoners Ignored by Everyone
Twelve men and women currently on trial for their involvement in the May 6, 2012 riots appear to have been largely forgotten.
‘No’ to Homosexuality, ‘Yes’ to Child Marriage in Nigeria
A man was beaten for allegedly been gay in Nigeria where lawmakers recently passed a bill to criminalise homosexuality and voted for a clause to legalise child marriage.
Leaked Chinese Document Warns Against the Evils of Western Values
The directive reaffirms President Xi Jinping's political conservatism despite his economic reforms and tough stance on corruption.
Suspicions Arose Over North Korean Defector-Turned-Lawmaker
During a parliamentary hearing on the spy agency election interference scandal, Cho Myung-chul, a ruling party lawmaker famous for being the first North Korean defector to take a senior government post in South Korea, went under fire for making snide and offensive remarks discriminating against people from certain province. More criticisms mount as...
