Stories about Politics from December, 2013
Twin Acts of Terror for Russia's New Year
Little information about the perpetrators is known, but as usual the RuNet is rife with speculation.
Hundreds of Local Chinese Lawmakers Dismissed Over Massive Bribery Scandal
518 Hengyang lawmakers and 68 staff members were found to have accepted bribes, and 512 lawmakers were dismissed.
South Korean Pres. Vows Pre-emptive Strikes on Social Media Rumors
Is South Korea government gearing up toward social media censorship? The latest official remark by President Park (full transcript [ko]) had Korean net users worried. Park, addressing “those rumors spreading via social...
The Amazon, a Story of Destruction in the Name of Development
On December 2013, Agência Pública news agency launched 'Public Amazon', its first book of journalistic reports in Portuguese, with a debate to discuss the region's dilemmas.
The Return of Chairman Mao Worship in China
The celebration of Chair Mao's 120th birthday has seen a return of personality worship in China.
Iran: Two Poets Arrested
Poets Mehdi Mousavi and Fatemeh Ekhtesari disappeared in Iran. News reported that the two have been detained since early December. More than two hundred people signed an online petition and...
Contemplating Nelson Mandela's Legacy in South Asia
"Nepali leaders have a lot to learn from Mandela's statesmanship, integrity, and lack of political ambition."
Chinese President Xi Jinping Eats Steam Buns
The news about Chinese President Xi Jingping in a small restaurant eating steam buns with common people was first appeared in Weibo and spread through mainstream media outlets. ChinaSMACK translated...
An Open Letter to Arvind Kejriwal
Satire blog AmreekanDesi writes an open letter to the newly elected chief minister of Delhi, anti-corruption crusader Arvind Kejriwal: Now that you’ve given us this hope, please don’t let us...
What It's Like Growing Up In The Maldives?
Journalist and blogger Hilath Rasheed shares a Maldivian's thoughts in Facebook on “How is it like growing up in Male'/Maldives”: From Ibrahim Lirar: The most honest answer I can give...
Vladimir Milov “On Khodorkovsky”
Vladimir Milov is an energy sector expert and former Deputy Energy Minister of the Russian Federation. RuNet Echo translates his reaction to Mikhail Khodorkovsky's release from prison last week.
Six Killed in Lebanon Blast Targeting ex-Minister
At least six people died, and many more were wounded, in a blast that targeted former Lebanese Finance Minister Mohamed Chatah in downtown Beirut.
Brazilian Ruralists Hold ‘Auction for Resistance’ Against Indigenous Land Claims
An auction in Mato Grosso do Sul raised one million Brazilian reals for armed security on farms "against indigenous occupations. Ruralists claimed the funds would not finance a militia.
South Korean Election Scandal Brings Three Religions Together
Opposition against the current administration's election manipulation scandal grows stronger every day, even enough to inspire conservative Protestant Christian groups to join the protest movement [ko] following the trails of Catholic...
IMF Silent on Corruption in Cambodia?
Jessica Evans of the Human Rights Watch criticized International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde for being silent about Cambodian's corruption problem when the IMF leader visited the country early this...
Wishing You a Free Christmas from Hong Kong
There are a number of e-Christmas cards that carry political message circulated on social media in Hong Kong. Below are two examples:
Dishing on Sino-American Relations
Chinese food culture constitutes a significant part in the Chinese language. Below is a part of an online fictional story on a conversation between Obama and Xi Jinping on Sino...
Chinese Challenge State Media's Rosy Take on Mao Zedong's Legacy
"Mao’s biggest crimes were the rectification movement expansion, which killed countless innocent intellectuals; the Great Leap Forward, which led millions of innocent people to starve; and the cruel Cultural Revolution..."
Impact Of Social Media In The Delhi Elections
Prior to the Delhi Legislative Assembly election (4 December 2013) the Delhi Election Commission vowed to monitor the social media for political campaigns looking for breach of model code of...
Blood on Camera: 18-year-old Syrian Dies Covering the War for Reuters
Molhem Barakat, a freelance photographer working for Reuters, was reportedly killed while covering a fight between and Bashar Al-Assad’s forces and rebels in Aleppo’s Al-Kindi Hospital. He was 18.
7 Rallies that Rocked Southeast Asia in 2013
Several Southeast Asian governments were confronted with big street protests in 2013. In Thailand, street protesters are still actively pushing for the ouster of the incumbent government
