Stories about Politics from December, 2015
Meet the People Who Want to Repeal Russia's Draconian Laws
A group of Russian intellectuals has created a public council to determine which Russian laws limit human rights and freedoms, and to recommend that such laws be repealed.
Massive LiveJournal Troll Network Pushes Pro-Kremlin Narratives
An in-depth analysis of Twitter bots' metadata reveals connections to Russian "troll factories" and a vast network of pro-Kremlin LiveJournal blogs populating RuNet with propagandistic content.
Public Uproar in Cambodia After City Government ‘Whitewashes’ US Artist's Mural
"The Cambodian government is sending a clear message that public art will not be tolerated. Either that or they just spat out their dummy in the most fastidious way possible."
Saudi Women Vote in Historic Elections; Now They Want More Rights
Twenty-one Saudi women won seats in municipal elections for the first time ever. Now Saudi women, banned from driving their own cars in the conservative kingdom, demand more.
Do You Know the Story of Brazil's First Black Female Legislator?
More than 80 years ago, Antonieta de Barros became the first black woman elected in Brazil. But she's hardly a household name. One filmmaker has tried to change that.
Poland's Constitutional Tribunal Crisis
Constitutional crisis. Protesters outside the parliament. Enigmatic national addresses. A power struggle between governments. This is Polish politics today.
The Liberation of Dhaka and the Whitewashing of Pakistan's History
Pakistan's official account of their Armed Forces' surrender in Dhaka 44 years ago ignores the realities of the bloody conflict that resulted in Bangladesh's secession.
Fears for Hong Kong's Press Freedom Follow Alibaba's Purchase of the South China Morning Post
Journalists in Hong Kong worry that the newspaper, which has already been criticized for a pro-Beijing stance in recent years, will become a mouthpiece for China's government.
What the Paris Climate Change Agreement Does and Doesn’t Do
Here’s a rough and unofficial overview of some different parts of the deal agreed to by 195 countries.
In US Republican Politics, ‘Hating on Iran Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry’
The Republican debate became a forum for factual inaccuracies and demonizing Iran.
Indonesia Mourns Scholar Benedict Anderson, Who Helped Expose the 1965 Anti-Communist Purge
Indonesians celebrate the life of Professor Benedict Anderson, author of the book "Imagined Communities" and an expert on Southeast Asia at Cornell University. Anderson died last week.
Kyrgyzstan’s Madding Online Crowd Targets Dolphinarium
“Dolphins love doing these tricks. If you see how they jump when they are in the sea, they’re just doing the same thing here.”
A Crash Course in Trinidad and Tobago's 2015 General Elections
From red herrings to hashtags, Trinidad and Tobago's 2015 general elections may have been many things, but boring wasn't one of them.
Ethiopian Netizens Defend Themselves in Court After 525 Days of Detention
Left to defend themselves in court, Ethiopian netizens reject charges of anti-government activity and describe torture and ethnic discrimination in prison.
2015 Was Boom Times for Corruption in the Caribbean, But Can It Last?
Judging from the alleged corruption that happened in the Caribbean this year, certain regional territories may not improve their ranking in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index -- or will they?
Thai Worker Arrested for Mocking the King’s Dog on Facebook
Authorities will also file sedition charges against the Facebook user for 'liking' and 'sharing' an infographic which explains a corruption scandal involving the military.
Nigerian Lawmakers May Criminalize ‘Abusive’ and Anti-Government Messages Online
Nigeria's social media landscape is poised for dramatic changes, if lawmakers get their way with a new bill that would make it possible to sentence Internet bullies to prison time.
How Activists in Southeast Asia Celebrated Human Rights Day
The theme of justice resonated across Southeast Asia as activist groups highlighted their governments' human rights violations and other abuses.
Hungary Adds a Flashy Website and a Lawsuit to Its Anti-Refugee Arsenal
Hungary is stepping up efforts to block European Union plans to relocate some 120,000 refugees across the continent.
Syria's Most Vulnerable Live a Hard Life in Jordan's Refugee Camps
Yemeni blogger Noon Arabia visits a few of the camps where some of Jordan's 650,000 Syrian refugees are living under difficult circumstances.
From Celebration to Repression: São Paulo Students Keep Protesting for Better Education
São Paulo students celebrated after scoring a major victory against the governor's "reorganization" policy, then continued their protests, only to be met with police violence.
