Saudi Arabia's most popular woman on Twitter supports the absolute monarchy of the royal family and wants gender segregation in the workplace. Doctoral student Laila Makboul is asking what the source of her popularity is.
Heavy air pollution has led to increased environmental consciousness in China. A growing number of apps now allow people to check local air quality. Apps also serve as tools for political activism.
The oil-soaked Middle East has started to think green. In the long term, this may sway the region’s authoritarian regimes in a more democratic direction, according to researchers Brynjar Lia and Jon Nordenson.