· September, 2007

Stories about Governance from September, 2007

Ukraine: “Who's Who in Political Advertising”

  29 September 2007

Taras of Ukrainiana has collected videos of campaign advertising by seven Ukrainian blocs and parties – and has translated their messages into English. An invaluable resource for anyone who would like to experience the 2007 parliamentary election campaign the way ordinary Ukrainians have.

Iran: Ahmadinejad's Speech at Columbia University

  29 September 2007

Iranian President,Mahmoud Ahmadineajd’s speech at Columbia University in New York and university president Lee C. Bollinger’s criticism and tough words during his introduction remarks on Monday 24 September have become a hot topic in media throughout the world. Several Iranian and American bloggers have reacted to the incident. NikAhang Kosar,a...

Bahrain: Corruption Index

  28 September 2007

Bahrain's ranking in the Corruption Index slips again, writes blogger Mahmood Al Yousif. Countries with a significant worsening in perceived levels of corruption in 2007 include Austria, Bahrain, Belize, Bhutan, Jordan, Laos, Macao, Malta, Mauritius, Oman, Papua New Guinea and Thailand.

Ghana: Did God save the Akosombo Dam?

  28 September 2007

We start off this week’s review with Ghana’s electricity crisis, which started in August 2006, but has seen a considerable improvement almost a year later. Could it be because priests prayed for the Akosombo Dam to fill up?

Philippines: Corruption scandal reaches the presidential palace

  27 September 2007

A $330 million national broadband network deal between the Philippine government and ZTE firm from China. Critics describe the contract as overpriced, unnecessary and disadvantageous to the Philippines. Tales of bribery, corruption and harassment have surfaced which could implicate the First Family.

Iraq: Seventeen Ministries without Ministers

  27 September 2007

“The NYT has a report on the troubled government of Nouri Al Maliki. The story says that 17 ministries now are without a minister and those ministers who are left are in many cases doing double duty, making it difficult to improve the performance of the agencies,” writes Iraq Pundit.

Ukraine: For Sale on eBay

  27 September 2007

Orange Ukraine reports on how someone tried to sell Ukraine on eBay – and about the Sept. 30 vote: “The undecided, the casting of votes to smaller parties, the votes “against all”, will decide Ukraine's future.”

Ukraine: Unresolved Cases

  27 September 2007

Mark MacKinnon writes about two unresolved cases that don't do any good to president Yushchenko's image at home and abroad: the 2000 murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze and Yushchenko's 2004 poisoning.

Trinidad & Tobago: Oil Spill

  27 September 2007

“If it takes the Environmental Management Authority a week to take notice of an oil spill, how can we trust them to monitor the daily emissions coming from a plant?” asks Rights Action Group T&T, as it calls for “an immediate introduction of proper emergency response mechanisms to be put...

Bahrain: Top Notch Intelligence

  26 September 2007

“Our intelligence machine is the most sophisticated in the world, no expenses spared, the latest technology of smart cards and biometric identifying systems as well as the latest in surveillance technology. I don't know about you but I boast about this everywhere I go,” writes Babbling Bahrania from Bahrain.

Russia: Nashi

  26 September 2007

Darkness at Noon writes about the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi and the impact they may have on Russia's political development.

Africa: Ibrahim Index of African Governance

  26 September 2007

Extra Extra's reaction to the Ibrahim Index of African Governance: “I’m afraid did not fall out of my chair when I saw that the Democratic Republic of Congo is ranked at 47 out of all 48 African countries, just ahead of Somalia.”

China: Government Subsidy

  26 September 2007

DANWEI translates a news from local newspapers announcing that the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau would give 230,000 low-income citizens 20 yuan per month starting from next month to deal with inflation.