· December, 2007

Stories about Governance from December, 2007

Is Kenya turning into a police state?

  31 December 2007

How would you describe the political situation in Kenya? White African uses three words to describe millions of Kenyan voters following the announcement that the Mwai Kibaki has won by 200,000+ votes: disappointed, angry and jaded. Daudi of Mental Acrobatics chose one word to describe the mood: uncertainty. What are other bloggers saying?

Poland: Bhutto's Tractor Scam

  29 December 2007

the beatroot writes about a 1990s Polish-made Ursus tractors scam, in which Benazir Bhutto was allegedly involved: “Benazir had launched the Awami Tractor Scheme for the welfare of poor farmers in Pakistan and allegedly received 7.15 percent commission in the purchase of tractors through their front men – Jens Schlegelmilch...

Ukraine: Tymoshenko's Budget

  29 December 2007

Foreign Notes reports on the article in a Ukrainian daily that accuses Yulia Tymoshenko of going against her election promises and approving the 2008 budget that includes “a multimillion INCREASE in the money provided for the maintenance of deputies, kabmin ‘big-knobs’, and the President and his secretariat.”

Slovenia: Dimitrij Rupel

  27 December 2007

Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about Slovenian foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel and the stuff he's written for Sinfo, a PR magazine issued monthly by the governmental Communications office”: “(great choice of name, BTW. Fire your chief marketing officer toot-suite!)”

Japan: Three easy steps to a regulated Internet

  27 December 2007

Government moves in Japan to regulate web content, filter mobile phone access for users under the age of 18, and revise file transfer-related copyright legislation are outlined in a report posted at gyaku.

Iran:”A Weak Government”

  26 December 2007

Digital Klashinkov,Iran based blogger and journalist, says[Fa] that Ahmadinejad's government is a weak one and is in trouble for its economic policy. The blogger adds, recently, for the first time, Iranian president accepted economic problems exist in country.

Latvia, Estonia: Valka and Valga

  25 December 2007

Valka is in Latvia, Valga – in Estonia. Until 1920, they used to be one town, Walk. “The Latvian side faces a back door of an Estonian supermarket.” But, as All About Latvia reports, “town officials from both sides plan to take [the metal fence] down altogether to allow pedestrians...

Russia: “(Chimerical) Stability”

  25 December 2007

Streetwise Professor criticizes Time Magazine's coverage of Putin's Russia: “The touting of the (chimerical) stability of Russia under Putin is another example of the superficiality that passes for incisive journalism.”