Stories about Governance from June, 2008
Serbia: New Government, Almost
A Fistful of Euros announces: “Serbia almost has a government!”
Barbados: New laws
The Barbados Free Press is cautiously encouraged by news that the government promises final drafts of Integrity, Freedom of Information and Defamation laws by the end of the year.
Ecuador: Constituent Assembly President Steps Down
The president of the Ecuadoran Constituent Assembly, Alberto Acosta, recently stepped down. Many local bloggers are wondering the role that President Rafael Correa and his political party had in this resignation. Others wonder about the future of the new Constitution and whether articles will be passed through without much discussion, now that a person considered to be fair is no longer presiding over the debate.
Serbia: Socialist Party Forms Coalition Government With Democratic Party
The Socialist Party of Serbia (Slobodan Milošević's party) is forming a coalition government with the Democratic Party. This means Serbia will continue on its way towards European Union integration. Many bloggers reacted to this news, and offered their predictions.
Guyana: Death of a President
Ruel Johnson's Fictions notes the passing yesterday of Arthur Chung, the first President of Guyana, at the age of 90. He held the post from 1970 to 1980, and was “the first ethnic Chinese President of a non-Asian country.”
India: Right to Recall
Law and Other Things on voters in Chhattishgarh, India exercising their ‘right to recall’ elected representatives.
Kazakhstan: Freedom House blames Astana
Zhanna Zhukova reports that Freedom House said yesterday that the resource curse in energy-rich Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is taking root.
China: Measures to cut down on Beijing smog implemented
New traffic measures aimed at reducing pollution in time for the Olympics are now in place, writes Austin Ramzy at The China Blog. The test run last year didn't impress locals much, and others doubt the measures will even make a difference.
Philippines: Unreliable typhoon report
A strong typhoon hit the Philippines this weekend. Weather reports are not updated, according to the Dusk Chronicles.
Thailand: Casino's new name
To minimize criticism, Thailand's Prime Minister said the government is building an entertainment complex, not a casino. Blogger The Farang is not amused.
Iran: Iranian Blog Declaration Against Filtering
Digiactive writes that about 100 Iranian bloggers signed a declaration that condemns filtering and call for freedom of speech.
Iran: Ahmadinejad banned a conservative journal
According to several Iranian blogs and news sites, Tehran Emrouz journal was shut down yesterday because it criticized president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's economic policy. Heiderpix also says the journal published this photo of Ahmadinejad that created government's reaction.
China: Is the West afraid of our patriotism?
Are there factors informing your perception of China circa 2008? Novelist-blogger and researcher of worldly affairs Yang Hengjun moves on from ‘How did America cover up the truth of the bombing of our embassy in Yugoslavia?’ to his post last week, ‘Are Western countries afraid of the Chinese people's patriotic...
Kazakhstan: Sputnik lost
Lena B-va reports that the first and the only Kazakh satellite, which was launched last year with a great PR and pompous celebrations, is out of control due to a computer glitch and is likely to be lost.
Afghanistan: Brokenness of a Different Sort
Joshua Foust reports on an incendiary new report on the abuse of detainees in U.S. custody at overseas facilities like Bagram air base in Afghanistan.
Russia: Update on Politkovskaya's Murder
Sean's Russia Blog posts an update on the investigation into the 2006 murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
Ukraine: NATO Ads and Protests
Ukrainiana writes about pro-NATO ads and anti-NATO protests in Ukraine.
Russia: Poverty
Sean's Russia Blog writes about poverty in Russia: “Apparently living poor isn’t just about surviving, it’s about surviving artfully.”
Belarus: Minsk
Darkness at Noon shares his observations about Minsk.
Russia, Moldova: Pioneers
Scraps of Moscow writes about the Young Pioneers organization in Russia and Moldova.
Russia: The eXile
Robert Amsterdam's blog – on the shutting down of the eXile – here and here.
