Stories about Governance from August, 2010
Japan: Execution chamber opened to the public
Adamu at Mutantfrog comments [en] on the opening of the execution chamber to the local media who were allowed to take a peek at the gallows [en] for the first time.
Philippines: “Hong Kong, our apology for what happened”
The recent hostage-taking of Hong Kong nationals in Manila, which has roused worldwide indignation over the bloodshed, has led Filipinos to write apologies via a Facebook page.
Togo: Journalist Didier Ledoux Brutalized Again, Newspaper Fined 90,000 euros
Reporters sans frontières deplores that two weeks after being harassed and threatened by a French Lieutenant-Colonel Romuald Letondot, journalist Didier Ledoux of Liberté Hebdo was brutalized again [fr], by Togolese officers this time because he allegedly took photos of one of them. Liberté Hebdo was also fined 90,000 Euros [fr]...
Madagascar: Radio Soatalily in Toliary Sacked
Tomavana posts on twitter [fr] a report that Radio Soatalily in the town of Toliary (South East of Madagascar) was sacked by 30 members [fr] of the opposition after their meeting was dismantled by police forces. The government also launched “Operation Strike” to curb down banditry and increasing criminality [fr] on the...
Angola: Armament Compared with Brazil and Israel
Every week the Em angola blog posts some figures about the country. This week, on war and violence, Gabriel Toueg makes a comparison between Angola, Brazil and Israel, concerning both legal and illegal armament.
Moldova: Mock Independence Day Greetings
A compilation of mock Independence Day greetings to Moldova's interim president, reflecting the current geopolitical situation – at Morning in Moldova.
Iran: Jailed blogger Goudarzi receives NPC award
The National Press Club has announced the international recipient of the 2010 John Aubuchon Freedom of the Press Award is Iranian blogger Kouhyar Goudarzi, who is being held in Tehran's Evin Prison–notorious for its torture of detainees.
India: Traffic During Rain In Mumbai
Priya at Reading Cafe posts some pictures to show what happens when it rains in Mumbai.
Chile: Strong Citizen Response Against Thermal Energy Project
The approval of a thermal energy project sparked a strong online and on-the-ground citizen response; the plant was to be built near the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve and Punta de Choros, a small beach town known for its natural beauty and rich biodiversity. The announcement mobilized unprecedented numbers of protesters in one of the most successful instances of online organizing carried out in Chile.
Russia: Noize MC's New Song
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical writes about rapper Noize MC's new song: “After spending 10 days in jail for performing a song mocking police at a music festival in Volgograd, the irrepressible rapper has released a new [song and video, RUS] — mocking the police.” Robert Amsterdam's blog calls the new...
Northern Cyprus: Rihanna's Concert
Greater Surbiton writes about the controversy surrounding Rihanna's upcoming concert in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Hungary: More on Béla Biszku's Case
Hungarian Spectrum writes about Béla Biszku's case (also covered by GV's Marietta Le here and here).
Hungary: St. Stephen
Hungarian Spectrum writes about the history of the cult of St. Stephen, the first king of the Hungarians, who was canonized on Aug. 20, 1083.
India-Bangladesh Relations Is Necessity Driven
“The present India Bangladesh Relations are mostly necessity driven (could be told reality driven), not that much of Ideology driven, which was showed at the 70s of last century;” opines Kazi Mohoshin Al Abbas at Groundreport.
Hungary: Foreign Media on Orbán's Government
Hungarian Spectrum reviews foreign media coverage of Viktor Orbán's government – here, here, and here.
Russia: Porsche Cayenne and Firefighting
The Moscow Diaries re-posts LJ user fichetto‘s photos (RUS) of a 2007 Porsche Cayenne of Yevgeny Chernyshev, head of Moscow's firefighting service – “retrofitted to…fight fires?”
Russia: Kaliningrad Politics
RFE/RL's The Power Vertical and A Good Treaty (here and here) cover the Kaliningrad governor situation.
Taiwan: Call for legal community to speak out
Lawyer and environmentalist Robin Winkler discusses how Taiwan’s government is gradually eroding the separation of powers and the rule of law. He calls on those in the legal profession to speak out against this.
China: Prostitution, Reality, Hypocrisy and Human Lives
What good does punishing women involved in the sex trade do when the gangs, corporations, and clients are left largely untouched?
Iran: Blogger May Face Charge of ‘Waging War Against God’
There is a growing concern that Shiva Nazar Ahari, a jailed human rights activist and blogger may be charged with moharbeh (waging war against God/enmity against God) in an upcoming trial. In Iran, this can carry a death sentence.
Pakistan: Field Notes From Doctors Of A Relief Team
“If there is anything the government should learn from this flood, it is to take education and women empowerment more seriously,” reports Dr. Syed Nabeel Zafar in a medical field note from Sukkur in Sindh province of Pakistan.
