Stories about Governance from January, 2007
Russia: Driving in Moscow
Russia Blog writes about the new law banning migalki and posts pictures taken in Moscow during a recent visit.
Elections in Serbia
The first preliminary results of the Serbian parliamentary poll arrived less than an hour after the ballots closed at 20:00 on January 21. Some started celebration while members of the parties that got less than the required 5 percent of the votes burst into despair. The Democratic Party (whose slogan...
Bangladesh: The Bubble
Salam Dhaka on the gaps observed in Bangladesh. “There is a huge gap between what the political circles, elites and “intellectuals” want to talk about and what the middle and lower middle class care about. If you talk to people in the lower middle class then the disconnect gets worse.”
Ukraine: Two Years of Yushchenko's Presidency
Two years ago, Dan and Lesya McMinn of Orange Ukraine were among hundreds of thousands of people who came to Kyiv's Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) on Jan. 23 to listen to Victor Yushchenko's inaugural speech. As many others, they had to overcome quite a few obstacles to catch a glimpse...
China: Danwei and private life
Recently a policewoman in Xian was forced to resign because the police unit (Danwei) found out that she had practiced sexual partner exchange activities. Li Yin-he criticizes that Danwei shouldn't interfere into a person's private life (zh).
South Asia: Human rights, blogosphere, traditions, democracy, discrimination, travel and festivals
Picks from different blogs from the following South Asian Countries: Bangladesh: After 5 years detention in Guantanamo, one Bangladeshi (Mobarak) was recently released by the US authorities. However he was arrested again by Bangladesh Airport police for interrogation as soon as he arrived in Dhaka. Naeem of Drishtipat blog is...
Iran:More Academics Under Pressure
Azar says that not only students are under pressure by authorities but academics and university professors get fired for different reasons[Fa]. The blogger writes, sometimes, the academics are accused of immoral behaviour by authorities.It is a new way to get rid of them and no news are in media.
Lebanon: General Strike
A general strike that was called for by the opposition brought Lebanon to a standstill today. Bloggers posted photos, video clips, analysis and updates on the strike and the activities that ensued. MFL updates and writes about how the strike effected various places and aspects of Lebanese society. The Opposition...
Egypt: Protest Against Atrocities Committed by Police
Egyptain blogger Asad informs us of a protest being organised to rally support against atrocitites being committed by Egyptian police at present (Ar). The protest is being held tomorrow (Thursday – January 25) to coincide with celebrations being held to commemorate the Egyptian Police Day.
Egypt: Spotlight on Beirut
Egyptian blogger Zenobia gives us her two cents on her assessment of the situation in Lebanon. “I don't know why they insist of labeling the opposition with Hezbollah as if they want to scare the west from it,” she writes.
Nepal: Strikes and Traffic
Traffic comes to a sluggish halt because of a strike called in Nepal. United We Blog! on the situation and with a video. “The National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs have called an indefinite traffic strike (chakka jam) today to protest the torching of public vehicles in Lahan on Friday...
Nepal: Tiananmen Square Being Staged in Lahan
Madhesh.com has concerns about violence against citizens. “In Lahan, more than hundred innocent peaceful Madheshi protestors have been seriously injured from the brutal attack by government's armed forces to suppress their voices and peaceful protests.”
Belarus: Mentioned in the State of the Union Address
According to TOL's Belarus Blog, Belarus gets a useless mention in this year's State of the Union address: “It turns out that when things go sour in Iraq, promoting democracy in Belarus and Burma are actually a good card to play for George Bush…”
Philippines: Election season begins
It’s already election season! Campaigning for midterm elections will begin next month. On May 14, Filipinos will vote for members of Senate, Lower House and local government units. The Administration hopes to keep its majority lead in the Lower House to block a possible impeachment case this year. The Opposition...
Why Independence for Quebec but not Guadeloupe?
Convention pour une Nouvelle Guadeloupe notes (Fr) that French Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal has endorsed the Quebecois party's principle of Quebecois independence. The blog continues: “We notice once more the double standard of socialist conservatives who share the goal of Quebecois Independence but reject the same outcome for Guadeloupe.”...
Croatia: Handball Scandal
Illyrian Gazette writes about a scandal brewing in Zagreb: “…the metropolis might soon share a less welcome characteristic with the Gazette's home town of London: losing out on hosting a world sporting championship because the venues weren't ready in time.”
Serbia: The Election
Europhobia and Balkan Baby write on the elections in Serbia.
Europe: Migration
The Economist‘s Edward Lucas writes about migration within the EU.
India: In Bihar
Feringhee: The Indian Diaries writes on going to Bihar. “Every week, the paper has an account of a prominent person's child, or even just successful middle-class person's, kidnapped and held for ransom. The headlines of the “Bihar Digest” section sometimes defy belief (“Child's fingers chopped off for stealing spinach”; “Son...
Kyrgyzstan: Government Stalemate
Sean Roberts says that Kyrgyzstan's president may have backed the parliament into a corner again by putting it in the position of accepting his nominee for prime minister or facing dismissal.
Guinea: Conakry is Dying
Pourquoi L'Afrique Claudique reflects (Fr) on the Lansana Konte dictatorship in Guinea: “This country, considered one of the 20 poorest in the world despite its economic potential, will only be hurt by a general strike which has been going on for a week along with daily arrests. May those who...
