Stories about Governance from July, 2010
Hungary: Constitutionalism under threat?
Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum draws attention to a number of laws that may threaten Hungarian constitutionalism.
São Tomé & Principe: Political Background for a Voting Day
The 25th of July 2010 is a voting day for local and regional government in São Tomé & Príncipe. Blog OPLOP posts a report about the political system and the current electoral situation in a country that celebrates its 35th anniversary this month [pt].
India: A Future For Kolkata
Supriyo Chaudhuri has some ideas about a bright future for Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal.
Malaysia: Corruption in the bureaucracy
Gutter Malaysia is shocked to discover from a report that 418,200 or 41% of Malaysia's civil servants are suspected to be involved in corruption
Iran:”The Persian Wikipedia got filtered”
Several bloggers including Sabz21baltarin reported[fa] that the Persian Wikipedia got filtered by Iranian authorities.
Serbia: ICJ Rules Kosovo’s Independence Legal
On July 22, the International Court of Justice ruled that the declaration of independence of Kosovo did not violate international law. Sinisa Boljanovic reviews Serbian bloggers' reactions to the ruling.
Angola: Coins Gleaming Again
Last May the National Bank of Angola brought into circulation kwanza coins again. In a country where the population uses US Dollars along with Kwanza in the daily life, people are getting used to a new practice and discussing its purpose.
Egypt: Niqab ban in France stirs controversy
The lower house of the Spanish Parliament is debating a proposal to prohibit the wearing of body-covering burqas and face-covering niqabs in all public spaces in Spain, and the French parliament just approved a ban on niqabs (face veils). Bloggers from across the Middle East react.
Haiti: How to Report
For foreign journalists wondering how to write about Haiti, Mediahacker has written a “handy guide”.
Anguilla: role of ministers
“What is the function of a Minister in the Government of Anguilla?” asks Corruption-free Anguilla. “He is the policy maker, not the technician. He is the director of the play, not the actor on the stage.”
Taiwan: Foxconn and the shame of Taiwan
After 12 employees’ jump of buildings and one more jump in Chimei Innolux Corporation-a subsidiary company of Foxconn-on July 20, Chairman Terry (Tai-Ming) Gou was criticized by Taiwanese scholars as “the shame of Taiwan”, so he threatens to halt all investment in Taiwan. Blogger and book writer Kue-hsien Liao argues that...
Singapore: Flooding and government
Siew Kum Hong tries to understand the recent flooding disaster in Singapore and reminds authorities that people are angry because of the “scope and location of the floods that have been occurring and the Government's cavalier response so far.”
Malaysia: Revisiting Cyberjaya
Lim Kit Siang uploads an article by Eli James who writes about the situation today in Cyberjaya, Malaysia’s version of ‘Silicon Valley’ in the 1990s.
Rwanda: Tension Before The Presidential Election, Except for Kagame
The incumbent President of Rwanda Paul Kagame has officially launched his campaign for another term in office. The electoral campaign which ends on august 9th, has been marred with challenges for the political opposition, ranging from arrests to mysterious deaths.
Thailand: Some critics are called terrorists
Via Bangkok Pundit, Ricefield Radio notes how quickly the Thailand government has decided to describe everyone that does not agree with the leaders as terrorists.
Philippines: Manila Water Crisis
Metro Manila, the national capital region of the Philippines, is now experiencing a water shortage crisis with millions enduring water supply rationing. Filipino bloggers try to make sense of the crisis.
Censorship in Singapore
Singapore authorities caused a major uproar when they banned a film of an ex-political prisoner and arrested a British author who wrote a book about the death penalty in Singapore. Bloggers react
Benin: Interior Ministry Repudiates Wolosso Dance Before His Dismissal
Wilfried Léandre Houngbedji reports that the Interior Ministry Armand Zinzindohoué ordered that night clubs in Cotonou curbed down the excessive practice of a dance called Wolosso [fr]. Unrelated to the previous matter, Zinzindohoué was dismissed and arrested later in the week for fraud.
Sri Lanka: A Militarized State
Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca comments: “Sri Lanka is a militarized state and a generation is growing up thinking that this is normal.”
Nepal: Madesh Parties Boycott Elections
Bhola B Rana reports in Nepal today that the election of Nepalese Prime Minister is due today and four Madesh parties are boycotting the election.
Jamaica: Abuse of Power?
Jamaica Salt thinks that the recent detainment of dancehall artist Vybez Kartel “does not look good any way you look at it. In terms of the justice system, human rights, detention powers, use or mis-use of emergency powers.”