Full coverage: Governance

31.01.2008 A massive debt relief package for farmers is being finalised by India’s agriculture ministry. The scheme will provide debt relief to small and marginal farmers who own land up to two hectares and large farmers. The total outgoings over four years are expected to be around INR 700 billion.

30.01.2008 UNITED NATIONS, Jan 29 (OneWorld) - Hundreds of international officials, business leaders, and civil society activists have gathered in Indonesia this week for a major UN conference on corruption. At the same time, a week-long period of mourning began in the country to honor a political leader deemed to be one of the most corrupt in world history.

29.01.2008 SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 28 (OneWorld) - An arms control group in Washington, DC has begun a petition drive urging Congress to stop President Bush from signing an agreement they say could bind his successor to continue the occupation of Iraq for another five years.

24.01.2008 UN Human Rights High Commissioner seemed to have rubbed some of the Sri Lankan nationalists the wrong way when she remarked in the wake of recent termination of ceasefire that human rights violators could face trial in international courts. People’s Liberation Front and other groups have taken umbrage at her comments and are fuming.

22.01.2008 Burma's monks led protests in 2007 that may well mark the beginning of the end of more than 40 years of brutal military rule.

22.01.2008 SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 21 (OneWorld) - South Carolina voters concerned about global warming are calling on the Democratic candidates for president to focus on climate change solutions as they stage a public debate in the resort town of Myrtle Beach this evening.

21.01.2008 A comprehensive data pool on gender issues was launched by the SAARC Secretary General at the inaugural of the recent Sixth South Asian Regional Ministerial Conference by UNIFEM at New Delhi. The Gender Database will provide records on violence against women and trafficking in the South Asia region, and on women’s health and HIV/AIDS.

18.01.2008 Bhutan’s peaceful transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy will be over with the elections for national assembly on March 24. In December last year, the national council was elected. Two new political parties – The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa and the People's Democratic Party – are in the fray.

18.01.2008 With computerisation of local governing bodies, e-governance in India is likely to take deep roots. If central government accepts the recommendations submitted by an expert group, some 250,000 panchayats will go online over next three years, benefiting grassroots organisations and bringing in transparency.

18.01.2008 SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 17 (OneWorld) - As they travel the country searching for votes, each of the big three Democratic candidates for president has pledged to withdraw large numbers of troops from Iraq during their first year in office.

17.01.2008 SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 16 (OneWorld) - A federal court in San Francisco has cleared the way for a major national class action lawsuit on behalf of veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

16.01.2008 NEW YORK, Jan 15 (OneWorld) - Rights activists in the West are urging buyers and sellers of precious gems to reject rubies and jades mined in Myanmar (formerly Burma).

15.01.2008 The Delhi Cabinet in the Indian capital has given the nod to online Project Jeevan that would provide a single-window facility on various government services to its citizens. To begin with, computerised kiosks will enable easy payment of various bills, issue of forms, applications and information brochures.

14.01.2008 Critical of its existing policies, the Afghan government is now trying to transform its religious schools by widening their syllabus. The move is seen as an attempt to regain its past historic glory as students will be taught history, geography, science, languages - and computer studies, apart the teachings of Islam.

14.01.2008 A people’s cycle rally over 60 days, will build public opinion on issues of concern affecting Dalits and other marginalised sections of society in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Organised by the National Conference of Dalit Organisations, the rally was recently flagged off from Rewa district on January 10.

14.01.2008 A resource book: NGO Law and Governance authored by Grant Stillman is an excellent reference for volunteers in the development sector and students of social change. It provides a detailed information about international and domestic laws and generally accepted governance principles impacting the operation of the civil society sector.

11.01.2008 NEW YORK, Jan 11 (OneWorld) - Human rights activists will lead rallies across the United States today to build pressure on the Bush administration and Congress to end the detention of foreign prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay military camp.

11.01.2008 In northern Indian state of Haryana, an all-women Muslim panchayat is making real improvements in their village by taking up developmental projects. More importantly they are challenging the conservative and patriarchal attitudes.

10.01.2008 A new mobile phone service launched in Singapore aims to extend the reach of government e-services to the public and business users on the move.

09.01.2008 Maharashtra government is planning to set up thousands of Internet kiosks in this western state of India to boost e-governance. Once operational, the move will greatly help people in accessing various government services while making the process transparent and less time consuming.