Full coverage: Governance

30.05.2008 Despite the Bush administration's claims that the Arab world is united behind U.S. efforts in the Middle East, U.S. allies in the region are increasingly seeking reconciliation with states that America considers "the bad guys," writes Middle East analyst Phyllis Bennis.

30.05.2008 Public interest litigations in India have played an important role in bringing about accountability. Several important judgments concerning civil liberties, custodial deaths, environment, public health and women’s rights have come through PILs. Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh points out why they are vital to keep the state on its toes.

30.05.2008 WASHINGTON, May 29 (OneWorld) - Two potentially important boosts to efforts to halt climate change coincided this week with the publication of a major scientific report and the unveiling Wednesday of a new piece of legislation in the U.S. Congress.

29.05.2008 International leaders including China, Russia, and the United States must apologize for "decades" of injustices and lead a global, unified effort to revitalize human rights, says Amnesty International's annual report

29.05.2008 The new Pakistani coalition government has "broken" a key election promise by failing to reinstate the deposed judges after taking power two months ago, says the Asian Human Rights Commission.

29.05.2008 As a national conference to end solitary confinement in U.S. prisons gets underway this week, activists offer a wealth of resources on the subject, including prisoner testimonies.

29.05.2008 Although the national ID card is a "hallmark of citizenship" in Kenya, this and other rights are routinely denied to some of the country's ethnic minorities, including Nubians, Kenyan Somalis, and coastal Arabs.
From: Refugees International

29.05.2008 A large number of children remain out of school in Rajasthan in western India. In an effort to bring learning opportunities to all, the State government has signed an agreement with UNICEF under its Public Private Partnership framework to fund projects with special focus on educating the girl child.

29.05.2008 The efforts of Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) for Sri Lanka have led to the country's parliament adding Sinhala and Tamil versions to its existing English website. This is being hailed as an important milestone as multilingual websites offer citizens broader access to information in their mother tongues.

29.05.2008 People in Nepal are jubilant, celebrating the end of the monarchy. The unpopular king has now been asked to vacate the palace within a fortnight. With the emergence of an inclusive democratic republic, they now hope that the doors to social and economic transformation will now be opened.

29.05.2008 The efforts of Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) for Sri Lanka have led to the country's parliament adding Sinhala and Tamil versions to its existing English website. This is being hailed as an important milestone as multilingual websites offer citizens broader access to information in their mother tongues.

28.05.2008 Nearly 300 activists and rights leaders called last week on the United States to use its June presidency of the UN Security Council to prioritize peace in Sudan.

27.05.2008 In a move to check rampant corruption and boost economic activities in the country, the Bangladesh government has decided to set up a Truth and Accountability Commission for businessmen to reveal information on fraudulent deals. People found guilty will be barred for five years from contesting any poll.

27.05.2008 NEW YORK, May 26 (OneWorld) - Major environmental groups are up in arms against attempts in the U.S. Senate to pass a bill that they believe includes a thinly-veiled attempt to promote the interests of the nuclear industry under the guise of climate protection.

26.05.2008 While the Bush administration touts the guest worker H2B visa program as the model for immigration reform, the story of one hundred Indian guest workers protesting their treatment by their employer tells a different tale.
From: American News Project

24.05.2008 WASHINGTON, May 23 (OneWorld) - As thousands of immigrants to South Africa piled onto one-way buses home to escape widening anti-immigrant violence, civil rights groups in Texas deplored a new initiative they charge endangers the lives of immigrants and their families.

24.05.2008 International aid workers are welcoming today's announcement that they will be allowed into Myanmar (formerly Burma) even as they "seek clarity" about the terms of their engagement in the cyclone-damaged country.

23.05.2008 The U.S. Postal Service is developing a free national collection program for small electronic items to enhance 'e-recycling' in the United States.

23.05.2008 After more than two decades, the residents of a small village in Tripura in north-eastern India have a well metalled road connecting neighbouring areas. Built under a government sponsored scheme, the road has brought in multi-benefits in terms of accessing markets, hospitals and reduced transportation costs.

23.05.2008 WASHINGTON, May 22 (OneWorld) - The $300 billion U.S. Farm Bill, which is expected to be passed into law despite this week's veto by President George W. Bush, is getting high marks from advocates of U.S. food and nutrition programs but was blasted by those concerned about the global poor and giveaways to the already rich.