Tunisia: The organization “Al-Bawsala” criticizes the lack of preparations for the new RTI law as it officially goes into effect.
United States: FOIA Exemption 5 does not shield communications between U.S. agencies and foreign government agencies, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rules in Lucaj v. FBI.
Philippines: Government agencies are told to post online their FOI manuals on or before October 2017 or risk losing eligibility for performance bonuses.
Comparing Laws: A chart prepared by Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment, a Pakistani nongovernmental organization, compares FOI/RTI laws for four Pakistani states and 15 countries.
Pakistan: The newly enacted Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act 2016 is “only marginally better than the Sindh Freedom of Information Act, 2006 that it sought to repeal,” according to rights activist Zahid Abdullah. The Sindh Assembly recently approved the new law, Dawn reported.
Canada: The province of Manitoba is seeking public input on the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. To review information about and possible issues related to FIPPA, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fippareview.
Canada: “Indigenous Affairs bureaucrats are deliberately flouting ATIP requests by not putting information in email, writes Andrew Lawton in The Rebel, “We know this because they said it themselves—in emails.
United States: A federal judge approves a settlement agreement between the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, limiting the EPA’s release of information on livestock farmers, according to National Hog Farmer.
OECD: “Trust and Public Policy; How Better Governance Can Help Rebuild Public Trust,” an OECD report.
OGP: The World Resources Institute and the Government of France announce the launch of the Open Climate Working Group (OCWG), which will support OGP members and civil society in implementing climate policies more effectively and equitably through open government. .
FOI Video: A short video by Laura Neuman of the Carter Center about her work on women and access to information.
United States: Kelly Hinchcliffe of Poynter lists “20 of the best open-records stories so far this year.”
Australia: Western Australia parliamentarians reject amendment that would have made it easier to uncover documents.
United States: OpenTheGovernment (OTG) announces the appointment of its new Executive Director, Lisa Rosenberg, “an experienced nonprofit advocate and expert in transparency in government issues.”
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