The man who was originally the leading Democratic contender for governor, the mayor of Honolulu, dropped out of the election after an investigation of his fund-raising from supporters in the construction industry.

ECONOMIST: The elections in Hawaii

There is not much chance of raising bonds and taxes like those that paid for construction in the 1950s and 1960s.

ECONOMIST: California's economy

Though under public pressure to fire Mr Fukui, both Mr Koizumi and Chikage Ogi, the construction minister, have stuck by him, raising doubts over their commitment to reform.

ECONOMIST: A symbol of reform turns sour

In a speech in Victoria, he came out against the construction of a marine terminal in Kitimat, raising the spectre of a Gulf of Mexico-style disaster off the British Columbia coast.

FORBES: Canadian Pipeline Wars