How China uses ‘geostrategic corruption’ to exert its influence in Latin America

{Illustration: VOA}

Corruption has long been a scourge in parts of Latin America. Traditionally, it has funneled down domestic routes, with local politicians, business interests and drug lords benefiting from graft and dodgy dealings. Indeed, a 2022 report from Transparency International found that 27 out of 30 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have shown stagnant… Continue reading How China uses ‘geostrategic corruption’ to exert its influence in Latin America

How one of the most corrupt countries in Europe is tackling crime at the highest level

Albania may be struggling with high levels of corruption at all levels of society, but the country is taking a new approach to tackling this crime with the introduction of a special anti-corruption body, known as Spak. Spak is made up of a special prosecution office, the national bureau of investigation, and special courts dealing… Continue reading How one of the most corrupt countries in Europe is tackling crime at the highest level

Corruption and war: two scourges that feed off each other

In the world championship of corruption, the competition is fierce. The NGO Transparency International has just published its list of countries according to the level of perceived corruption. The gold medal in the competition for the most corrupt country has just been awarded to Somalia, followed by South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, Libya, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti,… Continue reading Corruption and war: two scourges that feed off each other

Does Spanish nationalism exist?

In the last two decades, the Spanish political scene has been characterised by convulsion. Among the many variables that shape this reality, one of them is the confrontation between the centre – Madrid – and the peripheral areas, some of which have their own distinct identity. In Spain there are different nationalisms, including Catalan or… Continue reading Does Spanish nationalism exist?

Indian protesters look to poetic tradition to resist Modi’s Hindu nationalism

India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, implemented the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA, in March 2024. Opponents of the law – which fast-tracks citizenship for undocumented, non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan – decry the ways in which it discriminates against Muslims. As they did when the law was passed in… Continue reading Indian protesters look to poetic tradition to resist Modi’s Hindu nationalism

The art of ‘getting lost’: how re-discovering your city can be an antidote to capitalism

Do you remember what it was like to discover the magic of a city for the first time? Do you remember the noises, smells, flashing lights and pulsating crowds? Or do you mostly remember cities through the screen of your phone? In 1967, French philosopher and filmmaker Guy Debord publicised the need to move away… Continue reading The art of ‘getting lost’: how re-discovering your city can be an antidote to capitalism

Five lessons on bringing truth back to politics from Britain’s first female philosophy professor – Susan Stebbing

It is often said that we live in a “post-truth” era. It is unclear at times what role, if any, truth plays in politics. During the pandemic, world leaders dismissed the advice of experts and acted against empirical data. Democracies have felt precarious – in the US, during the Trump presidency, and in countries like… Continue reading Five lessons on bringing truth back to politics from Britain’s first female philosophy professor – Susan Stebbing

Video: Pro-Palestinian supporters clash at UCLA

Scuffles broke out with counter-protesters over steel barricades and fireworks were thrown inside the encampment and sticks were used as weapons. The UCLA student newspaper Daily Bruin said supporters of Israel had tried to tear down a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on the campus.

UK confirms first migrants held for Rwanda deportation flights

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to stop migrants arriving on small boats from mainland Europe

The UK government confirmed Wednesday it had detained an unspecified number of migrants in recent days for deportation to Rwanda in July under its controversial new policy. It comes a week after lawmakers ended months of parliamentary wrangling and passed a law allowing some asylum seekers to be deported by declaring Rwanda to be a… Continue reading UK confirms first migrants held for Rwanda deportation flights

G7 nations commit to phasing out coal by 2035 but leave room to extend that deadline

Energy and environment ministers of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations have committed to phase out coal power by 2035 Energy and environment ministers of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations committed Tuesday to phase out coal power by 2035, marking the first time the G7 has explicitly referenced a phase-out, but left flexibility… Continue reading G7 nations commit to phasing out coal by 2035 but leave room to extend that deadline