New evidence has emerged from the Leveson inquiry that demonstrates the remarkable extent of News International’s involvement with the UK government.
Corruption
Corruption in Indonesia a case of here comes the bribe
It’s no surprise that Indonesia is awash with corruption. What is surprising is the lack of anger at this state of affairs among ordinary Indonesians, writes Stuart Ranfurlie, a freelance journalist in Jakarta.
WikiLeaks update: Corruption in Tunisia, an “Arab force” and the party of the decade
As Julian Assange fronted court in London this morning and the media storm continue to circle around the enigmatic whistleblower, his WikiLeaks website continued its drip feed of secret cables sent from US embassies around the world. Today, more than 100 extra cables were published. Here is a summary of the best of them.
The Brumby Dump: new racing commission probing misconduct
In its first eight months of operation, the Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner has launched investigations into two separate complaints about misconduct in the Victorian racing industry, writes Swinburne University journalism student Lauren McShanag.
Corruption, scandals and the best president Liberia’s ever had
Thanks to President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — known as the Iron Lady — it seemed like the former African basket case was finally stable. But corruption has crept back into politics. Has the Iron Lady gone a bit rusty?
PHOTO GALLERY: The most corrupt US industries
Wall St may get the headlines, but it isn’t the most corrupt industry (well, okay, it did come second). Daily Beast put together the list with a global anti-corruption think tank, putting the media as more corrupt than mining.
Carl Williams broke the criminal code — that’s why he’s dead
Putting Carl Williams on the front page of the Herald Sun outraged at “benefits” he was receiving was a mind-blowingly stupid idea and it was no surprise he was killed on the same day, writes Lionel Elmore.
Did the Herald Sun kill Carl Williams?
In the filthy waters of the state of Victoria, the media will have to move carefully indeed to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Take the case of Carl Williams.
RIP John Murta: an unethical, corrupt pork-barreler
A look back on the life of the longest serving member of the US house John Murtha shows a politician “corrupt in a completely, traditionally American way”, writes Jenn Kepka.
Madonna King: Clouds of corruption darken the sunshine state
Claims of police corruption have hit the QLD police again, with up to 20 police hauled in for secret questioning and accusations of drug and organised crime activity. Is another Fitzgerald Inquiry needed? asks Madonna King.
Afghanistan: at least the Taliban don’t try to fleece you
Corruption is so costly and endemic in Afghanistan that the country’s poor are even turning to the Taliban as an alternative government that will not fleece them of their meagre incomes.
How the US military funds the Taliban
Afghanistan is beset by immense corruption, with US contracts going to Afghan subcontractors, whom then have to give cash to the Taliban in extortion fees. Douglas Wissing explains the futile political attempts to stop it.
The world’s most corrupt governments
Watchdog Transparency International has released its annual list ranking the world’s most — and least — corrupt countries. Heading the list is Somalia, while Australia is the eighth least corrupt.
Why Jacques Chirac is facing corruption charges
Former French president Jacques Chirac will be trialled for misappropriating public funds during his nearly twenty years as mayor of Paris. Will the French justice system hold Chirac and other dodgy high profile pollies to account? No guillotine necessary.
Berlusconi gets busted: Italy’s love affair ends
PM Silvio Berlusconi will now face prosecution against charges of fraud, corruption, tax evasion and bribery, with an Italian court stripping him of immunity. Italians can forgive the perma-tan and philandering but not this, says Richard Owen.
Underbelly IV: NSW Labor politics
Nathan Rees has been unable to stop the ‘soap opera’ of NSW politics, with the murder of businessman Michael McGurk opening up a Pandora’s box of corruption claims in NSW politics, thanks to an allegedly incriminating video.
US complains to Karzai of Afghan election fraud
The Afghanistan election is still undecided, with news that computer software has delayed results and the US special envoy to Afghanistan having an ‘explosive’ meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai about fraud and ballot stuffing in the election.
East Timor’s media ‘blackout’ or just a lack of research?
There isn’t a ‘media blackout’ occurring in East Timor, rather lots of factually incorrect stories that ignore the East Timorese government’s focus on anti-corruption campaigns.
Good news for QLD: ‘Sunshine best disinfectant’ for corruption
Queensland has long held the unlucky title of Australia’s most politically corrupt state. Is it their dispersed pollution? Low incomes? What encourages a culture of political corruption?
Fitzgerald’s outburst is over the top
Tony Fitzgerald, the man who 20 years ago led the inquiry into Queensland’s government corruption, isn’t interested in shades of grey. No wonder former Premier Peter Beattie hit back today against his anniversary speech.
Indonesia steps up anti-corruption measures
The former deputy governor of Bank Indonesia — and brother-in-law of President SBY — has been sentenced to 4½ years jail for corruption. It’s a sign that Indonesia is taking graft seriously.
Italian judges: lawyer guilty of lying to protect Berlusconi
Premier Silvio Berlusconi says he will respond to an Italian judicial panel’s determination that a British lawyer lied in court to protect him in exchange for $600,000. The three-judge panel released a 400-page document laying out its reasons for finding British lawyer David Mills guilty of corruption.
Confucianist corruption in South Korea
Government corruption in South Korea is a problem spanning back thousands of years, rooted in Confucianism.
NSW anti-corruption watchdog faces unrelenting pressure
Yet another attempt has been made to re-define the meaning of “corrupt conduct” as determined by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.
