View from the Street
Anti-FARC graffiti, Paris, France. Photo: Damien Boilley (cc/by)
Croatia: Zagreb Car Bomb Kills Journalist
The BBC reports on a bomb planted under the car of Ivo Pukanic, the owner of a leading daily paper. Zagreb has been plagued by violence linked to organized crime. BBC: A car bomb in the Croatian capital Zagreb has killed Ivo Pukanic, the owner of a leading weekly newspaper, and his colleague. Mr Pukanic,…
China Photographs All Internet Cafe Customers
China now requires all internet cafe users to be photographed, as new restrictions on expression are slamming into place after a more permissive Olympic summer. Internet users have been required to register with cafe patrons for some time. The Australian: The Times searched for online comments on the rules but was unable to find any…
Bulgaria: Politicians Entangled with Local Mafia
Bulgaria is not only the European Union’s poorest nation but The New York Times suggests it is also Europe’s most corrupt. Business alliances blur the line between the nation’s politicians, its economic elite and the “mutri” — mobs of men wearing black. Guidebooks even warn tourists to stay away from restaurants frequented by businessmen, especially…
Global Integrity Field Staff Honored
Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas of Ghana wins the Kurt Shork Award for International Journalism for his coverage of cross-border human trafficking in Africa. Anas is also a contributor to the upcoming Global Integrity Report. Our congratulations to both winners. We at Global Integrity are continually amazed by the quality of the work being done…
USA: Seeking a Third Term, New York Mayor Leans on Nonprofits He Funds
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg leverages his charitable support for local nonprofits to rally support for a bill allowing him a third term in office. Bloomberg is drawing sharp criticism from city officials. Bloomberg’s staff has approached dozens of nonprofits to testify on the mayor’s behalf, and last week the Doe Fund, the Harlem Children’s Zone,…