BANGLADESH: Latest Ferry Deaths Point to Old Problems

A week after the worst ferry disaster in Bangladesh's living memory this month, grief-stricken family members and relatives of the hundreds still missing pace the banks of swollen rivers, clutching on to any hope.

CORRUPTION: French Find an Italian Connection

It was an unfortunate coincidence for French President Jacques Chirac that his government announced a constitutional amendment to reinforce his immunity as head of state at the very time that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was being given similar protection.

FINANCE: ‘Transparency’ Pleads for a Strong Anti-Corruption UN Convention

Transparency International has called upon governments around the world to commit themselves to signing the UN Convention against Corruption and ensure that forthcoming Vienna negotiations lend it sufficient clout.

INDONESIA: Drive vs Trafficking Means Fighting Poverty, Corruption

Thirteen-year-old Yati was robbed of her childhood when she was sold into bonded labour and now, she sells both tea and her body.

ARGENTINA: Putting An End to “Justice Made to Order"

The overhauling of Argentina's unpopular Supreme Court is putting the new government of Néstor Kirchner to the test, presenting it with the opportunity to make good on the president's campaign pledges of change by showing unconditional respect for the independence of the different branches of the state.

CORRUPTION: Presidents, Beware

Il Cavaliere Silvio Berlusconi is off the hook for the time being. Last week, the Italian Parliament approved an immunity bill that will freeze a trial in Milan where the Italian Prime Minister is charged with bribing judges over a 1985 business deal involving a corporate takeover battle.

POLITICS-MALAYSIA: Disquiet Rises as End of Mahathir Era Nears

Behind the praise and euphoria that attended Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's final appearance before the ruling party he had led for 22 years lurks general disquiet over the country's future and keen anticipation of a political re-alignment after his era.

CORRUPTION-FRANCE: Politicians Not Keen to Clean Up

An ambitious anti-corruption plan proposed in Paris by 14 international prosecutors Thursday is unlikely to find political backing.

MEXICO: Transparency Law – a Vaccine Against Corruption

The Mexican government's traditional culture of secrecy was dealt a direct blow Thursday when a new ''transparency law'' making information available to the public, which observers say will also act as a vaccine against corruption, went fully into effect.

AFRICA: Economic Elite Rank Corruption, Ignore Own Role – Critics

A leading global business group has issued a ''corruption index'' for African countries, but corporate governance watchdogs say the World Economic Forum (WEF) ignored the role that its members play in corrupting poor countries.

DEVELOPMENT: Do the Watchdogs Need Watching?

Now heading a U.N. panel on relations with civil society, former Brazilian president Henrique Cardoso was asked here last week how he viewed the role of non-state actors in global governance.

POLITICS/CULTURE-MEXICO: Rebellion against Book Tax Initiative

The cultural community in Mexico is up in arms against a legislative bill to tax book sales in a country where average per capita consumption is 1.3 books annually.

REPEATING//ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT-URUGUAY: European Films Counter U.S. Invasion

An international film festival kicked off Monday in the Uruguayan resort town of Punta del Este with a view to opening up new space for quality European film in Latin America, swamped for years by a flood of U.S. productions.

CULTURE-CANADA: Aboriginal Languages in Danger of Dying

Most of Canada's aboriginal languages will die out in the next century unless indigenous communities work harder to protect them, a newly-released study shows

CULTURE-CUBA: Facing up to The Global Challenge

Cuba will probably never match the level of technology North America is able to deploy as it spreads its culture around the world, Cuban Culture Minister Abel Prieto admitted recently.