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UPDATE! Voting is now closed! Read the results here. The Global Integrity Impact Challenge asked for ideas that fight corruption, and we got them: project ideas from 16 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. Our jury of Global Integrity staffers scored and discussed each proposed project; there were many worthwhile ideas here, and it was…

Primary school in a poor neighborhood in Kampala, Uganda. Images: Dave Blume (CC by/nc/sa)

USA Today reported that 61 regional housing agencies with track-records of mishandling funds will collectively receive $300 million from the stimulus package. Although the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) claims they will be keeping a close eye on their regional partners, watchdog groups warn taxpayers of the high likelihood of funds disappearing. USA…

Jacob Zuma’s legal battles have finally ended. The Mail and Guardian reports that the National Prosecuting Authority has dropped all corruption charges against the ANC leader. Unfortunately, the end of this eight year legal case only opens a new governance scandal for South Africa. Telephone recordings released by the NPA expose the manipulation of the…

NPR reports that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has decided to drop all corruption charges against former Alaskan senator Ted Stevens, despite already winning seven felony convictions. Stevens lost his reelection bid days after the conviction. He was appealing and maintains his innocence. Holder’s decision was based on internal mishandling of the prosecution by the…

The former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund offers a sweeping and articulate indictment of the US financial system. Simon Johnson argues that blaming favorite policies of the right or left misses the larger point: that the financial sector grew so large that oligarchs dictated policy to government, most of which passed without a…