Sophie Brown is a journalist and editor, who specialises in news and feature writing. She previously worked as a digital news producer and homepage editor for CNN International's Asia bureau in Hong Kong.

Paraguay’s transparency alchemists

07 Dec 2018  |  Medium  |  English  |  Transparency in Government

The article discusses the resignation of Paraguay's Education Minister, Marta Lafuente, following a public outcry over inflated prices in a catering contract for an education ministry event. The incident, known as the 'Cocido de oro' scandal, highlighted the misuse of public funds and triggered protests by students and teachers, leading to a broader examination of the country's education system and government spending. The scandal also prompted President Cartes to sign an agreement with student groups to improve school infrastructure and increase transparency. The article further explores Paraguay's efforts to combat corruption and promote transparency through initiatives like the Open Government Partnership and the implementation of the Open Contracting Data Standard, which has made the country's procurement system one of the most transparent in the world. These reforms, driven by government and civil society, aim to address issues such as graft, overpricing, nepotism, and influence-peddling in public spending.

Tags:

Dirección Nacional de Contrataciones Públicas (DNCP) Ministry of Education Open Government Partnership (OGP) Centro de Estudios Ambientales y Sociales (CEAMSO) United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

George Eliason is a journalist based in Roven'ky, Luhans'ka oblast, Ukraine. In 2014, I was the only journalist to go across the entire region doing invasive passport and weapons checks on the militias fighting here. 
From early 2014 I broke most of the important stories from the region. I scooped ...

Speaker Mike Johnson Worked With 2017 #TreasonousTrump Group Leaders To Pass $61 Billion For Ukraine

05 Sept 2024  |  intelligencer.today  |  English  |  Political Controversy

The article criticizes Speaker Mike Johnson for collaborating with controversial groups to pass a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine. It accuses Johnson and other political figures of aligning with organizations linked to Nazism and political manipulation, such as 'The Family' and the Ukrainian Diaspora. The text portrays Donald Trump as a victim of political persecution and criticizes the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for its role in anti-Trump activities. The article suggests that Johnson's actions are a betrayal to Trump supporters and calls for his resignation, highlighting the influence of Ukrainian nationalism in American politics.

Tags:

DNC The Family Ukrainian Diaspora

Opinionated

Factuality Scale

Far Right

Political View

Jahidul Islam is a journalist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Posters, banners, graffiti rob Dhaka of its charms

10 May 2022  |  The Business Standard  |  English  |  Legislation

Dhaka is experiencing visual pollution due to the rampant use of posters, banners, and graffiti, which causes mental disturbances and property damage. Despite the Graffiti Writing and Poster Sticking Control Act of 2012, enforcement is lax. City planner Adil Muhammad Khan calls for a social movement against this trend. Dhaka South and North City Corporations struggle to enforce the law, with plans to set up digital billboards for legal advertising. Residents express frustration over the defacement of property and call for stricter action against violators.

Tags:

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Institute for Planning and Development

Informative

Factuality Scale

Multilingual (English, French, Spanish, Italian) freelance journalist based in Paris. Experience in print, radio, TV and social media. Featured in The Guardian, Irish Times, France 24, BBC World Service, Sky Sports.

Bordeaux: How French giants ended up in fourth tier - and how will they get out?

05 Oct 2023  |  BBC News فارسی  |  English  |  Sports Management

Bordeaux, once a prominent French football club, now finds itself in the fourth tier due to financial mismanagement and colossal debts. The club's decline has been marked by failed promotion attempts, administration filing, and the closure of its youth academy. A potential takeover by Fenway Sports Group fell through, exacerbating the club's struggles. Current owner Gerard Lopez faces criticism for his handling of the club, with fans protesting and setting up a Socios project to influence the club's future. Despite a recent court decision preventing liquidation, Bordeaux's financial situation remains precarious, with significant layoffs and restructuring ongoing. The club's journey back to prominence appears challenging, with only the league champions earning promotion.

Tags:

DNCG Bordeaux Fenway Sports Group

Balanced

Factuality Scale

Gaia Lamperti is a journalist based in London, United Kingdom.

Wayfinding 2.0: Has Covid changed the way we navigate buildings?

21 Jul 2022  |  www.domusweb.it  |  English  |  Covid-19 Impact

Wayfinding, traditionally seen as a process of navigation, is evolving to be more inclusive and adaptable, especially in the wake of Covid-19. Experts like Dr Colette Jeffrey emphasize the importance of understanding diverse user needs and creating multisensory, accessible systems. Design studio DNCO highlights the need for harmony and coherence in wayfinding, using the example of their work at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The pandemic has accelerated the shift towards more inclusive public spaces, but also introduced challenges such as non-inclusive emergency wayfinding systems and sustainability concerns with digital signage. The future of wayfinding lies in integrating inclusive design from the outset and considering the changeable nature of spaces.

Tags:

DNCO Birmingham City University Victoria and Albert Museum

Balanced

Factuality Scale

Alyssa Moxley is a writer and audio producer based in Athens, Greece. She is available for investigative reports, detailed cultural analysis, and interviews for print and radio. She is also available for audio recording (for radio or video) needs with high quality equipment. She has expertise in ...

The Spoiler Threat of R.F.K. Jr.

12 Oct 2023  |  www.nytimes.com  |  English  |  Political Strategy

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent run for the 2024 presidential election poses a significant threat to both Democratic and Republican parties, potentially drawing votes from both sides. His campaign capitalizes on widespread dissatisfaction with the two-party system and skepticism towards government and corporate influence. Kennedy's background, from environmental lawyer to vaccine skeptic, has garnered a diverse following. His announcement in Philadelphia emphasized a populist, anti-corruption message, appealing to voters across the political spectrum. Both parties fear his potential to act as a spoiler in critical swing states, impacting the election outcome.

Tags:

DNC Democratic Party Republican Party CIA RNC

Balanced

Factuality Scale

Center

Political View

Danielle Ryan is a journalist based in Budapest, Hungary. Her work has appeared most recently in The Nation, Russia Direct, Salon, Rethinking Russia, teleSUR, RT, The BRICS Post and others.

WikiLeaks' CIA dump makes the Russian hacking story even murkier — if that's possible

12 Mar 2017  |  Salon  |  English  |  Russian Hacking

The article discusses the implications of WikiLeaks' 'Vault 7' leaks, which reveal the CIA's hacking capabilities and potential for misdirecting attribution, complicating the narrative around Russian involvement in the DNC hacks. It questions the evidence provided by cybersecurity firms like CrowdStrike and FireEye, suggesting that the CIA could have fabricated evidence to implicate Russia. The piece emphasizes the need for skepticism towards government and media narratives, advocating for more rigorous journalistic standards to uncover the truth.

Tags:

DNC CIA

Interpretive

Factuality Scale

Center-Left

Political View

Simon Schatzberg is a journalist based in Mexico City, Mexico.

The DNC Was Virtual, but the Protests Were Real as Hell

21 Aug 2020  |  The Nation  |  English  |  Police Accountability

The article discusses the protests that took place during the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Milwaukee, which were initially planned to be large but were scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of the protests shifted from the Democratic Party to issues of police violence and racial injustice, particularly in the wake of nationwide protests. The article highlights the actions of various groups and individuals, including the Coalition to March on the DNC, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Students for a Democratic Society. It also mentions local issues with the Milwaukee Police Department, the Wauwatosa Police Department, and the case of Officer Joseph Mensah. The protests aimed to draw attention to local and national issues of police accountability and racial inequality, rather than directly engaging with the DNC.

Tags:

Coalition to March on the DNC Democratic National Convention Freedom Road Socialist Organization Students for a Democratic Society Milwaukee Police Department Wauwatosa Police Department Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Immigration and Customs Enforcement