Chad tops list of most corrupt governments in annual survey News
Chad tops list of most corrupt governments in annual survey

[JURIST] The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index [corruption index; press release] released Tuesday shows more than two-thirds of the 159 countries surveyed scored less than 5 on a scale of zero to ten, indicating serious levels of corruption. The index is a survey of business people and analysts and is widely watched in the international community, especially in the context of awarding foreign aid. Chad and Bangladesh were deemed the most corrupt nations in the world, while Finland, New Zealand, and Denmark consistently rank among the least corrupt. Africa was deemed the most corrupt continent [Reuters report], with 31 of 44 nations scoring less than three. Canada has seen a steady decline in rankings [Globe and Mail report], ranked 5th in the 1990's, dropping this year to 14th. Bloomberg has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

No lynchings reported in US for first time

On December 30, 1952, the Tuskegee Institute reported that 1952 was the first year of no lynchings of African Americans in the United States in the 71 years it had kept records. Learn more about lynching and listen to Billie Holiday's jazz recording of the 1938 protest song Strange Fruit.

USSR established

On December 30, 1922, representatives of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Transcaucus approved the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR and the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR, creating the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). During World War II, the USSR would also annex Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Moldova. Learn more about the history of the USSR from the BBC.