World

Last week at a Jakarta economic forum, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto revived a familiar Southeast Asian argument that only a strong state can uproot corruption, framing tougher executive power as a practical tool against graft. "Some groups keep complaining, saying things like 'Prabowo is authoritarian'," he told attendees at the 2026 Indonesia Economic Outlook forum. "But if you ask the people, perhaps a little bit of authoritarianism is needed to fight those corrupt people… Corruption is still widespread. We must eradicate corruption from the soil of Indonesia," he added. His remarks followed the publication of Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index on February 10, in which Indonesia came 109th out of 182 countries, sliding down 10 places from the pre...

Last week at a Jakarta economic forum, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto revived a familiar Southeast Asian argument that only a strong state can uproot corruption, framing tougher executive power as a practical tool against graft. "Some groups keep complaining, saying things like 'Prabowo is authoritarian'," he told attendees at the 2026 Indonesia Economic Outlook forum. "But if you ask the people, perhaps a little bit of authoritarianism is needed to fight those corrupt people… Corruption is still widespread. We must eradicate corruption from the soil of Indonesia," he added. His remarks followed the publication of Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index on February 10, in which Indonesia came 109th out of 182 countries, sliding down 10 places from the pre...

Amina Suleman left her village in Maradun, Zamfara state, in northwestern Nigeria, fleeing Islamist militants. "They killed many of us, and looted our properties and animals. They burnt everything including our food," she told DW. The attacks happened seven years ago, but the security situation still hasn't improved. Government forces are fighting jihadi militias and bandits to stamp out kidnappings and extortion. Nigerian hunger crisis grows  Suleman lives with her seven children in an abandoned building near Sokoto. "Our children have to go out to beg for us to eat. We don't have any source of food apart from begging. When they get a little money, we use it to buy garri," she said, referring to the cassava-based snack.  Before, they ate whatever they grew in their fields. Now it is...

Ghanaian President John Mahama wants to push the proposal, which is supported by 40 African Union (AU) members, at the United Nations in March. He says the initiative is "firmly grounded in international law" and, together with the endorsement of the African Union, Ghana will formally table the resolution before the UN General Assembly.   The resolution is just the first step, Mahama said on the sidelines of the recently concluded AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. With wide support amongst AU nations, Mahama says the "truth about the story of the transatlantic slave trade must be told" and recognized as the "gravest crime against humanity."In March Ghanaian leader John Mahama will speak at the UN armed with an AU-backed resolution Image: Jeenah Moon/REUTERS The 'gravest crime' in human...