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CORRUPTION

Norway’s aid money still headed to ‘most corrupt’

Eleven of the world’s 12 most corrupt governments receive substantial aid from Norway, according to a cross-referencing of Norwegian aid recipients and a report from Transparency International.

Norway— given sixth place among the “least corrupt” nations — sends aid intended for specific projects straight into the bank accounts of some corrupt governments. The No. 1 and No. 3 most-corrupt countries, Burundi and Venezuela, both receive Norwegian aid according to Transparency’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

Of the 12 most corrupt nations, only second-placed Equatorial Guinea does not receive aid from Oslo.

“It really raises the question whether all aid actors are only paying lip service to transparency or are really committed to the principle which means opening up all of their books", Craig Fagan, senior policy director at Transparency International, said in a statement at the end of a Transparency conference in Korea on Thursday.

He said recipient countries too often avoid reporting the commercial flows from a donor’s development activity by instead declaring the funds investment loans or export-import credits.

It’s the second time in as many months that an international organization named Norway as part of a global problem. In November, Norwegian trade with the developed world was described as among the least fair by a California-based trade think tank.

Norwegian aid officials have previously taken action to stamp out abuses, cutting aid to dozens of countries where human rights violations were rampant or money had been swindled. In many cases, funds diverted to suppress populations were paid back.

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CORRUPTION

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president

Police raided the offices of FC Barcelona on Monday, carrying out several arrests just six days ahead of the club's presidential elections, a Catalan regional police spokesman told AFP.

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president
Barcelona's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu is among the arrested. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Spain's Cadena Ser radio said one of those arrested was former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October, along with CEO Oscar Grau and the club's head of legal services.

But the police refused to confirm names, saying only “arrests are taking place” and adding that the operation was being run by officers from the financial crimes unit.

“We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit,” the police spokesman told AFP.

According to reports in the Spanish media, the operation is linked to last year's investigation into the 'BarçaGate' scandal, which saw the club deny hiring a company to criticise current and former players on social media to improve the image of the then-president Bartomeu.

Cadena Ser said Barca paid €1 million in six separate invoices to the company I3 Ventures, with whom the club have since cut ties.

Bartomeu resigned in October, after mounting pressure following months of controversy and a dramatic decline in performances on the pitch.

His successor is due to be elected on Sunday, when club members will choose between the final three candidates, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

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