Daily

Former Catalan Party Treasurer Imprisoned

The nationalist party that governed Catalonia for most of the post-Franco era has been ordered to repay €6.6 million after being found guilty of running a kickbacks-for-contracts scheme.

Ukraine anti-graft legislation under scrutiny by IMF

The International Monetary Fund has informed the Ukrainian government that it does not support the proposed creation of an anti-corruption court because there is no guarantee of its independence or transparency. The rejection will prolong payment, already delayed, of a multi-million dollar loan tranche installment.

Philippines: License Revoked for Critical News Outlet Rappler

The Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines has revoked the operating license of a major news platform Rappler in a move many lament as a blow to press freedom. Rappler and certain watchdog organizations suspect that the SEC’s ruling is a politically motivated effort by the Duterte administration to stifle criticism of the government.

Hungary: Serious Irregularities in Public Lighting Contracts

The European Union’s anti-fraud office concluded its two-year investigation into the Hungarian lighting company Elios Innovativ Zrt. on Friday, finding evidence of “serious irregularities” and “conflict of interest” in the way it was being awarded government contracts. Many of these contracts used EU funds.

Azerbaijan Sentences Investigative Reporter to Six Years

Afgan Mukhtarli, the Azerbaijan journalist who last year disappeared from a Tbilisi street and was next seen in a Baku prison, was sentenced to six years in Azerbaijani prisons on Friday for illegally crossing the border with 10,000 of undeclared euros and assaulting a border guard.