tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81355543912933547292024-03-04T20:56:40.019-08:00THE UNIVERSALLY FELT SUBJECT HOW TO AVOID THIS --- BRIBERY ! and CORRUPTION ! Some People of this Universe either Men or Female in fond of money execute some activities termed or seems to be abnormal resulting to one of the above two forms or both, either earlier or later slowly. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-9460889353055732542014-07-20T09:27:00.004-07:002014-07-20T09:29:50.350-07:00Congo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The government in Kinshasa, the capital, is weak and corrupt, leaving this vast nation rotten at its core. The remote east has plunged straight into anarchy, carved up by a hodgepodge of rebel groups that help bankroll their brutality with stolen minerals. The government army is often just as sticky fingered and wicked. Few people in recent memory have suffered as long, and on such a horrifying scale, as the Congolese. Where else are men, women, and children slaughtered by the hundreds, year after year, sometimes so deep in the jungle that it takes weeks for the truth to come out? Where else are hundreds of thousands of women raped and just about nobody punished?<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To appreciate how Congo descended into this madness, you need to step back more than a hundred years to when King Leopold II of Belgium snatched this huge space in the middle of Africa as his own personal colony. Leopold wanted rubber and ivory, and he started the voracious wholesale assault on Congo’s resources that has dragged on to this day. When the Belgians abruptly granted Congo independence in 1960, insurrections erupted immediately, paving the way for an ambitious young military man, Mobutu Sese Seko, to seize power—and never let go. Mobutu ruled for 32 years, stuffing himself with fresh Parisian cake airlifted into his jungle palaces while Congolese children curled up and starved.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But Mobutu would eventually go down, and when he did, Congo would go down with him. In 1994 Rwanda, next door, imploded in genocide, leaving up to a million dead. Many of the killers fled into eastern Congo, which became a base for destabilizing Rwanda. So Rwanda teamed up with neighboring Uganda and invaded Congo, ousting Mobutu in 1997 and installing their own proxy, Laurent Kabila. They soon grew annoyed with him and invaded again. That second phase of Congo’s war sucked in Chad, Namibia, Angola, Burundi, Sudan, and Zimbabwe—it’s often called Africa’s first world war.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the ensuing free-for-all, foreign troops and rebel groups seized hundreds of mines. It was like giving an ATM card to a drugged-out kid with a gun. The rebels funded their brutality with diamonds, gold, tin, and tantalum, a hard, gray, corrosion-resistant element used to make electronics. Eastern Congo produces 20 to 50 percent of the world’s tantalum.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Under intense international pressure in the early 2000s, the foreign armies officially withdrew, leaving Congo in ruins. Bridges, roads, houses, schools, and entire families had been destroyed. As many as five million Congolese had died. Peace conferences were hosted, but cordial meetings in fancy hotels didn’t alter the ugly facts on the ground. The United Nations sent in thousands of military peacekeepers—there are around 17,000 today—but the blood continued to flow. Donor nations sank $500 million into an election in 2006—Congo’s first truly inclusive one—but that didn’t change things either.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Congo’s east remained a battle zone. Ugandans, Rwandans, and Burundians kept sneaking across the borders to sponsor various rebel outfits, which kept using minerals to buy more weapons and pay more rebels, like the wig-wearing Cobra Matata boys. Despite the international outcry, no one knew exactly what to do.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-115061120238836512014-07-20T08:43:00.001-07:002014-07-20T08:44:14.464-07:00Angola<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Angola is a country located in southwestern Africa, the name itself comes from the word Bantu kingdom of Ndongo, whose name for its king is ngola. <br /><br />Angola, more than three times the size of California, extends for more than 1,000 mi (1,609 km) along the South Atlantic in southwest Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo are to the north and east, Zambia is to the east, and Namibia is to the south. <br /><br />A plateau averaging 6,000 ft (1,829 m) above sea level rises abruptly from the coastal lowlands. Nearly all the land is desert or savanna, with hardwood forests in the northeast. <br /><br />It was first settled by Bushmen hunter-gatherer societies before the northern domains came under the rule of Bantu states such as Kongo and Ndongo. <br /><br />The original and very first inhabitants of Angola are thought to have been Khoisan speakers. After 1000, large numbers of Bantu speakers migrated to the region and became the dominant group. <br /><br />In 1482, the Portuguese first landed in (now northern Angola), they encountered the Kingdom of the Kongo, which stretched from modern Gabon in the north to the Kwanza River in the south. Mbanza Kongo, the capital, had a population of 50,000 people. South of this kingdom were various important states, of which the Kingdom of Ndongo, ruled by the ngola (king), was most significant. Modern Angola derives its name from the king of Ndongo. <br /><br />On 1482, the region was said to be explored by a Portuguese Navigator named Diego Cao. Soon Angola became a link in trade lines with India and Southeast Asia. A few years later they were a major source for slaves during Portugal's New World Colony in Brazil. <br /><br />A government was starting to come together after the Berlin Conference back in 1885. The borders were secure and soon the British and Portuguese started investing into the colony, they brought over fostered mining, agriculture as well as the first railways in the country. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-22675195014454207662014-07-20T07:49:00.001-07:002014-07-20T07:49:09.497-07:00South America<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you thought America’s government was corrupt, a new report suggests you may be on to something. <br /><br />Transparency International <a href="http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results">published</a> its annual Corruption Perception Index, which measures the levels of public sector corruption in 177 of the world’s territories and countries. America did not fare too well. <br /><br />The United States failed to place even in the top ten cleanest countries, barely cracking the top twenty. According to the 2013 CPI report, America is the world’s 19th least corrupt country. The US held the same spot in 2012. <br /><br />Apart from New Zealand, the five cleanest were all Northern European. These included, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway. Singapore, which is an Asian country, was also ranked as one of the least corrupt countries. <br /><br />Somalia, North Korea, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Sudan were found to be the world’s most corrupt countries. The vast majority of the countries with the highest percentage of public sector corruption were located in the Middle East or in the continent of Africa. <br /><br />To measure a country’s public sector level of corruption, the CPI looks at the amount of money laundering, bribery, voter fraud, abuse of power, and any other factors that contribute to corruption. Analysts then add up a country’s score, which can range from 100 — least corrupt — to zero — most corrupt. <br /><br />It derives its information from a variety of sources, including World Bank and World Economic Forum assessments, the African Development Bank’s governance ratings, and Transparency International’s Bribe Payers Survey. <br /><br />EU and Western European countries had an average score of 66, while Sub-Saharan African countries showed the highest perceived levels of public sector corruption, averaging a score of 33. The United States scored 73. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although Spain is a member of the EU, recent political scandals caused it have the largest total decline, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25193877">dropping</a> six points from its 2012 score. Among other incidents, the king’s son-in-law was charged this year with embezzling millions in public funds. <br /><br />Overall, the 2013 study concluded that more than two-thirds of the 177 nations surveyed scored under 50, indicating that there is widespread government corruption throughout the globe. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-29810267910759427432014-07-20T07:45:00.004-07:002014-07-20T07:45:56.198-07:00North America<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">America is a continent that is divided in three parts: Central, North and South. Yet, when people say "America" it is immediately clear that they don't mean the continent with 35 ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse countries, they mean the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/usa">United States</a> of America.<br /> <br /> That might be where the aggressive envy many South Americans have towards the US starts: why do we have to be "South Americans" and people from the US get to be just Americans, no explanatory prefix required? <br /><br />But that's just the beginning of it. <br /><br /> The northern continent of the Western Hemisphere, extending northward from the Colombia-Panama border and including Central America, Mexico, the islands of the Caribbean Sea, the United States, Canada, the Arctic Archipelago, and Greenland. <br /><br /> The third largest continent, linked with South America by the Isthmus of Panama and bordering on the Arctic Ocean, the N Pacific, the N Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. <br /><br /> It consists generally of a great mountain system (the Western Cordillera) extending along the entire W coast, actively volcanic in the extreme north and south, with the Great Plains to the east and the Appalachians still further east, separated from the Canadian Shield by an arc of large lakes (Great Bear, Great Slave, Winnipeg, Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario); reaches its greatest height of 6194 m (20 320 ft) in Mount McKinley, Alaska, and its lowest point of 85 m (280 ft) below sea level in Death Valley, California, and ranges from snowfields, tundra, and taiga in the north to deserts in the southwest and tropical forests in the extreme south. Pop: 332 156 000 (2005 est). Area: over 24 000 000 sq km (9 500 000 sq miles) <br /><br /> Although the United States is seen as a deeply divided country politically, with many extremely conservative and outdated laws and views (this image is particularly true of southern states), there are states that are very liberal and are attractive to Brazilians. California and New York, in particular, are attractive to LGBT communities here, because of the acceptance they imagine is rampant. Having a pro-LGBT rights president is also a huge plus. While the United States is still seen by many as homophobic, misogynist, sexist and classist – these conditions are still worse in Brazil. <br /><br />But perhaps the biggest draw to the United States is the relative accountability of your political leaders. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/barack-obama">Barack Obama</a> should be considered a national treasure. If the United States doesn't want him, we will take him. The man is not perfect, but at least he tries to improve the country and respects his people. Here in South America, politicians constantly <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/us-brazil-corruption-judge-idUSBRE8A010C20121101">embezzle money</a>, are <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2007/10/11/brazil-politics-idUKN1143034620071011">hardly ever held accountable</a> for their crimes, and generally <a href="http://the-toast.net/2013/12/04/bullets-in-the-favelas/">neglect</a> the population. I don't know how much corruption goes on in American specifically, but I am willing to bet that it nowhere near as prevalent and blatant as in Brazil and many other South American countries. <br /><br />Of course, the US has a huge problem with the privacy invasion perpetrated by the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/nsa">NSA</a>, as was <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/the-nsa-files">revealed by this very publication</a>. They have spied on world leaders, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/02/nsa-spied-mexico-brazil-presidents">including Brazil's president</a>. And while the US government attempts to dodge accountability, it was also revealed that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/world/americas/brazil-acknowledges-spying-on-diplomats-from-us.html?_r=0">Brazil's government has also been spying</a> on the US and other countries' leaders. So it seems like the Brazilian government is also abusive in the name of "national security". In terms of political impact, it has definitely soured a usually smooth diplomatic relationship, but this hasn't really changed the opinions of the masses. <br /><br />The way the people are treated here, the constant misery we see in the streets, the violence and the government continually spitting in our faces by stealing public money – <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/28/brazil-world-cup-natal-cost">and giving priority to unnecessary international events</a> – is <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/23/latest-brazil-protest-draws-streets">more than many of us can bear</a>. This is especially true when we are dominated and overwhelmed by the culture of a country that, while again, is not perfect, is definitely much more successful than ours. <br /><br />The negligence our population suffers is the reason why the view of America as an "escape" is held predominantly by the middle to upper class: the lower income population isn't exposed to American culture. They, too, deeply feel the leaders' abuse of power, but it is the middle to upper classes who have the resources needed to leave. <br /><br />It is for these reasons that Brazilians have aggressive envy of America, and why more privileged Brazilians escape to the US, be it via a yearly trip or permanent immigration. Though the problems of the United States are clear, the opportunities are much more attractive than in our own country and our neighbors'. We know that despite our potential, we can't get our act together – most of my extended family has escaped to first world countries, primarily to the US. <br /><br />Although the trend of escaping to the US existed before Obama's presidency, his leadership has convinced me and many others that our people deserve greater respect from our leaders. The accountability and pressure Obama is put under by the American people is, in and of itself, remarkable to us. So if you really don't want Barack Obama to be your president anymore, give him to us. We'll take him. <br /><br /> <b>Widespread Corruption. </b><br /><br /> Another difference between Third World and developed countries is their differing degrees of what John Bailey and Roy Godson (2000) call governability, that is, “the abilities that government has to allocate values over society, to exercise ultimate authority in the context of generally accepted rules and procedures.” So defined, governability can be measured in terms of the state’s administrative capacities in a number of areas including how well the state can administer justice and guarantee the basic rights of its citizens. In that respect, Mexico differs sharply from the United States and Canada, a difference that is characteristic of the Latin and Anglo-Saxon culture areas of the Western Hemisphere. <br /><br />For example, corruption is a persistent problem that bores deeply into Mexican institutions, seriously impeding the proper operation of the state. Journalists and social scientists have described this problem for the former administration in Mexico (Riding 1984, Oppenheimer 1996, Rotella 1998, Morris 1991, Bailey and Godson 2000) and indeed it is still a serious problem for the Fox government. The police in Mexico, poorly paid, untrained and under the influence of patronage, have a terrible record not only of enforcing the law but for being law-breakers themselves. Local, state and federal police sometimes work for local politicians and even drug lords as armed guards. In some cases, they run their own criminal enterprises. A saying heard in Mexico goes, “if you get mugged don’t yell, you may attract the police.” There are hundreds of cases reported by Mexican human rights organizations, ordinary Mexican citizens, and American and Mexican-American visitors about police stopping travelers and demanding money from them. People who are sometimes stopped for infractions are held for long periods until their relatives can buy their freedom. Sometimes, when crime victims file complaints the police abuse them. Kaplan tells of a Mexican citizen in Mexico City who reported a stolen car. The police wanted to take his wife to the station to file a complaint. The crime victim would not let them take her, for once they got her to the station, he said, they would rape her. Indeed, rape by police is not uncommon in Mexico where prosecution of guilty parties is difficult and in most cases impossible. <br /><br />Sometimes no infractions are involved and the mordida (bribe) becomes outright extortion. If the victim is too poor, he often ends up in prison where he must pay for the most rudimentary of needs such as a bed to sleep on and some modicum of protection from other inmates or his jailers. One of the worst abuses of Mexican police is their custom of torturing suspects in order to extract confessions. A joke heard in Mexico tells of a contest between the FBI, Scotland Yard, and whatever Mexican police force is the brunt of the joke. The three agencies let a rabbit loose, and bet on which one can find it the fastest. The Mexican police come in first with an elephant in handcuffs, the elephant constantly muttering “I’m a rabbit, I’m a rabbit.” According to the United Nations, Amnesty International, and other human rights organizations in Mexico and abroad, Mexico has the worst record of torture in the world. The Washington Post detailed this widespread police abuse as well as the grave deficiencies in the Mexican justice system and the way in which corruption is crippling the function of the state (Sullivan, Jordan, 2002). <br /><br />Illegal aliens from Central America cross Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala either to work in Mexico or to make the clandestine transit through Mexico to the United States. Such people are at risk for abuse at the hands of corrupt Mexican police and immigration officials. After a visit to Mexico’s southern border, United Nations special rapporteur Gabriela Rodriquez said: “Mexico is one of the countries where illegal immigrants are highly vulnerable to human rights violations of degrading sexual exploitation and slavery-like practices, and are denied access to education and healthcare” (Grayson 2002: 10). Mexican illegals on their way to the U.S.-Mexico border are likewise the victims of such abuses by Mexican police. Shortly after his election Vincente Fox went to the border at Nogales and asked the police to stop abusing emigrants, whom Fox called “heroes.” </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-65086422087893603662014-03-28T03:01:00.006-07:002014-04-11T08:27:24.053-07:00Europe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>European Union is destroying democracy and promoting corruption. Any opposition to the EU is suppressed by successfully manipulating conservative economic ideologies and the symbolism of Europe. <br /><br /> </b>Transparency International has published its first Europe-wide check-up on the robustness and resilience of nation’s anti-corruption systems. This report is a test of systemic strengths and weaknesses, not a compendium of the region’s worst examples of corruption. It shows politics, business and the wealthy make a potent mix, one that is undermining public confidence. <br /><br /> For some time, TI asserts, many people in developed countries have assumed corruption only really exists in the poorer corners of the world. This has bred complacency and, as fighting corruption has not been a priority, ‘there is much to be done to get the European house in order.’ <br /><br />But concern is growing among Europeans, TI believes. The fear is this complacency has allowed corruption to fester. As the recession and economic depression enters its fifth year, patience with politicians is wearing thin. This report is ‘a call to action’ for European governments to wake up to the realities. <br /><br />TI has unsurprisingly found ‘huge variation’ across the continent. And its findings somewhat conform to stereotype. <br /><br />Central and eastern European countries, and Portugal, Italy, Spain and Greece are sources of concern while the Scandinavians are leading in integrity. <br /><br />Despite a ‘flurry of legislation’ since joining the EU, in Bulgaria and Romania scandals and impunity persist. In the southern European countries the report tells of ‘serious deficits in public sector accountability and deep-rooted problems of inefficiency, malpractice and corruption.’ <br /><br />But besides these general sources of concern, no-one comes out of this report as clean as a whistle. <br /><br />Europe’s key strengths are in its laws preventing corruption, established oversight of public expenditure and the continents electoral processes. But its weaknesses lie in its politicians and the private sector. <br /><br /> The European Union glorifies itself as the representative of Europe, which greatly consolidates the economic and political potential of the continent. The development of the EU is always praised as a doubtlessly progressive historical process increasing the welfare of the Europeans and ensuring human rights and democracy. <br /><br />However, broadly known economic data clearly shows that since the establishing of the European Union, the economy of its members has been weakening in relation to the rest of the world. The introduction of euro pushed the countries of Western Europe into a deep economic crisis; and, despite the fact that the European Economic Community has recently been the most efficient economic organization in the world, the European Union has already turned into a heavy burden for its citizens. <br /><br /> Political parties and businesses ‘exhibit the highest risks of corruption across Europe.’ TI’s report identifies two areas in particular of considerable concern. Two points where business and politicians meet: party funding and lobbying. <br /><br />Extensive experience of some countries in Eastern and Central Europe suggests that the European Union promotes corruption in its members not only by the means of enormously puffing up the number of bureaucrats and creating countless opportunities for bribery via various funds and programmes. <br /><br />For example, having just joined the European Union, Lithuania in 2004 became the most corrupt state in Europe. <br /><br />The EU destroys all the democratic and legal institutions capable of limiting its powers and influence. By unscrupulously interfering into internal policy of its member states, the European Union undermines even the democratic responsibility of politicians, which always blame the EU in public for their own crimes and mistakes. <br /><br />By the way, the European Union undermines human rights too. The members of the European Union are free of critcs from most international organisations; therefore, the arbitrary powers of politicians and bureaucrats towards ordinary people there have become virtually uncontrolled. <br /><br />It can be seen clearly in Lithuania, where due legal process has become a privilege of the rich. According to public opinion polls conducted after joining the European Union, already about a half of the Lithuanians do not consider Lithuania to be a democratic state any more. <br /><br /> ‘Europe’ is a positive and inspiring word not only for Europeans; therefore, although the EU represents only a part of the European continent, its bureaucracy is trying hard to monopolize the powerful symbol. EU bureaucrats exploit successfully the humble posture towards themselves of many non-EU states. <br /><br />For unknown reasons, even Russia accepts not being considered a part of Europe although it occupies a big part of the continent. Apparently Russians do not notice that in this way they indirectly recognise their cultural and moral inferiority in the eyes of the whole world. <br /><br />The propaganda of the European Union does not meet with any considerable resistance because the EU bureaucracy already controls not only Western, but also Central Europe, and a great part of Eastern Europe. By cynically manipulating economic ideologies, the symbolism of Europe, and the mythology of ‘the historical mission of the European Union’, EU ideology makers and propagandists successfully neutralise any external and internal opposition. <br /><br /> Out of the 25 European countries assessed only two do not have any binding regulations on political donations – Sweden and Switzerland. This ‘is a significant area of risk’ and while these two are the focus of TI’s criticism, the UK is not forgotten. The report identifies the lack of any upper limit on political contributions in Britain as contributing to the ‘on-going erosion of public confidence in the political process.’ <br /><br />Big money and big business in party funding are also ripe for abuse. The case of Conservative party former co-treasurer <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17503116">Peter Crudas</a> is a prime example. He was secretly filmed claiming he could sell dinner with David Cameron and possibly the chance to influence policy for £250,000. <a href="http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/category/projects/tory-party-funding/">The Bureau has uncovered</a> the weight of donations to the Tory party coming from the hedge funds and financiers of the City. The taint that millionaires and the financial services industry have bought influence at the top of the party has dogged the Conservatives. <br /><br />Europe’s political parties must work harder to ensure their funding is transparent. But this report declares that across Europe parliaments and governments must bring transparency to lobbying. Only six of the 25 countries assessed have any kind of regulation at all. Only two of them have lobbying laws, Poland and Lithuania, both of which have come in for criticism. Poland’s law is too vague, only requiring ‘professional lobbyists’ sign a register. Lithuania’s lobbying law is described by TI as ‘completely deficient’. <br /><br />In a series of extensive investigations the Bureau has exposed <a href="http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/category/projects/lobbying-projects/">sharp practice by British lobbying firms</a> and uncovered claims by senior executives at leading firm <a href="http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/12/05/pr-uncovered-top-lobbyists-boast-of-how-they-influence-the-pm/">Bell Pottinger</a> that it could give its clients access to the heart of the British government. The UK is now considering some form of statutory register of lobbyists and their connections with politicians but <a href="http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2012/03/15/campaigners-and-lobbyists-lambast-register-plans/">campaigners and lobbyists</a> have criticised proposals as inadequate. <br /><br />The perception that cash buys you access at the expense of Europe’s electorate is pernicious. It is compounded when legislation designed to bring greater transparency to politics are threatened. In a report that touches briefly on specifics and discusses risk a great deal what is stark is that European governments all run the risk of being accused of corruption and malpractice. At a time when Europe is smoldering with discontent and distrust, without transparency in their dealings the wealthy mixing with politicians is pouring oil on the flames. <br /><br />You can read the report <a href="http://www.transparency.org/news/feature/enis">here</a>. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-30723317528013934502014-03-28T02:50:00.002-07:002014-04-11T08:27:39.431-07:00Australia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A world’s smallest continent, South East of Asia, and a country situated between the Indian and Pacific oceans. <br /><br /> Aboriginal tribes are thought to have migrated from southeastern Asia 20,000 years ago; first Europeans were British convicts sent there as a penal colony. <br /><br /> A commonwealth comprising the continent of Australia, the island state of Tasmania, two external territories, and several dependencies. The first British settlement, a penal colony at Port Jackson (now part of Sydney), was established in 1788. The present-day states grew as separate colonies; six of them formed a federation in 1901. In 1911 Northern Territory joined the commonwealth and the Capital Territory, site of Canberra, was created. Canberra is the capital and Sydney is the largest city. Population: 20,400,000. <br /><br /> A former British colony, now an independent member of the Commonwealth, constitutional links with Britain formally abolished in 1986; consists chiefly of a low plateau, mostly arid in the west, with the basin of the Murray River and the Great Dividing Range in the east and the Great Barrier Reef off the NE coast. Official language: English. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: dollar. Capital: Canberra. Pop: 19 913 000 (2004 est). Area: 7 682 300 sq km (2 966 150 sq miles) <br /><br /> Australia has been ranked the eighth least corrupt nation in an international ranking of 180 countries. <br /><br />It has gained one place since last year, in figures released by Transparency International (TI). <br /><br />New Zealand and Denmark were deemed to have the lowest levels of perceived corruption, while Somalia and Afghanistan had the highest levels. <br /><br /> IF, AS an Australian citizen, you perform an act of bribery offshore, you can be fined $1 million, jailed for 10 years and your company can be fined $10 million, which all sounds very proper except that nobody has ever been prosecuted. <br /><br />Offshore corruption is suddenly on the agenda. Just as we recovered from the Stern Hu affair - where an Australian citizen working for miner Rio Tinto got 10 years' jail for corruption - BHP is being investigated over bribery allegations in Cambodia. <br /><br />But you won't find Australian regulators doing anything here. The Rio scandal was uncovered by officials in China. The BHP case was started by America's powerful Securities and Exchange Commission. <br /><br />We have the Commonwealth Criminal Code (2001), which opened up offshore jurisdictions to Australian regulators. <br /><br /> And it's true the fines were lifted to the million-dollar level just a few months ago - they used to be tiny - $66,000 for individuals and $300,000 for companies. <br /><br />But unless you have someone enforcing the law, the bad guys go about their business undeterred. In effect, it means that if you have a brown paper bag of unmarked bills under a full moon on the beach at Far Away Island you don't really have to worry about the ''Australian'' regulator. As for the local regulator … they might just be coming down the beach to meet you. <br /><br />It is logical to assume that if giant Australian companies are getting into trouble, then a host of smaller operators might usefully be monitored. <br /><br />This is not conjecture; it's a safe assumption based on what has just occurred in the US where last year the Department of Justice revealed that the number of ''offshore corruption'' cases it is working on has tripled in two years. ''It's a remarkable increase in the volume of investigations,'' says Michael Ahern, executive director of Transparency International (Australia), an organisation that tracks offshore corruption. <br /><br />The Corruption Perceptions Index is based on expert and business surveys to measure the perceived levels of corruption in the public sectors of various countries. <br /><br />The Berlin-based organisation said countries whose infrastructure had been "torn apart" by conflict needed help from outside to prevent a culture of corruption taking root. <br /><br />"The international community must find efficient ways to help war-torn countries to develop and sustain their own institutions," TI head Huguette Labelle said. <br /><br />Overall, the 2009 corruption list is "of great concern," the organisation said, with the majority of countries scoring under five in the ranking, which ranges from zero (highly corrupt) and 10 (very clean). <br /><br />The most corrupt nation on Earth remained Somalia, the impoverished and war-torn Horn of Africa state that has been without a functioning government for two decades, notching up a score of 1.1. <br /><br /> A decade ago Australia was the top-ranked ''clean'' country in the world by Transparency International. Today it has fallen to eighth place. It might come as a surprise to many people but Australia is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. <br /><br /> Australia's worsening record in offshore corruption relates largely to the Australian Wheat Board scandal in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which involved government kickbacks. <br /><br />But the ranking is likely to deteriorate further with the Rio case and - potentially - BHP'S ''Cambodia'' case, news of which broke only in recent days and relates to alleged bribery at a former bauxite operation. <br /><br />The BHP case has prompted questions about both the significance of the event and the manner in which the corporation - for all its stated ambitions to be a top-class corporate citizen - disclosed the bad news at the bottom of a production report. <br /><br />''Disclosure is crucial,'' says James Thier, of Australian Ethical Investments. ''Australians have a relatively good reputation in this area. The essential issue is the policy of the companies themselves, and it could always be better.'' <br /><br />Although recent events have pointed towards Asia and China, the global flashpoint for offshore corruption is in Africa, where the volume of mining and exploration activity has reached unprecedented levels. And Australians are coming up against other ''offshore players'', especially China, where attitudes to bribes can differ. <br /><br />Australia might not score as well as we might like in the Transparency International tables or on the OECD's offshore bribery scorecard. In fact, at the OECD we are classified as having ''little or no enforcement'', along with such countries as Mexico and Turkey. But it's worth noting that under the OECD agreement - the 2009 convention on combating bribery of foreign public officials - China is not even on the list because it has not signed up. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Politicians wax fat with illegal perks provided by the ruling elite. While the average citizen remains ignorant to what is taking place, the alert observer can build a case against the institution of ‘party politics’. <br /> <br /> Once more the Australian family is being put to the sword. The Rothschilds Group of Bankers, who own the ‘Zionist Banking Manipulators.’ (As they do every other Zionist Banking Manipulators Bank in every country in the Western World ) are going to up interest rates until people paying off mortgages are driven to the wall. <br /> <br /> The men of straw who run the Australian economy(?) for the Rothschilds don’t care that usurious interest rates make it impossible for Australian marriage spouses to live together as a family.<br /> <br /> For the last fifty-three years (when Ben Chifley died ) successive malpracticing Governments have stolen Home Ownership not only from the lower class but from the middle class. Circa 1986, a hike of interest rates to 17.5 per cent by Hawke ~Keating ~ Dawkins and Button saw many farmers kill their families before turning the gun on themselves ~ having lost the family farm which had been theirs for generations.<br /> <br /> Some two million families have disintegrated since1972. Political Parties are made up of every type of bluebeard. <br /> <br /> A ‘blue’ card is not necessary so we get paedophiles, lesbians and opportunists who delight in destroying families as it makes it easier to get at the children. (Take a lookat Queensland’s ‘foster’ families record )<br /> <br /> We get people who receive $1 million after three terms and still ask poorer people for donations to pay their court costs! It is quite simple, as the record speaks for itself, we get arsehole after arsehole. The politicians who manage Australia for the Rothschild-‘Illuminati’ have destroyed some 2 million families by encouraging them to ‘invest’ in nefarious schemes then commence to bleed them dry.<br /> <br /> It shouldbe noted here that a hike in interest rates does not affect politicians,bureaucrats and bank staff. In an Australian ‘democracy’ some are more equal than others. Also, as noted before, all politicians own rental property and have a constant need for tenants.<br /> They have a sound interest in making sure home borrowers go broke.<br /> <br /> African countries accounted for half of those in the bottom 20 of the list, including Angola which is now the continent's top oil exporter after emerging from a 27-year civil war. <br /><br />But it was not just countries riven by conflict that saw their ratings slide. Italy, a member of the Group of Seven rich countries, came in at 63rd on the list, from 55th last year. <br /><br />Fellow EU member Greece fared even worse, at 71st, slipping from 57th. <br /><br />Seemingly winning the fight against corruption were Liberia - whose score improved from 2.4 to 3.1, shooting up 41 places to 97th - and Gambia, which went from 158th on the list to 106th. <br /><br />Other significant improvements were registered by Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Montenegro and Malawi. <br /><br />The United States inched up from 7.3 to 7.5 but dropped one place in the rankings to 19th. China's rating was stable at 3.6 but also fell seven places to 79th. <br /><br />Russia continued to be very low down in the list, coming in at 146th place, although its score edged higher to 2.2 from 2.1. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-56942430563306729212014-03-26T21:35:00.001-07:002014-04-11T08:27:50.710-07:00Asia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Corruption in Asia continues to be a drag on growing economies, draining billions of dollars from economic development and triggering a public backlash in some places. Calls for reform are coming from the private sector and United Nations even as the region’s economic prospects improve. <br /> <br /> When protestors took to the streets of Bangkok last year, calls were made for the Thai Government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to address signs of growing corruption in Thailand.<br /> <br /> A 79-year-old businessman pointed to rising costs of doing business, including bribes for officials.<br /> <br /> “I am an industrialist. I cannot stand anymore because we have to pay under the table so much money," he said. "Before, all right you have to accept that before it was about five and ten per cent. But now it’s a minimum 30 per cent - minimum is 30 per cent."<br /> <br /> Estimates for how much economic activity is lost to corruption are difficult to judge, but a recent study by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce concluded that over two per cent of national output or some $11 billion is likely to be lost to corruption this year.<br /> <br /> The university said many from the private sector who were surveyed said they are paying more bribes to government officers and politicians to win government contracts.<br /> <br /> Thai political economist, Pasuk Pongpaichit, says although there is evidence that indicates authorities are making progress in curbing lower level corruption, the slowing global economy means growing competition for lucrative government contracts.<br /> <br /> "Globalization, the international pressure for Thailand to become more transparent is being felt and various government departments are responding to it. It doesn’t mean that things are going to happen very quickly," she said. "On the other hand, as the world economy is slowing down and the local business is become more competitive, you could see that on specific cases the rate of corruption may have increased because of the higher competition.”<br /> <br /> Analysts say the Thai Government is already under scrutiny for spending more than $11 billion on water management infrastructure following the 2011 floods and a further $67 billion on rail and other building projects. Economists have also charged a $33 billion rice price support program for farmers is beset by corruption allegations.<br /> <br /> Bandid Nijathaworn, a former central bank deputy governor and now president of the Thai Institute of Directors, says corruption in Thailand appears to be more of a problem now than 10 years ago.<br /> <br /> "Corruption is a global problem," he said. "You see corruption appearing as headlines in many countries. So it has become a global issue both in national organization and individual country’s governments trying to tackle it. In the case of Thailand we are having a greater challenge because the problem seems to be worsening than maybe 10 years ago.”<br /> <br /> Despite posting robust economic growth during the past decade, many countries in Asia still rank poorly on international anti-corruption indices.<br /> <br /> A recent report by the U.S.-based Center for International Policy said that in China alone between 2001 and 2010, $2.74 trillion in illegal funds left the country, through criminal financial schemes, corruption, tax evasion or other illegal activities. For Thailand the figure stood at $64 billion over the same period. In India, the center of major ant-corruption rallies last year, the figure stood at $123 billion.<br /> <br /> United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) regional anti-corruption adviser, Shervin Majlessi, says given Asia’s growing influence in the world economy, there is a greater need for oversight.<br /> <br /> "Generally, speaking when you have this kind of fast economic growth we are witnessing in this region, it comes with the same challenges and opportunities in terms of corruption," he said. "The challenge is obviously there is more financial flows, there are bigger contracts, procurements, the opportunities for corruption to increase. So you need stronger anti-corruption systems and regimes in place."<br /> <br /> In 2003 the U.N. passed a Convention against Corruption. In South East Asia, Burma, ratified the convention in December - the last to do so of the 10 member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).<br /> <br /> UNODC’s Majlessi says for ASEAN governments the key is to implement the reforms set out under the U.N. convention.<br /> <br /> "Now the whole of ASEAN is finally covered by this convention. So this is kind of positive news," he said. "There is a key challenge in the implementation of this kind of international norms and standards and that taken time including legal reforms, international reforms and most importantly political will to actually implement this kind of instrument."<br /> <br /> The Asian Development Bank is also supporting ASEAN through a Corporate Governance Scoreboard to promote transparency in business.<br /> <br /> Thai Institute of Directors' Bandid Nijathaworn, who oversees a new group of companies aimed at fighting corruption, says private sector involvement is also critical for anti-corruption efforts to succeed.<br /> <br /> “I think the momentum is building and people and people feel that in order to address the corruption issue you need to look at both the demand side and the supply side of corruption," he said. "Usually companies are being looked at on the supply side of the corruption, so getting the companies together we hope to reduce the supply side of corruption.”<br /> <br /> Analysts say the corruption fight needs to go beyond government law enforcement, and include non-government and private sector organizations. <br /><br /> The Open Knowledge Conference in Geneva attracted delegates from 55 countries, indicating that open, public data is indeed becoming a global movement around the world. <br /><br />How is Open Data adopted in Asia, the largest continent of this planet where 60 per cent of the world’s population live? <br /><br />Asia has some of the most advanced internet economies, as well as some of the least developed countries with hardly any access to information or information infrastructure, neither analogue nor digital. <br /><br />At OKCon, 26 participants from 11 Asian countries were present, including Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Russia. In this blog, I focus on selected East Asian and Pacific countries: New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea (North Asian and Pacific nations); and Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar (South-East Asian nations). Getting reliable data from all 49 Asian countries would require much more research, and these countries are grouped together in the <a href="http://info.worldbank.org/etools/kam2/KAM_page5.asp">Worldbank Knowledge Economy Index</a>. <br /><br />Despite being grouped together in the Worldbank Knowledge Economy Index (KEI), these countries have vastly different economic rankings. New Zealand achieved the highest Knowledge Economy score, closely followed by Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan, whereas Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar score lowest in all KEI categories (ICT, education, economic incentive and institutional regime, innovation). Other key indicators relevant for Open Data development are the Corruption Perception Index (Transparency International), the World Internet Statistics and the Democracy Index (EIU) as a measure for general governance and functioning of government. <br /><br />According to the 2012 World Internet Statistics, the overall internet penetration in Asia is only 27.5 per cent, but this still means the Asian continent is home to more users than any other, with over 1 billion. Internet penetration across the listed countries ranges from 1 per cent in Myanmar to 88 per cent in New Zealand; again with a wide gap between North and South East Asia (except for Singapore with 75 per cent). <br /><br />South East Asia has often been described as “information black hole” in scholarly research on national information strategies, with many governments restricting or denying access to information to their citizens, often based on the assumption that government information by default is a secret. Earlier this month, the government of Vietnam enacted the “Decree 72” which limits the use of blogs and social media to “providing or exchanging personal information”, and prohibits them from being used to disseminate news or even information from government sites. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The law also bans content which could be <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23920541">“harmful” to national security or which opposes the government</a>. This kind of restriction is based on the perception that governments own the information and can control its use, and that information-empowered citizens and businesses are potentially dangerous. <br /><br />While North Asian countries, as well as New Zealand and Australia, mostly have Freedom of Information (FOI) laws in place (with the exception of Hong Kong); in South East Asia, FOI laws are more the exception than the rule. Even in the otherwise highly developed information economy of Singapore, there are many areas where the government argues that information needs to be kept confidential in the public interest, which explains why citizens cannot access and analyse data related to the size of assets in the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), a sovereign wealth fund owned by the Government of Singapore. <br /><br />Sometimes laws are in place, but they are not fully applied. In Thailand, the country’s Official Information Act (OIA) was enacted in 1997, but “the concept of freedom of information is totally new to both Thai state officials and to the people. Thai society thus needs some time to learn more about the Information Law. State officials have to understand the procedures of law enforcement better so that they know how to provide information services and disclose information to meet public requests. Meanwhile, people should recognize their right to know and know how to utilize the Information Act as a means of access to state information. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thai society should recognize information law as an essential part of establishing accountable and transparent government and as a crucial part of eventually building up civil society” (Quote by <a href="http://www.worldlii.org/int/journals/PLBIN/2000/29.html">N. Seriak, Office of Official Information Commission</a>). In 2000, the law was therefore amended to include strategic guidelines on how to promote and develop the acknowledgement of the Act’s content, its utilization, the mechanism and the procedures to utilize the Act to meet people’s right to access information. This example illustrates that the idea of open information also requires a new way of thinking about information, both for government officials and citizens. <br /><br />Only 4 of the listed 15 countries are full democracies according to the <a href="https://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=DemocracyIndex12">EIU index</a> – New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea; they are also members of the OECD. The majority of countries in Asia fall into the categories of “flawed” democracies (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia), Singapore is a “hybrid system” and at the bottom are authoritarian governments such as Vietnam, Laos (lowest overall score) and Myanmar, which is now currently moving into another phase of political governance. In August this year, Myanmar officially ended censorship, thereby jumping up to 151st out of 179 countries in the World Press Freedom index. <br /><br />There are few economic studies about the tangible and intangible value of open information, perhaps because the causality is not directly measurable, most of the time. On the other hand, it might be easier to analyse examples on the cost of non-open data, in hindsight of events where data was not available. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-3139886704013933342014-03-26T21:25:00.000-07:002014-04-11T08:28:05.209-07:00Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Corruption is a pervasive problem in both the developed and developing world. Corruption is a complex issue with a vast array of determinants and effects that are often context and country specific. Corruption affects many Africans on a daily basis. <br /><br />This discussion provides a concise overview of corruption in Africa and outlines how this corruption constrains development, with solutions to the problem also. <br /><br />In recent years, the problem has gained much interest due primarily to a series of high level corruption cases in industrialised countries, an increasing awareness of the cost of corruption throughout the world and the practical and economic changes many countries are undergoing.In Africa however, corruption is a development issue. In 2009, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Southern Africa Representative Jonathan Lucas labelled corruption as “a crime against development, democracy, education, prosperity, public health and justice - what many would consider the pillars of social well being." <br /><br />Transparency International’s (TI) 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released in October 2010, identified Africa as the most corrupt region in the world. Sub-Saharan Africa is also one of the most under-developed regions on earth. While Governments commit large sums to addressing the plethora of problems hindering development on the continent, corruption remains a major obstacle to achieving much needed progress. It is therefore imperative that anti-corruption measures form part of Africa’s development agenda to ensure future growth and prosperity in the region. <br /><br />According to Transparency International’s (TI) 2012 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), 90% of African countries scored below the symbolic 50 pass mark. This is roughly on a par with Eastern Europe and Central Asia. On average, Africa’s CPI score in 2012 was 33, which means corruption hampers business and the provision of decent public services. This is an improvement over last year’s average score of 29, which TI equates to widespread corruption. The bottom five countries in the index include two African countries, Somalia and Sudan. <br /><br /> The CPI report defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, in public and private sectors. Countries are scored based on assessments of the prevalence of bribery of public officials, embezzlement of public funds, kickbacks in public procurement, and questions about the effectiveness of public anti-corruption efforts. According to the report, conduct within most African countries in these areas leaves much to be desired. <br /><br />The Berlin-based group’s 2010 list ranks six African nations among the 10 most corrupt countries of the 173 surveyed. These are Sudan, Chad, Burundi, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, with Somalia heading the list as the most corrupt nation of all those surveyed. These six may be the worst culprits on the continent, but the majority of African countries surveyed did not fare any better. TI scores countries on a 10-point scale, with zero being the most corrupt. Forty-four of the 47 African nations surveyed scored less than five on the index, indicating serious levels of corruption. The severity of Africa’s corruption problem is further evidenced by the least corrupt African nation, Botswana, only achieving a score of 5.8. <br /><br /> For the first time, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/botswana/">Botswana </a>entered the world’s top 30 countries perceived to be least corrupt, ahead of Spain, Estonia and Portugal. <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/west-africa/cape-verde/">Cape Verde </a>joined <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/botswana/">Botswana </a>in the group of countries with a score above 60. The <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/seychelles/">Seychelles</a> (52) became the fifth African country with an index above 50, closely behind <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/mauritius/">Mauritius</a> (57) and <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/rwanda/">Rwanda</a> (53). <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/zambia/">Zambia</a> and <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/west-africa/ghana/">Ghana </a>are two countries that have taken a tough stance against corruption which might translate into an improved CPI in the medium term. <br /><br />TI’s 2011 Global Corruption Barometer indicates that African citizens believe corruption had worsened in the previous three years. <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/rwanda/">Rwanda</a> was the only African country where more than 50% of respondents believed corruption had declined in this time. In <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/kenya/">Kenya </a>and <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/ethiopia/">Ethiopia </a>more people believed corruption had improved than got worse. <br /><br />The majority of countries at the bottom of the CPI have emerged from prolonged crisis, which highlights the strong detrimental effect of conflict on political and administrative institutions. Somalia, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/sudan/">Sudan</a>, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/central-africa/chad/">Chad</a>, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/burundi/">Burundi</a>, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/zimbabwe/">Zimbabwe</a>, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/north-africa/libya/">Libya</a>, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/central-africa/congo-republic/">Congo Republic</a>, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/central-africa/congo-democratic-republic/">DRC </a>and <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/angola/">Angola</a> have the lowest scores for the continent. <br /><br />The Arab Spring put the spotlight on public concern over corruption. Newly elected <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/north-africa/">North Africa</a>n governments must entrench a culture of transparency and accountability in public office and regain trust. This will require establishing integrity in government institutions and involving the public much more to have them demand further accountability. <br /><br />According to TI, national defence sectors face a strong risk of corruption. Defence and security establishments in <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/north-africa/">North African countries</a> in particular were considered barely accountable. <br /> </span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Table 5.3. Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International 2011-13 </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Country</span></b></div>
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<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127"><b>Global rank 2012</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69"><b>CPI 2012</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127"><b>Global Rank 2011</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69"><b>CPI 2011</b></td>
<td style="border: medium none; padding: 0in; text-align: center;" width="69"><div class="MsoNormal">
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<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Botswana</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">30</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">65</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">32</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">61</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Cape Verde</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">39</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">60</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">41</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">55</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Mauritius</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">43</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">57</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">46</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">51</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Rwanda</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">50</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">53</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">49</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">50</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Seychelles</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">51</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">52</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">50</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">48</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Namibia</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">58</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">48</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">57</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">44</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Ghana</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">64</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">45</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">69</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">39</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Lesotho</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">64</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">45</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">77</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">35</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>South Africa</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">69</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">43</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">64</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">41</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Saõ Tomé & Príncipe</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">72</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">42</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">100</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Liberia</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">75</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">41</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">91</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">32</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Tunisia</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">75</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">41</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">73</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">38</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Burkina Faso</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">83</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">38</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">100</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Malawi</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">88</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">37</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">100</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Morocco</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">88</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">37</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">80</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">34</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Swaziland</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">88</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">37</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">95</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">31</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Zambia</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">88</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">37</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">91</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">32</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Benin</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">94</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">36</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">100</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Djibouti</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">94</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">36</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">100</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Senegal</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">94</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">36</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">112</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Gabon</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">102</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">35</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">100</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Tanzania</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">102</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">35</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">100</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Algeria</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">105</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">34</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">112</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Gambia</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">105</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">34</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">77</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">35</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Mali</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">105</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">34</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">118</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">28</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Ethiopia</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">113</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">33</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">120</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">27</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Niger</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">113</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">33</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">134</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Egypt</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">118</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">32</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">112</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 29;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Madagascar</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">118</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">32</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">100</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 30;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Mauritania</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">123</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">31</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">143</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">24</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 31;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Mozambique</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">123</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">31</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">120</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">27</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 32;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Sierra Leone</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">123</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">31</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">134</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 33;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Togo</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">128</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">30</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">143</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">24</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 34;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Côte d´Ivoire</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">130</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">29</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">154</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">22</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 35;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Uganda</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">130</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">29</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">143</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">24</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 36;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Comoros</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">133</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">28</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">143</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">24</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 37;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Kenya</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">139</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">27</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">154</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">22</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 38;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Nigeria</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">139</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">27</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">143</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">24</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 39;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Cameroon</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">144</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">26</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">134</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 40;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Central African Rep.</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">144</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">26</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">154</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">22</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 41;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Congo</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">144</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">26</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">154</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">22</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 42;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Eritrea</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">150</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">25</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">134</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 43;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Guinea-Bissau</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">150</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">25</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">154</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">22</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 44;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Guinea</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">154</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">24</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">164</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">21</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 45;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Angola</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">157</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">22</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">168</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">20</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 46;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Congo</b><b>, Dem. Rep. </b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">160</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">21</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">168</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">20</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 47;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Libya</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">160</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">21</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">168</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">20</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 48;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Equatorial Guinea</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">163</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">20</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">172</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">19</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 49;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Zimbabwe</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">163</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">20</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">154</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">22</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 50;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Burundi</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">165</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">19</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">172</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">19</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 51;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Chad</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">165</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">19</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">168</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">20</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 52;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Sudan</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">173</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">13</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">177</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">16</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 53;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>Somalia</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">174</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">8</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">182</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">10</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 54; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: left; width: 140.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="187"><b>South Sudan</b></td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">…</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">…</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 95.25pt;" valign="bottom" width="127">…</td>
<td style="padding: 0in; text-align: center; width: 51.75pt;" valign="bottom" width="69">…</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The TI study found a high-to-critical corruption risk in defence sectors in 14 sub-Saharan countries. <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/angola/">Angola</a>, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/central-africa/cameroon/">Cameroon</a>, <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/central-africa/congo-democratic-republic/">DRC </a>and <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/eritrea/">Eritrea </a>face the highest risk of defence corruption, highlighting the legacy of conflict and weak governance. <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/southern-africa/south-africa/">South Africa</a> is the only country in the region with provisions for legislative oversight of the defence sector. <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/west-africa/ghana/">Ghana </a>and <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/kenya/">Kenya </a>show some encouraging measures, including the existence of disciplinary measures against corruption. <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/tanzania/">Tanzania</a>’s professional training of UN peacekeeping forces may lower the risk of corruption on operations. <br /><br />Public procurement also offers potential for corruption through embezzlement or waste of public money. TI estimates corruption and mismanagement in public procurement could be costing <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/kenya/">Kenya </a>up to USD 357 million annually. In early 2013, the Kenyan government started looking into simplified monitoring tools and a central database of contract information to increase transparency in public spending. In <a href="http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/west-africa/ghana/">Ghana</a>, social auditing clubs track public tenders to watch for quality and effective spending. <br /><br />The scientific nature of scales and scores may have little meaning to the people affected most by the corruption the figures indicate. An additional report published by TI in 2010, The Anti-Corruption Catalyst: Realising the MDGs by 2015, puts the affects of corruption in perspective. A bribe demanded by a teacher to enrol a girl at a ‘free’ elementary school could irreversibly block that girl's education and future opportunities. A hike in the local cost of drugs by newly elected parliamentarians whose campaigns were supported by pharmaceutical firms might put treatment out of reach of sick people, leaving them unable to work and earn a living. Amounts paid as bribes are often quite small, but the implicit costs are great. <br /><br />The Anti-Corruption Catalyst report shows, through the statistical analysis of data from 42 countries, that where more bribes are paid, there is a lower literacy rate among 15 to 24-year-olds. A rise in reported bribery is also associated with higher maternal deaths in 64 states, regardless of a country's wealth or how much it invests in health. Data for 51 countries shows that people's access to safe drinking water falls as bribery increases. According to TI, reducing bribery has the same effect on improving access to clean water as increasing household incomes. <br /><br />The effects of bribery and kickbacks in the education, water and healthcare sectors represent the implicit costs of corruption. These incidents transform corruption into a “regressive tax” on services that the poor cannot afford, making basic services unattainable. Thus, it is the poor and vulnerable who suffer most due to corruption as they are more reliant on Government services and public systems to satisfy their most basic needs. In addition to the bribes that are demanded of those who cannot afford them, corruption results in the deviation of funds intended for development and undermines Government’s ability to provide basic services. It also undermines the rule of law, feeding inequality and injustice, discouraging foreign investment, further impeding development. <br /><br />A lack of transparency, integrity and accountability is related to economic under-performance and fetters progress toward poverty eradication in many developing nations.As the world’s most under-developed region, the barriers to development and poverty eradication that corruption imposes are costs sub-Saharan Africa can ill afford. <br /><br />In addition to the implicit costs of corruption due to bribery, there are also hidden costs associated with corruption. The costs of a form of corruption termed “quiet corruption” by the World Bank, adversely affect the poor in particular. The World Bank’s Africa Development Indicators 2010 shows that civil servants' failure to deliver Government-run health, education or agricultural services, further jeopardises Africa’s long-term development. <br /><br />This form of corruption, smaller in monetary terms and not usually involving powerful officials or large amounts of money, is particularly harmful for the poor. One example of this type of low-level corruption comes from Burkina Faso, ranked 98th in 2010’s CPI with a score of 3.8.RENLAC, the Burkina Faso anti-corruption network, identified a primary school inspector who used to arrange for teachers posted to rural areas to be transferred back to cities if they paid her small sums of money, thus depriving the rural poor of much needed teachers. <br /><br />Low-level corruption in the education sector is of course not unique to Burkina Faso. In many African countries, teachers at Government schools stay away from class or do not take up appointments in remote regions. The results of this behaviour has devastating long-term effects, as children who are denied a proper education because of absentee teachers will suffer low cognitive skills and associated problems in adulthood. It is clear then that corruption in all its forms is a crime against development that blocks attempts at growth and poverty eradication. Corruption impacts most heavily on the poor and vulnerable members in society, but underdevelopment affects the future growth and prosperity of all people. Thus, fighting on behalf of the disempowered and ensuring Africa’s development means that the responsibility for dealing with corruption falls squarely on all, from Governments and donors to civil society and citizens. <br /> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-36643707424363280972014-03-25T19:36:00.000-07:002014-04-11T08:28:16.365-07:00Antartica<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Antarctica is the world’s last unexploited continent, and the latest site of a global race over resources and status. <br /><br />Antarctica is the coldest, driest and stormiest of all continents. It is almost forty times as large as Germany and is the only uninhabited continent. Even in summer (from December to February) 99% of Antarctica is covered in ice, up to 5000 metres thick in places. It is regarded as a natural archive of Earth’s natural history and has a major role in the global climate system and the marine ecosystems associated with the South Polar Sea. <br /><br />Antarctica is the Earth’s southernmost continent, containing the geographic South Pole. It has no permanent residents, but a number of governments maintain permanent manned research stations throughout the continent. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. On average, it is known to be the coldest, driest and windiest continent and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. <br /><br /> Antarctica’s population is very difficult to account for since the number is so small and varies during the year. Antarctica has a permanent human population of zero. Antarctica’s population is made up entirely of researchers and scientists from around the globe. About 1,000 scientific personnel live there during the winter and this population increases to about 5,000 during the Antarctic summer. Antarctica experiences summer while it is winter in North America and Europe so a lot scientists go to Antarctica during the Northern hemisphere’s winter. <br /><br /> For numerous countries it serves as an “open‑air scientific laboratory”, resulting in the discovery, for instance, of the hole in the ozone layer. <br /><br /> Over the weekend, China unveiled its fourth research station in Antarctica, where sovereignty is unclear and countries try to stake their claims on the area by <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/analects/2013/11/china-antarctic">building large research bases</a>. The 1,000 square-meter (10,763 sq. feet) Taishan base, also known as “the lantern” because of the shape of its main building, sits near stations run by the US, Italy and South Korea. <br /><br /> The Taishan—which will be used to study geology, glaciers, and climate change and is equipped with aircraft designed for flying in snow and ice, according to <a href="http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/841220.shtml?utm_content=bufferb18ca&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#.Uvg3AHe1bAV">state media</a>—is part of a larger expansion of China’s polar footprint. Chinese spending on operations in Antarctic has jumped from $20 million a year to <a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1tX_zgJO9tYC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30%23v=onepage&q&f=false#v=onepage&q=20%20million&f=false">$55 million</a> over the last 20 years as the country has conducted 30 voyages to the continent and builds a second icebreaker. If a fifth Chinese station is built next year, as planned, China will have quickly caught up with countries like Italy, Germany, and Japan, and will have only one fewer than the US or the UK. Chinese mappers have already named <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-11/01/c_117973753.htm">359 sites</a> on the continent. Here’s where China’s three previously built research stations are, compared with those of 29 other countries. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-72054996125373855012014-03-25T18:58:00.002-07:002014-05-09T09:42:29.421-07:00Electoral Fraud<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every one of us yearns to raise our status in society, but politicians entertain hopes of great magnitude. There are many men and women of principle in the world, but once they enter politics they just forget those principles they strived for, and constantly seek money, property, and power. Except a few politicians many do not care about their deteriorating reputation. <br /><br />It is now an apothegm that any candidate standing for any elections in any part of the world would use all available ploys to influence voters. Invariably, many potential voters expect the handouts from the contesting candidates. <br /><br />It’s natural to think of elections when we think of political corruption. People or organisations with their own agendas can skew voting. They may secretly give parties big donations. Or parties and candidates can buy votes instead of winning them. <br /><br />But political corruption isn’t just about election rigging. It can lead politicians in office to steer away from good government. Their decisions can benefit those who fund them. The public interest comes second. Political corruption can divert scarce resources from poor and disadvantaged people. This is especially common in countries where democratic institutions are weak or absent. Private rather than public interests dictate policy. <br /><br />This means an ethical line has been crossed. Governments can’t act freely and democracy can’t function. Our trust in politicians is damaged. We can turn away from involvement with how we’re governed. Then political corruption continues unchecked. <a href="http://www.transparency.org/topic/detail/politics_and_government">The solution?</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">India is a nation where over 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, and illiteracy is around 35 percent. <br /><br /> All political parties in India indulge in competitive politics. Their mission does not to make life better for the average person or banish unemployment. In certain states instead of promising to provide schools and households with basic amenities such as potable water and hygienic toilets, freedom from corruption, mitigate poverty, and improve the purchasing power of the people, the political leaders promise to provide colour TVs, electronic gadgets such as mixer-grinders, fans, and laptops, to voters who scarcely get electricity for more than four hours a day. Once these parties come into power they first inflate government expenditures, impose taxes, and then hand out enticing goodies instead of worthwhile goods; and that too only to the members of their party. <br /><br /> Electoral politics in India has a new dimension – arrest of voters for accepting bribe. <br /><br />The Election Commission has arrested 20 persons in the ongoing elections in Karnataka for accepting money to vote in favour of particular candidates – a bailable offence. If the government accepts the commission's plea, offering or accepting money for vote would land people in jail (non-bailable offence). <br /><br />It is unusual because, normally, a case of bribery is registered against candidates or their nominees for giving money to voters to use franchise in their favour. The voters, who receive money, are not touched as most of them were from economically deprived section. <br /><br />The practice resulted in the accused going scot-free in the absence of evidence of someone having received the bribe for voting. "There had been no conviction for years for bribing voters," a senior election commission official said. The commission found that proving such a case in court of law was almost impossible. <br /><br />The commission went for a tactical change. It decided to take action against voters also so that they could have a better case in the court of law and it could also deter voters from accepting money. <br /><br />The decision was the fallout of the commission's finding that both the major political parties in Tamil Nadu - DMK and AIADMK - had given money and gifts to voters in the last assembly elections but was not able to crack the whip as evidence was not available. <br /><br />The commission at that time had not taken any penal action against the voters thinking it would send a wrong message that it was targeting the poor and the deprived. <br /><br />Now, the commission has taken a view to initiate action for deterrence and not harassment. "We are not going whole hog on getting cases registered against voters. It is being done just to send a message that accepting money for voter is a crime under the Indian Penal Code," the commission official said, who accepted that most of voters accepting money were poor. The decision is being implemented in Karnataka polls. <br /><br />Another reason for the commission failing to stop the menace of bribing voters is the weak provisions in the law, which makes offering or taking bribe a bailable offence. <br /><br />The commission wants the offence to be non-bailable and has made a request to home ministry to amend the Indian Penal Code. "As many as 18 state governments have agreed to the proposal," the official said and added that the ball was now in the court of the ministry. <br /><br />The commission believes that if the amendment is enacted before next general elections it can become a huge deterrent in checking the electoral malpractice of money for votes. <br /><br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black%27s_Law_Dictionary">Black’s Law Dictionary</a>, the most widely used law dictionary in the United States, defines bribery as an act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in charge of a public or legal duty. <br /><br /> On December 30, 2013, <a href="http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_51aa73ca-719c-11e3-97f6-001a4bcf6878.html">The Monitor</a> carried news that US Federal authorities arrested a local politiquera Diana Castañeda in McAllen, Texas, United States, for paying voters in cash, beer and cigarettes during the 2012 primary and general elections as well as taking voters to buy drugs after they had cast their ballot. According to court records, Castañeda confessed that she was a politiquera for various candidates and that during the 2012 elections she was paid $125 by one candidate to get food for voters and to pay them $10 to $20 per vote. However, the name of the candidate that gave her the money was not listed in court records. <br /><br /> City agencies have seized over 2,064 litres of liquor in the past few days and recovered more than 63,000 bottles during the last one month – 61,500 were ‘quarter’ bottles, which are mainly meant for distribution. <br /><br />Around 7,000 bottles seized on Tuesday were all of the quarter bottle size (180 ml). <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few MLAs revealed that liquor bottles are generally distributed a day before the polls. The police and excise department have seized over 63,000 bottles of alcohol in Delhi over the past month after seeing a record-breaking amount of illegally supplied liquor. <br /><br />The illegal supply of liquor has crossed all records in the run-up to the Delhi assembly elections. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Quarter bottles are distributed among slum dwellers and in resettlement colonies. Politicians ask their workers to keep a stock of bottles at secret locations,” a sitting MLA said. <br /><br />Delhi chief electoral officer Vijay Dev said the Election Commission has asked all the agencies to crack down heavily on the illegal supply of liquor in Delhi. <br /><br />Politicians use subtle methods to distribute alcohol to avoid run-ins with the police. <br /><br />“The voter is given a chit to be deposited with a selected liquor vendor to get alcohol. Many candidates also finance parties hosted by other people and distribute liquor in such parties,” said an excise official. <br /><br /> On March 28, 2013, as his indefinite fast against “inflated” power bills entered the sixth day, AAP leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arvind_Kejriwal">Arvind Kejriwal</a> alleged both Congress and BJP were winning elections through bribing voters and using muscle power. He told his supporters: <br /><br />“This is because BJP and Congress are both worried as a different kind of politics is slowly emerging in India. So far they are used to winning on the basis of bribing voters, money power and muscle power but now the voters have awakened. The elections will not be elections but revolution.” </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In conversations with US diplomats, the son of India’s powerful home minister P. Chidambaram and an aide to a senior leader of one of the main coalition partners allegedly explained how the main parties in Tamil Nadu state routinely bribe voters to clinch close elections. <br /><br />One allegedly said they had widely distributed envelopes containing 5000 Rupees in cash (£70) hidden inside voters’ morning newspapers. <br /><br />The disclosures highlight the nature of electoral fraud in the world’s largest democracy, and its widespread acceptance. Indian political parties, in particular in the south, often offer televisions, refrigerators, and computers to voters to win elections. <br /><br />American diplomat Frederick Kaplan, a principal officer in its Madras consulate, was surprised at how freely senior politicians apparently admitted paying bribes for votes. <br /><br />In a cable dispatched on May 13, 2009, the last day of India’s general election, he explained the system to his colleagues in Washington: “Bribes from political parties to voters, in the form of cash, goods, or services, are a regular feature of elections in South India. Poor voters expect bribes from political candidates, and candidates find various ways to satisfy voter expectations. From paying to dig a community well to slipping cash into an envelope delivered inside the morning newspaper, politicians and their operatives admitted to violating election rules to influence voters. The money to pay the bribes comes from the proceeds of fund-raising, which often crosses into political corruption. Although the precise impact of bribery on voter behaviour is hard to measure, it no doubt swings at least some elections, especially the close races,” he wrote. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> “Weeks before the elections agents of the parties come to the neighbourhood with cash carried in rice sacks. They have copies of the voter lists and they distribute the money based on who is on the list.” The deliveries are made between “two and four in the morning, when the Election Commission is asleep,” he added. <br /><br />One aide is quoted as revealing details of bribes paid by his boss. “It is no secret at all [he] paid 5,000 rupees per voter in Thirumangalam,” he said. <br /><br />Prashant Bhushan, a senior lawyer who has led a crusade against corruption, said the cables revealed the “corruption of democracy” in India. <br /><br />“These facts show the corruption and monetisation of the electoral process in India and therefore the corruption of the democracy in this country, where democracy essentially exists in a formal sense on paper, [but] effectively it is owned by those people who have money,” he said. “The money comes from all kinds of corruption which is rampant in India,” he added. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-36683500332436749512014-03-25T18:00:00.001-07:002014-05-09T09:42:46.458-07:00Businessmen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The current narrative is that all businessmen are cheats who evade taxes, indulge in bribery for gaining monopoly rights and bending rules, exploit labour, act contrary to national interests in a crisis and overall keep their selfish interests at the forefront <br /><br /> “Does anybody have a problem with me making provably false accusations about honourable people, just so my side can win?” -Alan Shore, from the television serial Boston Legal. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">‘Provably false accusations’ is an aptly coined phrase to categorise heated exchanges in political entanglements; the question is, which side is everyone on? Most likely, taking a short cut and avoiding the hassle of a survey, the response that everyone is on Pakistan’s side will have universal acceptance. That being said, if this condition precedent is kept in the forefront always, debates on most issues become irrelevant. Hence, charged political scenarios are indeed mysterious. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Serendipitously, the only time there can be a disagreement on fundamental national issues is when one of the parties is misinformed about the facts; this essentially suggests that as nations mature, a single party system might be more efficient. This conclusion is supported by the observation that there is an apparent continuity of policies within mature democracies that have a two party system. Electoral arguments mostly centre around same sex marriage, abortion and similar key issues, while a consensus is always and quickly achieved on trivial matters like foreign policy. Perhaps someday Pakistan will also achieve this nirvana but for the moment let us focus on the economic side of the equation. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The prevailing conventional wisdom, irrespective of certain contrarian views, recognises that the private sector plays a primary role in the growth and maintenance of the national economy. The public sector is deemed inefficient in running businesses mostly due to political interference, hence privatisation of all state owned enterprises is propagated as a wise course of action. But whom do you sell to? <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While foreign direct investment is useful for technology transfer, even in the west there are concerns about handing over national corporations to foreigners, especially of Chinese origin. Even if this paradigm is ignored, foreigners loathe investing in a country where domestic entrepreneurs are moving their investments abroad, or practice self-exile. Additionally, security concerns and continuing political noise combine to adversely impact investor perception of risk. At high country risk, foreigners inadvertently look for a higher return and a shorter payback period. The net result is that cash starts flowing out of the country faster than it comes in. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is not, therefore, rocket science to conclude that domestic businessmen play an indispensable role in a free market economy. Keeping this in view, close cooperation between those who represent the domestic private sector, the businessmen and the political elite, appears prescient. The current perception created due to ‘provably false accusations’ from each side is however quite the opposite. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since everyone loves to imitate the west, lessons therefrom indicate that cajoling and providing seamless and unflinching support to businessmen is a wise strategy for creating employment and enhancing capital investment. Even when the private sector makes a mess of things, the policy is to provide direct assistance from taxpayers’ money, under the pretext of corporations being too big to be allowed to fail. Politicians even go as far as modifying century-old legislation considered problematic for private business, notwithstanding the eventual consequences to the national economy. While the conspiracy theorist will quickly point out that this is because of the campaign funds doled out by the private sector to every party in power, this view essentially ignores the underlying parameters. If businessmen are responsible for the health of the economy and by default the nation, it is imperative that they have a say in the political edifice. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trust perhaps is the key ingredient for this, perhaps uncomfortable, partnership. In successful free market economies the private sector, relatively or at least in theory, enjoys a free hand, largely shielded from the activism of politicians and the bureaucracy, and for these services or absence of services, takes charge of the social construct of society. Investment in projects, creation of employment, ensuring provision of necessities to the poor at affordable prices, supporting art and literature through corporate social responsibility, active philanthropy, grants for universities and beautification of the communities are all costs in a corporation’s financial statement. The thing is — there is no written contract for this arrangement; it is all about trust. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Frankly, the west is currently on uncertain tides; regulatory activism is hardly beneficial for maintaining this trust. Perhaps their private sector defaulted on the trust and should pay the price. However, there is a thin line between over and under regulation and private investment is a fair weather friend. Stricter controls on currency flow, which are coming back into fashion, may keep the currency home, but rather than productive investment it will move towards bubbles. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The older generations will recall a similar culture in Pakistan up until the 1970s. Back in those days, most universities were funded and a host of schools were trusts owned by leading business houses, investments in new technologies and projects were a regular feature and so on. What were the causes behind the distrust thereafter is not relevant but what is critical is that the majority of the business houses has, over time, dissipated or has not grown to requisite levels. The west has its Gates, Buffett, Bezos and many more; even the next door neighbours have a bunch of famous business houses. Pakistan comparatively lags behind. If the domestic private sector had flourished uninterrupted, would things be different today? If the answer is yes, then perhaps there is a need to revisit provably false accusations. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The current narrative is that all businessmen are cheats who evade taxes, indulge in bribery for gaining monopoly rights and bending rules, exploit labour, act contrary to national interests in a crisis and overall keep their selfish interests at the forefront. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No wonder most businessmen shy away from investment opportunities with a long term horizon, subject to regulatory oversight. In the light of this narrative, policy decisions dependent upon the magnanimity of the business community are rather confusing. If businessmen are categorised as tax evaders, why is a reduction in corporate tax expected to bring about desired results? The expectation that the business community will play, after decades of marginalisation, a larger role in the much needed economic kick off, may be slightly misconstrued. If entrepreneurs have restricted movement and limited input in policy matters, it would be highly unlikely that they will rise.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If the public sector is categorised as inefficient or corrupt and the private sector is deemed selfish and dishonest, then the only option left to operate and manage all businesses is foreigners, which can hardly be in the best interest of the nation! By default, the rational choice is between the domestic private sector and the domestic public sector, and indications are that the current leadership is tilted towards the former.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Without deliberating on the appropriateness of the choice, which rightly is the domain of the elected representatives, expectations from the private sector need to be accompanied by credible actions that facilitate businessmen across the board. At the very outset, the narrative has to be revisited in line with the policy direction.<br /> <br /> Businessmen are honest, pay all their taxes, facilitate employment and employees and are sincerely committed to investing in Pakistan, which is necessary for its economic growth and stability. Minus this change, the policy initiative will not translate into legislation and regulatory actions and the environment will remain hostile for domestic investment. The dream will remain just a dream. <br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Barring views on strategic assets, one has always believed in the veracity of the trickledown theory, which supports the view that businessmen, risk takers and entrepreneurs are crucial for the health of a nation and need to be given this recognition. For Pakistan to come out of its economic doldrums, everything must be done to facilitate the business community to rise. The only way the ability to play golf can rise is a miracle. <br /><br />It has been suggested that private businessmen caught indulging in corrupt practices or bribing officials or making use of shoddy materials should be blacklisted and be barred from government projects for, say, 10 years and bigger instance of private businessmen cutting corners in public projects by colluding with corrupt officials should attract exemplary punishment—here it may be pointed out that provision already exists for blacklisting and for punishment. <br /><br />Many people reading about the recent spate of business scandals in the USA may conclude that capitalism is a pretty dreadful system. We have long moaned and groaned about crooked Indian businessmen who inflate profits, hide liabilities, manipulate markets, and break a hundred laws. But the US scandals show that crooked businessmen exist everywhere. <br /><br />This week, some of the biggest energy companies in the US such as CMS, Dynegy and Reliant admitted that up to 80 per cent of their electricity trades in California were bogus. They indulged in fictitious sales to one another to create the illusion of a boom in revenue. They also indulged in various dirty tricks (some of which could be criminal and lead to prosecution) to exploit loopholes in power regulations (like artificially creating power congestion and then getting paid to relieve it). <br /><br />This showed there was nothing unique about the peccadilloes of Enron, the seventh biggest company in the world some months ago, that hid huge debts off its balance sheets and overstated profits to create an illusion of prosperity when in fact it was heading for bankruptcy. Enron was abetted by one of the celebrated Big Five of accounting, Arthur Andersen, which is now in the dock for criminal obstruction of justice. The most celebrated giants like General Electric and Boeing stand accused of fudging their accounts to show ever-rising quarterly profits. Microsoft, the biggest of all, is on trial for monopolistic behaviour. Pfizer, the biggest drug company, stands accused of manipulating drug prices, and last year, a cartel of drug companies were fined for trying to rig vitamin prices. Big oil companies are being investigated for rigging petrol prices. <br /><br />Crooked behaviour is not uniquely Indian or American. It is inherent in human behaviour, and can reach great heights in a capitalist system. Now, market systems have enabled many countries to achieve stunning improvements in living standards that would have been considered impossible a century ago. Businessmen seek to enrich themselves, not society. But competitive, transparent markets force businessmen to compete on a level playing field, because of which the main gains of all their innovation and enterprise go to consumers. For the 500 biggest companies listed in Fortune magazine, net profit averages only 3.3 per cent of sales. <br /><br />For that very reason, however, businessmen are constantly tempted to find ways to reduce competition and transparency to increase their profits at the expense of customers. This can take legal forms (lobbying, innovative book-keeping, exploiting loopholes) or illegal forms (bribes, fraud, rule-breaking). <br /><br />No wonder, then, that so many people are utterly disgusted with capitalism and seek alternatives. No wonder they find the profit motive a morally unacceptable basis for ordering an economic system. When the main actors of such a system are self-serving, manipulative and greedy; when they fudge facts, make false claims and promises, bend the law in various ways and indulge in outright crimes, how the outcome be at all satisfactory? Answer: for the same reason that self-serving, manipulative and greedy politicians produce a satisfactory outcome called democracy. <br /><br />The argument for a market system is exactly the same as for democracy. Winston Churchill once said that democracy is a very flawed system, but all the others are so much worse. The same is true of capitalism: it is a very flawed system but the others are so much worse. Enron hid its liabilities and exaggerated its assets. But do not all political parties hide their political liabilities and exaggerate their political assets? Many crooked business promoters promise investors the moon in order to raise money. But do not politicians also promise the moon to get votes? <br /><br />Companies fudge their books and make inflated claims to mislead gullible investors. But do not politicians make inflated claims to mislead gullible voters? Businessmen claim to represent the national interest while feathering their nest (by, for instance, demanding high import barriers in the holy name of swadeshi). But politicians in a democracy also claim to represent the national interest while feathering their own nests. Businessmen indulge in bribery. So do politicians. Businessmen revel in black money. So do politicians. Businessmen hire hoodlums to beat up workers or ruin a rival’s business. Politicians too hire hoodlums to capture polling booths and sabotage rivals’ rallies. Businessmen intimidate and buy up rivals to reduce competition. Politicians too use intimidation and money to buy defectors. <br /><br />There are many criminals in business. There are many criminals in politics too. The use of money, muscle and influence to sabotage rivals and competition is a feature of democracy no less than of capitalism. Why, despite all this, do we regard democracy as the best political system? Because it is grounded in choice for the ordinary man, and freedom to choose is a paramount virtue that makes other freedoms possible. In democracies, the ruler is chosen by ordinary citizens and voted out by them too. <br /><br />Politicians do their best to subvert free choice through the use of money, manipulation and muscle. Yet the freedom to choose empowers ordinary citizens so much that, despite a thousand flaws, democracy turns out to be more desirable and beneficial than the most well-meaning autocracy. <br /><br />Democracy creates a market for political goods. Capitalism creates a market for material goods. In both cases, the freedom to choose gives the ordinary man in the street greater power than the biggest political or economic giant. By shifting his vote, the ordinary citizen can oust the most entrenched politician, and by shifting his custom he can bankrupt the most entrenched company. <br /><br />Lenin was logically consistent in refusing to allow freedom of choice in either political or material goods. What I find amusing is the notion of many democratic socialists that the people must be free to choose their own rulers, but cannot be allowed to choose what goods to buy; that political licensing is abominable but industrial licensing is moral. There lies the road to serfdom. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-30129062139993871312014-03-25T09:50:00.004-07:002014-05-09T09:43:01.583-07:00Sports<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sports <a href="http://criminal.laws.com/bribery">bribery</a> has been in existence since ancient times, when in the original Olympic games athletes would be bribed to produce particular outcomes. In the modern day, sports bribery takes a different form than it likely took back then, but it continues to plague the fairness and ethics of sports. Players can be bribed to throw matches; referees can be bribed to unfairly fix results. Individuals willing to commit bribery can make huge amounts of money by betting on fixed matches, assuming they do not get caught. <br /><br /> But sports organizations are fighting back against the prevalence of bribery in sports and the damage that it can do. They have enacted such internal regulations as banning sports betting and punishing very any individual caught exchanging some form of bribe. <br /> <br /> The battle between those who would use bribery to unfairly affect outcomes of sports matches and those who would defend the fairness of sports competitions against insidious bribery has no end in sight. <br /><br /> The primary controversy regarding sports bribery comes from the practice of match-fixing. Match fixing would nullify the validity of any sports competition. After all, every sports game has the objective of discovering which team or participant is better at that sport than the other. Match-fixing undermines this goal and prevents any observer from successfully and truthfully claiming that the winner has proven himself the best at that sport.<br /> <br /> Controversy arises when considering how best to deal with match-fixing. A major goal is not to discourage the practice, but to repair the damage it causes. Should the fixed matches be replayed, at great cost to the sports organization, the participating teams and even the audience? Should they simply be annulled, the season ignored and forgotten, a costly and unsatisfactory solution?<br /> <br /> There is likely no good answer, not least because some of the teams involved may have participated to the best of their ability, without any match-fixing behavior on their parts, only to find out that their success was due to the illegitimate practices of other participants. Seizing their victories from them by replaying those games seems cruel. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-42097725627468692732014-03-25T09:24:00.000-07:002014-05-09T09:43:18.705-07:00Medicine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Corruption in the health sector can mean the difference between life and death. Poor people are worst affected. Medical staff can charge unofficial fees to attend to patients. They may demand bribes for medication which should be free. Or they may let patients who bribe them queue-jump. Corruption also costs lives when fake or adulterated medications are sold to health services. <br /><br />Without proper checks from regulators, public health funds can easily disappear. World Bank surveys show that in some countries, up to 80 per cent of non-salary health funds never reach local facilities. Ministers and hospital administrators can siphon millions of dollars from health budgets. Or they can accept bribes. This distorts policy and denies people hospitals, medicines and qualified staff. Stolen funds also hamper efforts to beat major health challenges, such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. <br /><br />It’s not only developing countries which suffer. Wealthy countries lose millions of dollars each year to insurance fraud and corruption. <a href="http://www.transparency.org/topic/detail/health">The solution?</a> <br /><br />China is expected to become the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market by 2016, with total sales reaching $165 billion, according to IMS Health, a research firm. <br /><br />Pharmaceutical expenditure accounts for up to 50% of total health spending in some developing countries. The high market value of products means they are a magnet for theft, corruption and unethical practices. Transparency International estimates that in some countries up to two thirds of all hospital medicines are “lost” through corruption and fraud. <br /><br />The impact of corruption on the pharmaceutical sector is three-fold: <br /><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Health impact</b> — waste of public resources reduces government capacity to provide access to good-quality essential medicines, while at the same time the risk of unsafe medical products on the market increases due to bribery of officials and/or to counterfeiting;to national health budgets; </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Economic impact</b> — corrupt pharmaceutical practices are extremely detrimental to national health budgets; <b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Government image and trust impact</b> — inefficiency and lack of transparency reduce the credibility of public institutions and erode public/donor confidence in governments. <br /><br />Corruption within the public sector also undermines donor efforts. For example, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) has so far approved proposals totalling nearly US$ 19.5 billion and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded grants totalling more than US$ 13 billion under its global health programme. Successful implementation of such funds will depend on good governance at national level. <br /><br />THE Chinese media frequently portray doctors not as life-saving heroes but as profit-seeking villains. Popular anger against medical staff sometimes spills over. One gruesome period in October last year saw at least six violent attacks by disgruntled patients on medical workers, including one that led to the death of a doctor. In 2012 there had been 11 such attacks and 7 deaths. <br /><br />One of the main reasons for such hostility is the high price of medicines and the corruption that contributes to it. Visitors to Chinese hospitals are often greeted with a sign that reads “no pharmaceutical representatives allowed”, a ban that has existed for more than a decade. Yet a recent spate of scandals involving public hospitals suggests that few heed the prohibition. <br /><br /> The soaring spending on drugs has been fuelled by an ageing population, the expanded coverage of public health insurance and the increasing demands of a wealthier society. But it is also the result of a system that inflates the cost of medicine. Even the cheapest generic drugs sold in Chinese hospitals are much more expensive than their international benchmark. <br /><br />Public hospitals in China are not so public in their funding: government subsidies only made up 9% of their revenues in 2011. By contrast, the sale of medicines accounts for 40%. Doctors are underpaid, so much of their income depends on how many drugs they prescribe. Hospitals are allowed to charge a 15% markup on the drugs they sell, so the more expensive the better. Consequently, China’s spending on medicines is 40% of total health expenditure, far higher than the average for OECD countries, of 16%. With few other sources of income, hospitals have to maximise their profits from drugs in order to subsidise medical services, says Zhu Hengpeng of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. So the high price of drugs is “institutionally justifiable”. <br /><br />The government has taken a series of measures to attack this problem, including price cuts on a wide range of medicines, but doctors were quick to adopt countermeasures, such as switching to more expensive alternatives or prescribing more unnecessary drugs. According to the health ministry, the average Chinese person consumes ten times more antibiotics than the average American. <br /><br />The government wants to keep mark-ups under control, says Mr Zhu, but “you can’t expect the horse to run if you don’t let it feed”. As a result, the regulations have exacerbated the problems of corruption, he argues: “since you don’t let me take kickbacks openly, I’ll do it under the table.” <br /><br />In July local authorities in the city of Zhangzhou in Fujian province recovered over 20m yuan ($3.3m) that more than 1,000 medical professionals had taken in bribes from pharmaceutical representatives. Drug firms have a strong incentive to get their products into the hands of doctors at hospitals, where 80% of China’s drugs are sold, and as a consequence many have stretched the definition of marketing and distribution. Chen Wenling, an economist in the research office of the State Council, China’s cabinet, estimates that kickbacks usually account for more than 20% of the final retail price of a drug sold. <br /><br />Some distributors issue or buy inflated invoices to extract large sums of cash, creating slush funds to bribe officials and doctors. In August Chinese authorities found two pharmaceutical distributors in Hebei province had issued fake invoices worth 776m yuan ($127m). <br /><br />The government announced a graft investigation in July into the Chinese operations of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a British conglomerate, in what appears to be part of a broader effort to crack down on bribery in health care. Four senior executives of the company have been detained over allegations of funnelling up to three billion yuan ($490m) to travel agencies to fund bribes to doctors and government officials. In an interview with state media, Liang Hong, a detained GSK executive, estimated that without this sort of spending their prices could be reduced by 20-30%. GSK has reiterated its opposition to the alleged misconduct and suggested it will lower its prices in China. <br /><br />The introduction of generic brands has driven down drug costs elsewhere in the world, but promoting their use is difficult in China. The incentive system works against the use of cheap drugs. Scandals involving unsafe local food and drugs add another obstacle: many doctors and patients favour foreign brand-name drugs, even if they are more expensive. <br /><br />Since 2009, in an effort to reduce the cost of medicines, authorities have required hospitals to buy them through bidding managed by health officials in each province. But the tenders do not always require brands to compete against generic drugs, so there is little pressure on prices. Where competition does develop between generic brands, the profit margins of drug companies are squeezed as they strive to offer bigger kickbacks to hospitals. When that happens, Chinese patients still do not benefit from cheaper prices. <br /><br />Lancet Global Health, a British journal, published a study in October showing that in 2012 the lowest-priced generic drugs were significantly harder to find in Shaanxi province than they had been two years earlier. It attributes the decrease in availability to the provincial bidding system, which squeezed the margins of some drug companies so much that they would rather not make or supply the drugs. According to state-owned media, that has created a shortage of some life-saving drugs across the country. <br /><br /> Pharma is in the middle of a strategic crisis, if a report published at the start of 2013 by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants is to be believed. The study, ‘Pharma’s fight for profitability’, claims that increasing pressures on both costs and prices, allied to patent expiry and regulatory changes, are shrinking profit margins in the pharmaceutical sector. <br /><br />Nearly 80% of participants in the study believe pharma companies will have to adapt their business models to the changing marketplace. ‘Even though global sales have risen in recent years, profit margins have dropped considerably,’ said Michael Dohrman, a partner at Roland Berger. For example, high-growth emerging markets such as China will comprise nearly 40% of the global market by 2016, and companies will have to increase focus on these areas if they are to thrive. <br /><br /> The purpose of the <b>World Medical Association</b> is to serve humanity by endeavoring to achieve the highest international standards in Medical Education, Medical Science, Medical Art and Medical Ethics, and Health Care for all people in the world.” High standards, exceedingly high. Unfortunately the president-elect of the WMA, Dr Ketan Desai, has just been arrested and charged with accepting a bribe to accredit a medical college in the Punjab. <br /><br />According to Indian newspapers, Dr Desai, a urologist, was a consummate political operator who had amassed a fortune through corrupt practices. It was through him that private medical colleges were accredited, the number of seats could be increased and annual inspections were held. <br /><br />This is not even the first time that the resourceful Dr Desai has been charged with corruption. <a href="http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?Arch=&articleid=8203&sectionid=17">Back in 2001</a>, he was removed from his position as the president of the Medical Council of India. However, he clawed his way back and was once again elected as president of the MCI in 2009. It is not for nothing that <a href="http://www.drketandesai.com/index.html">his personal website</a> describes him as “"an apostle of genuine imagination, innovation and creativity which has resulted in his enviable ascending to key positions in the world of medicine.” <br /><br />In his second term as president of the MCI, Dr Desai was a crusader for medical ethics and banned Indian doctors from accepting gifts from pharmaceutical companies. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-17296882109361731292014-03-25T08:48:00.002-07:002014-05-09T09:43:38.026-07:00Politics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are many causes for corruption, and it can be found in politics, law enforcement and business. The practice of corruption violates human rights, causes prices to rise, and affects human health and welfare around the world.The practice of corruption is ancient, appearing throughout history. <br /><br /> Originally and ideally, political contributions were money given to candidates who shared similar ideals to help ensure that these candidates gain or keep political positions to help guarantee that laws are made and followed according to these similar ideals that both groups of people shared. <br /> <br /> However, modern political contributions are used to get politicians to vote and enact laws in favor of the person or corporation giving the political contributions. In essence, political contributions are bribes. <br /> <br /> And since most political contributions are given by corporations, most political contributions are corporate bribes to help give these companies special tax breaks, protection from lawsuits, ensure monopolies, etc. to ensure maximum profit of these corporations. <br /> <br /> This is the main reason why politics is so corrupt throughout the world, especially in the United States. <br /> <br /> The obvious solution is to limit how much money corporations and individuals can donate. The problem with this solution is that it is very easy for large corporations to create a plethora of smaller sub-companies that each could each give the maximum allowed amount of money as political contributions. Therefore, corporations could easily afford and circumvent political contribution limits. <br /> <br /> The only other obvious solution is to completely prohibit corporations from giving ANY political contributions. This is basically the separation of corporations and state. <br /><br /> Political conditions that foster corruption include weal civil liberties , particularly the level of press freedom, the ability of individual citizens to form civil society organizations, and the level of structured political competition. They also include lack of transparency and accountability on the part of government officials especially where the ruling elite have captured the state. State capture in turn is more likely where the government has extensive involvement in the economy and regulation of public life. <br /><br />It is said that corruption normally thrives in societies where religious, traditional, ethical teaching and moral standards are weak and where punishment is lenient, yet we see examples in every nation, and people who were regarded as being of the highest moral standing have been caught in the act. Some of the biggest causes of corruption are greed and the lust for power. Corruption happens at every level of society, from the richest to the poorest, and contributes to a general lack of respect for the law. Since it is so widespread, corruption is very difficult to combat. Even if particular individuals are successfully prosecuted for their crimes, others will move into their offices and take up their duties, and be just as susceptible to receiving under the table payments or turning a blind eye to those who pay. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-20237445497093364302014-03-25T07:57:00.000-07:002014-05-09T09:44:00.862-07:00Tax Treatment of Bribes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Corruption is a complex phenomenon. Its roots lie deep in bureaucratic and political institutions, and its effect on development varies with country conditions. But while costs may vary and systemic corruption may coexist with strong economic performance, experience suggests that corruption is one of the most severe impediments to development and growth in emerging and transition economies. <br /><br />Corruption is widespread in many developing and transition economies, not because their people are different from people elsewhere, but because conditions are ripe for it. The motivation to earn income through corrupt practices is extremely strong, exacerbated by poverty and by low and declining civil service salaries. Coupled with a strong motivation is the fact that there are ample opportunities available to engage in corruption. Corruption flourishes where distortions in the policy and regulatory regime provide scope for it and where institutions of restraint are weak. The problem of corruption lies at the intersection of the public and the private sectors. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is a two-way street. Private interests, domestic and external, wield their influence through illegal means to take advantage of opportunities for corruption and rent seeking, and public institutions succumb to these and other sources of corruption in the absence of credible restraints. Even if detection is possible, punishments are apt to be mild when corruption is systemic—it is hard to punish one person severely when so many others are likely to be equally guilty. <br /><br />Corruption violates the public trust and corrodes social capital. A small side payment to obtain or speed up a government service may seem a minor offense, but it is not the only cost. Unchecked, the creeping accumulation of seemingly minor infractions can slowly erode political legitimacy to the point where even non-corrupt officials and members of the public see little point in playing by the rules. Credibility, once lost by the state, is very difficult to regain. <br /><br />Corruption is both a major cause and a result of poverty around the world. It occurs at all levels of society, from local and national governments, civil society, judiciary functions, large and small businesses, military and other services and so on. <br /><br />Corruption affects the poorest the most, in rich or poor nations, though all elements of society are affected in some way as corruption undermines political development, democracy, economic development, the environment, people’s health and more. <br /><br />Around the world, the perception of corruption in public places is very high.But it isn’t just in governments that corruption is found; it can permeate through society. <br /><br />The issue of corruption is very much inter-related with other issues. At a global level, the “international” (Washington Consensus-influenced) economic system that has shaped the current form of globalization in the past decades requires further scrutiny for it has also created conditions whereby corruption can flourish and exacerbate the conditions of people around the world who already have little say about their own destiny. At a national level, people’s effective participation and representation in society can be undermined by corruption, while at local levels, corruption can make day to day lives more painful for all affected. <br /><br />A difficult thing to measure or compare, however, is the impact of corruption on poverty versus the effects of inequalities that are structured into law, such as unequal trade agreements, structural adjustment policies, so-called “free” trade agreements and so on. It is easier to see corruption. It is harder to see these other more formal, even legal forms of “corruption.” It is easy to assume that these are not even issues because they are part of the laws and institutions that govern national and international communities and many of us will be accustomed to it—it is how it works, so to speak. Those deeper aspects are discussed in other parts of another web site’s section on <a href="http://www.globalissues.org/issue/1/trade-economy-related-issues">trade, economy, & related issues</a>. <br /><br />That is not to belittle the issue of corruption, however, for its impacts are enormous too. <br /><br /> Several governments saw no reason to disagree and offered favourable tax treatment for bribery payments, which could be written off as expenses. <br /><br />These governments argued that making bribes to foreign public officials non-deductible contradicted the principle that all expenses associated with earning taxable income should be taken into account for tax purposes. A second argument they cited was that non-deductibility would be an ineffective deterrent against bribery of foreign officials anyway, even if it changed the effective cost of a bribe. Both arguments were flawed. On the first argument of taxation principles, there are already exceptions for certain legal costs, such as entertainment expenses and gifts, as well as certain payments that are illegal under domestic law. As for deterrent effects, if companies could get a tax deduction for bribes, what incentive would they have for not offering one? <br /><br />The OECD has developed a simple argument: disallowing the tax deductibility of bribes serves as a strong and politically visible symbol of the common international commitment to combat bribery. And if combined with the criminalisation of bribery, non-deductibility becomes a potent force. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Therefore, in April 1996 the OECD adopted a Recommendation on the Tax Deductibility of Bribes to Foreign Officials calling on those member countries which allowed the tax deductibility of bribes to foreign public officials to review their legislation with the intention of denying that deductibility. A Recommendation on Combating Bribery in International Business Transactions adopted on 23 May 1997 reinforced that call. <br /><br />Not all OECD countries at the time treated bribery favourably for taxation purposes; in fact, about half of them disallowed the deductibility of bribes to foreign officials, though not all for the same reasons. In 1996 only 14 denied the deductibility of bribes to foreign public officials as a general rule. Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States denied it because of the illicit nature of the bribe in their own countries. In fact, if any part of the offence was committed in the United Kingdom, for example, whether the offer, the agreement to pay, the soliciting, the acceptance, or the payment itself, it would be covered by the corruption laws and would then not qualify for tax relief. Under Poland’s law, bribery is illegal and an offence for both the briber and the recipient of the bribe and both are punishable. <br /><br />Other countries adopted approaches that were perhaps a little less explicit. The Czech Republic, for example, classified all bribes as gifts, which were mostly not deductible. In Japan, bribes were categorised as entertainment expenses, which by definition made them non-deductible anyway. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In several countries – Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Spain and Turkey – bribes of foreign officials simply did not qualify as a deductible expense, and were thus not allowed, even if there were no explicit provisions against them in some of these countries. In Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, bribes paid to foreign public officials were only deductible if they were documented business expenses and if they were a customary practice in the country of the recipient. <br /><br />In the remaining countries – Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand and Switzerland – bribes to foreign public officials were still as deductible as any other business expense, at least in principle. In practice, a deduction for a bribe was often disallowed because of insufficient documentation to support the fact that the expense was a necessary part of the transaction in question. Moreover, the deductibility of bribes to foreign officials was generally conditioned upon disclosing the identity of the recipient to the tax authorities, which taxpayers are naturally reluctant to do. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-61667079222202115762014-03-25T06:05:00.002-07:002014-05-09T09:41:40.825-07:00Bribery and the Government<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More than one in four people across the globe paid a bribe in the last 12 months when interacting with key public institutions and services, with the police and the judiciary seen as the two most bribery prone, according to a new report. <br /><br />The largest-ever global survey on corruption by Transparency International, which surveyed more than 114,000 respondents in 107 countries, found that over half the respondents said corruption had worsened over the last two years. <br /><br />The survey comes at <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100848062">a time of increased public anger against the perceived corruption and self-interest of governments</a>, from Brazil to Egypt and Turkey. It revealed a deep distrust of political leaders. In 51 countries around the world <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100822578">political parties were seen as the most corrupt institution</a> and 55 percent of respondents thought government was run by special interests. <br /><br />"Around the world, political parties, the driving force of democracies, are perceived to be the most corrupt institution," the report said. <br /><br />Before the financial crisis began in 2008, 31 percent of people said their government's efforts to fight corruption were effective. This year, only 22 percent thought government responses were adequate. Transparency International chief Huguette Labelle said politicians needed "to take this cry against corruption from their citizenry seriously." <br /><br />"Strong leadership is needed from the G20 governments in particular. In the 17 countries surveyed in the G20, 59 percent of respondents said their government is not doing a good job at fighting corruption," she said. <br /><br />Twenty seven percent of respondents said they had paid a bribe when accessing public services and institutions in the last 12 months, revealing no improvement from previous surveys. <br /><br />Despite the frequency of encounters with corruption, almost 9 out of 10 people surveyed said they would act against corruption and two-thirds of those who were asked to pay a bribe had refused, the survey found. <br /><br />"Bribe paying levels remain very high worldwide, but people believe they have the power to stop corruption and the number of those willing to combat the abuse of power, secret dealings and bribery is significant," Labelle said. <br /><br />Problematically, the survey revealed that many people did not trust the institutions meant to fight corruption. In 36 countries, the police was seen as the most corrupt institution and in those countries an average of 53 percent of people had been asked to pay a bribe to the police. <br /><br />Meanwhile, 20 countries saw the judiciary as the most corrupt institution, and in those countries an average of 30 percent of the people who had come in contact with the judicial systems had been asked to pay a bribe. <br /><br />Bribery occurs on all levels of the government within the United States as well as in other countries. Unfortunately, a large number of bribes each year go undetected, resulting in no charges or convictions upon the guilty parties. <br /><br />The different levels and types of bribery are clearly defined under United States law. The first type is the bribery by or of a public official, who is someone who acts on behalf of the United States, such as a juror or a senator. The intention of the bribe is to influence the action of the official in the discharge of their public or legal duties – in other words, a bribe might be given to a senator to encourage them to vote a certain way on a bill, or to a juror in order to solicit a particular outcome in a trial. A public official who is convicted of bribery will be fined three times the amount of the bribe and/or imprisoned for no longer than 15 years. The public official will also not be allowed thereafter to hold any government or political office in the United States. <br /><br />The next type of a bribe is by/of a witness. A witness will receive a fine of three times the amount of the bribe and/or up to 15 years in prison if they accept a bribe for them to alter a testimony. The briber themselves will face a fine and up to two years in prison. <br /><br />The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 1977 makes it unlawful for a United States citizen, as well as certain foreign issuers of securities, to pay a foreign official in order to obtain business with any person. In 1998 a provision to the Act was added which applies to any foreign firms or foreign-born persons who take any act in furtherance of a corrupt payment while in the United States. <br /><br />Others may be found guilty of taking bribes as well. If a bank representative accepts a bribe of anything more than $1,000, he or she can be imprisoned for no longer than 30 years, and fined three times the value of the bribe. Sporting officials are also sometimes offered bribes to "fix" a sporting event to ensure an outcome that the briber desires. If a referee or other sporting official is convicted or bribery, the punishment can consist of a fine and imprisonment of no longer than five years. <br /><br />There are many bribery-related offenses with which an individual may be charged. Some of these include government fraud, extortion, kickbacks, procurement fraud, the health care industry and employee benefits or pension plans, and many others. Each of these offenses will result in punishment or sentencing that reflects the severity of the actual crime that has been committed. <br /><br />Perhaps one of the most common reasons that bribery takes place is to receive unlawful commissions or pay. This is sometimes referred to as a kickback. Often, kickbacks go undetected. However, financial documents within a company or corporation will sometimes serve as substantial evidence in a criminal case to convict the guilty parties of bribery. <br /><br />Some famous examples of bribery include a federal case in which two former Pentagon officials were sentenced to 24 years in prison after making $1 million and being provided with prostitutes; and the case of an army major who worked as a contracting officer, and who accepted bribes from military contractors that totalled $9.6 million. <br /><br />Those facing bribery or other related charges should hire an attorney, regardless of their guilt. The punishments for bribery can be severe and having a professional that can handle the case will be of great assistance. When hiring an attorney for a bribery case, it is imperative that he or she has plenty of experience handling similar cases. It may be wise to ask the attorney questions regarding their experience with related cases. An attorney's fees for handling a bribery case in a criminal case will vary, depending on many factors. <br /><br />Every state, directly or indirectly, prohibits bribery in obtaining government contracts. But few states restrict campaign contributions from businesses seeking government contracts. We need more laws that stop this "pay-to-play" abuse. Government contracts should go to the companies that do the best work for the lowest prices, not the ones that have cozied up to public officials with campaign cash. <br /><br />Also, enforcement of existing laws is often lacking. It's often unclear who is even responsiible for enforcing the law — the state ethics agency, the state elections agency, or the state contracting agent. This also means that penalties for violating the law are often unclear because penalties for violating the elections code are often different from penalties for contracting abuses. <br /><br />Public Citizen supports well-targeted pay-to-play restrictions to foster fair and open competition in the contracting process and to eliminate corruption — and the appearance of corruption. </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-44654776687086369332013-08-15T07:04:00.001-07:002013-08-15T07:04:30.966-07:00Corruption List of Politicians - India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-26314478848996222922013-08-08T06:31:00.003-07:002014-01-17T08:42:12.157-08:00CORRUPTED POPULAR POLITICIANS OF THE WORLD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Top Most Corrupt Politicians in the World</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There are a number of traits that all politicians seem to have in
common. The ability to speak in public, have an extensive educational
background, and be well-versed in a number of affairs is very important but it
seems one common foundation of almost all political figures is corruption. The
scope of corruption can be something simple like embezzling campaign funds to
more serious crimes such as extortion and murder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The most corrupt politicians in the world often diversify their
illicit dealings to expand into multiple facets. It is said that corruption and
politics go hand in hand and it’s actually true. Every day we come across news
alleging the politicians of frauds, scams and corruptions. Remember, with great
powers comes great responsibilities. However, certain individuals pay too much
attention to their personal interest rather than interest of the state or
country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Corrupt politicians threaten the economy as well as democracy of a
country — the overall confidence of the citizens also takes a beating due
to this. The following is the list of top corrupt politicians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The
list,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">in alphabetical order</span></b>, includes:<span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Buchanan"><span style="color: black;">Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Chu"><span style="color: black;">Secretary of Energy Steven Chu</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Clinton"><span style="color: black;">Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Ambassador Susan
Rice</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Holder"><span style="color: black;">Attorney General Eric Holder</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Jackson"><span style="color: black;">Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Menendez"><span style="color: black;">Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Obama"><span style="color: black;">President Barack Obama</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#reid"><span style="color: black;">Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Rivera"><span style="color: black;">Rep. David Rivera (R-FL)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Sebelius"><span style="color: black;">Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dishonorable
Mentions for 2012 include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Edwards"><span style="color: black;">Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Grimm"><span style="color: black;">Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Napolitano"><span style="color: black;">Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Petraeus"><span style="color: black;">Gen. David Petraeus</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Warren"><span style="color: black;">Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/31/10-most-corrupt-politicians-of-2012#Waters"><span style="color: black;">Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Buchanan"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL):<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLe6Ana61pghgyH2MqPlIeUUpVtIBpdTisHdx6mXRvY_DNp4NfTF6fMX5YwXihWh6rU4KlCmNwMIFin2XPg4P726vJIhqqAj-2IL-De3ZB3XMhEWUj0oix3kQQpgy4nkG4kZ7fbrQa4ld/s1600/vern+buchanan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLe6Ana61pghgyH2MqPlIeUUpVtIBpdTisHdx6mXRvY_DNp4NfTF6fMX5YwXihWh6rU4KlCmNwMIFin2XPg4P726vJIhqqAj-2IL-De3ZB3XMhEWUj0oix3kQQpgy4nkG4kZ7fbrQa4ld/s320/vern+buchanan.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In July 2012, the House Ethics Committee, after a haphazard
investigation,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/vern-buchanan-ethics-case_n_1662522.html"><span style="color: black;">reported that Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) had omitted information
on his financial disclosure forms</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>over
four years. However, the ethics committee took no action because once caught,
Rep. Buchanan evidently corrected the “errors.” What, exactly, were the errors?
In his disclosure statements for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, Buchanan failed to
report<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">all</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of
his positions or ownership interests in six entities and income received from
the entities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In a
separate matter, the committee continues to investigate findings of the Office
of Congressional Ethics, Congress’s independent ethics review board, that there
is<a href="http://oce.house.gov/disclosures/Review_No_11-7565_Referral_to_Committee.pdf"><span style="color: black;">“substantial reason to believe that Representative Buchanan
attempted to influence the testimony of a witness in a proceeding before the
FEC [Federal Election Commission]</span></a>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
alleged violation occurred during an FEC probe of Buchanan’s former business
partner, Sam Kazran. According to Kazran, during the FEC probe, Buchanan
offered him a $2.9 million settlement in a separate lawsuit if Kazran would lie
about his role in a campaign cash laundering scheme involving Buchanan’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place> car
dealerships. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/22/politics/congress-buchanan-allegations/index.html"><span style="color: black;">CNN reports that the FBI is now conducting its own
investigation into possible federal witness tampering</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Obama"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Chu"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Secretary of Energy Steven Chu :</span></b></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Department of Energy
is dubbed as one of the most important Government agencies as the world strives
to lessen each generation’s carbon footprint. It seems that good-natured energy
companies aren’t even given the chance to save the environment, unless they
financially back President Obama that is. The Steven Chu led DOE loaned out
$20.5 billion in grants in 2012, $16.4 billion of which went to companies that
were owned or run by Obama financial backers. The <st1:place w:st="on">Chu</st1:place>
corruption also includes funneling $528 billion taxpayer dollars into the
energy company Solyndra…which of course, conveniently, went belly up soon
after. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/11/17/142450803/solyndra-loan-decisions-were-mine-energy-secretary-chu-says"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">The final decisions on Solyndra were mine</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">,” said Secretary of
Energy Steven Chu in his testimony before the House Energy and Commerce
Oversight Committee on November 17, 2011. And this should be his political
epitaph. Chu’s decision to pour $528 million tax dollars into a failing green
energy boondoggle that went belly-up in 2011 is indefensible and corrupt,
especially in light of the fact that Solyndra’s key investor (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tulsa</st1:city></st1:place> billionaire George Kaiser) also happens
to be a major Obama campaign donor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On March 12, 2012, Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-CA)
Energy and Oversight Committee exposed the full extent of <st1:place w:st="on">Chu</st1:place>’s
incompetence and corruption in a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/FINAL-DOE-Loan-Guarantees-Report.pdf"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">report</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">citing “numerous examples of dysfunction, negligence and
mismanagement by DOE [Department of Energy] officials, raising troubling
questions about the leadership at DOE and how it has administered its loan
guarantee programs.” The report accused <st1:place w:st="on">Chu</st1:place>’s
DOE of having “turned a blind eye to the risks that have been glaringly
apparent since the inception of the program.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Whether <st1:place w:st="on">Chu</st1:place> indeed made the “final” decision on Solyndra, or is
simply protecting the president and his donor, this is a scandal of a major
magnitude. And yet, it is only the tip of the iceberg. As<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/11/13/how-obama-s-alternative-energy-programs-became-green-graft.html"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Peter Schweizer, author of the book</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"> </span></span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Throw Them All Out</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">wrote</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, “According to the Department of Energy’s own numbers ... In the
1705 government-backed-loan [green energy] program, $16.4 billion of the $20.5
billion in loans granted … went to companies either run by or primarily owned
by Obama financial backers—individuals who were bundlers, members of Obama’s
National Finance Committee, or large donors to the Democratic Party.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Hilary Clinton</span><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There’s monetary corruption and then there’s flat out lying to the
people in which<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-politicians/democrats/hillary-clinton-net-worth/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Hillary Clinton</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">apparently has no problem doing. From misleading the public about
the Benghazi attacks to using taxpayer money to film an add to cover up her
lies to being the most highly paid recipient of campaign donations from health
care companies even though she pitches for a socialized health care system, it
appears Hilary has the corruption background that is a requirement for a run
for the President in 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Susan Rice</span><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Susan Rice has proven herself to not be just a flash in the pan
corrupt official, she’s got a lengthy history of it. Dating back to when she
was serving on the National Security Council for</span><a href="http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/politician/president/bill-clinton-net-worth/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Bill Clinton</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, Sudanese officials offered up a terrorist by the name of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/politician/sheikhs/osama-bin-laden-net-worth/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Osama Bin Laden</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">but Rice didn’t deem his Al-Qaeda group as a credible threat. Not
exactly the type of resume that would promote somebody to a potential candidate
for national security adviser but that’s an office that Rice is rumored for.
Oh, and then there’s the whole lying about the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Benghazi</st1:city></st1:place> attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Clinton"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton and UN Ambassador Susan Rice:</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN
Ambassador Susan Rice lied about the events surrounding the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Benghazi</st1:city></st1:place> massacre. Hillary Clinton, the only
First Lady to have been the subject of a grand jury investigation, is a regular
visitor to our Most Corrupt list, while this is a first-time appearance for Ms.
Rice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">One day after the attack, on September 12, 2012,
Sec. Clinton said the following: “Some have sought to justify this vicious
behavior, along with the protest that took place at our embassy in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city></st1:place> yesterday, as a
response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s commitment to religious
tolerance goes back to the very beginning of our nation. But let me be clear —
there is no justification for this, none.” She then joined President Obama in
taping a television ad apologizing to the Muslim world for the obscure video,
spending a reported<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/intelligence-chair-obama-and-clinton-gave-permission-slip-al-qaeda"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">$70,000</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">in taxpayer funds on the ad buys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And then Rice repeated the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Benghazi</st1:city></st1:place> lie,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/10/in-libya-story-reversal-state-department-appears-to-lie-about-involvement/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">over and over again</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">on every major television news network. Hillary Clinton’s and
Rice’s lies about one of the most significant terrorist attacks since 9/11 are,
perhaps, the scandal of the year out of this administration. Little wonder that
in his October 2012 testimony<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.forextv.com/forex-news-story/new-details-in-libya-terror-attack-the-taliban-is-on-the-inside-of-the-building"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Eric Nordstrom</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, a former a top security official in Libya who was criticized for
seeking more security in Benghazi, felt compelled to tell the House Oversight
Committee that conversations he had with people in Washington led him to
believe that it was "abundantly clear we were not going to get resources
until the aftermath of an incident. How thin does the ice have to get before
someone falls through?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">He said he was so exasperated at one point he
told a colleague that "for me the Taliban is on the inside of the
building."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Attorney General Eric Holder:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKBQfjEm_s0nLVUkPF6CZIEfi1g2FxvrXsNJYiwCXnSaQcmxusGquACsJ6JHtsPsMjzJamrHC7GoK3x6d_0l51XZdGjXQTCNp51Q8zzmEWR69sWguoHGyKkj4KP6cMfGriR7MFkzGY3zi/s1600/eric+holder.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKBQfjEm_s0nLVUkPF6CZIEfi1g2FxvrXsNJYiwCXnSaQcmxusGquACsJ6JHtsPsMjzJamrHC7GoK3x6d_0l51XZdGjXQTCNp51Q8zzmEWR69sWguoHGyKkj4KP6cMfGriR7MFkzGY3zi/s320/eric+holder.png" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It had to go down like a
bad <st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place> pitch meeting: “So we’ll sell
guns to Mexican drug cartels then they’ll use them for crimes and we can trace
them back for a conviction….let’s green-light this!” The fact that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/celeb/eric-holder-net-worth/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Holder</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">‘s ‘green light’ of Operation Fast & Furious resulted in the
deaths of hundreds of Mexican citizens and a U.S. Border Patrol agent wasn’t
enough to get him impeached as the Attorney General. There is even a pamphlet
circulating stating “10 Reasons to Impeach Eric Holder” and the whistleblower
who concocted the piece said he had a hard time narrowing it to ten.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Holder"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> </span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A regular on our annual Top Ten Corrupt list,
Holder shamelessly operates the most blatantly politicized Department of
Justice (DOJ) in a generation. And, with the Operation Fast and Furious
scandal, it is no exaggeration that his agency has blood on its hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fast and Furious was a reckless DOJ/Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) “gun-running” scheme in which
guns were sold to Mexican drug cartels and others, apparently in the hope that
the guns would end up at crime scenes. Well, they did – and it appears that the
guns were involved in the deaths of hundreds of Mexican citizens, as well as the
murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, who was killed in a shootout with
Mexican criminals in December 2010. On December 5, 2012,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57557358/heads-roll-after-fast-and-furious-investigation/?pageNum=2"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">CBS News</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">reported that 17 DOJ and ATF officials had been faulted in an
Inspector General investigation of the Fast and Furious scandal. But, the man
at the top remains unscathed, even after becoming the first attorney general in
history to be cited for criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to divulge
documents about DOJ lies to Congress about Fast and Furious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Every day that Eric Holder remains at the helm,
the Department of Justice sinks further into the abyss of cronyism, corruption,
and deceit. And it is well past time for him to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL):</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></h2>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jackson</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"> likes to keep
corruption a family affair. The son of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson has
plead guilty to the misuse of campaign funds to purchase luxury items such as a
$40,000 gold Rolex watch, $5,000 worth of fur capes, and thousands of dollars
in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/celeb/actors/bruce-lee-net-worth/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Bruce Lee</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">memorabilia. He was also reportedly attempting to purchase the
senate seat of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/politician/president/barack-obama-net-worth/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Barack Obama</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">in the deal that ended up getting<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/politician/democrat/rod-blagojevich-net-worth/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Rod Blagojevich</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">sentenced to prison and now the two can have political meetings
together in the mess hall. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Jackson"> <o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On November 21, 2012, Rep. Jesse Jackson
resigned from Congress in disgrace, acknowledging in his statement that he had
made his “share of mistakes.” This may well be the understatement of year. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jackson</st1:city></st1:place> has been under federal
investigation for alleged campaign finance improprieties, including reportedly
using donor dollars to remodel his home and purchase personal gifts, a
potential criminal violation. Add to that the fact that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jackson</st1:city></st1:place> was one of the major figures implicated
in the massive scandal involving jailed former Illinois Governor Rod “Blago”
Blagojevich, who was brought to justice in 2011 for a number of crimes,
including his efforts to “sell” President Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat to
the highest bidder. The evidence strongly suggests <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jackson</st1:city></st1:place> was one of those bidders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Because <st1:city w:st="on">Jackson</st1:city>
refused to resign before the November elections, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Illinois</st1:state></st1:place> taxpayers will now be faced with
costs of a special election:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2579436&spid="><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">estimated to cost $5.1 million</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The late great <st1:city w:st="on">Chicago</st1:city> newspaperman Mike Royko famously said that the
official motto of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Chicago</st1:city></st1:place>
should be "<i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Ubi Est Mea</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>-- Where's mine?" Clearly,
Jackson and his cohorts have taken this motto to heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Sen.
Robert Menendez (D-NJ):</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Menendez has been
working on climbing the list of corrupt politicians dating back to 2007 when he
steered lobbying business to a consulting company of Kay LiCausi, who just
happened to be his chief of staff and his mistress. The corruption was only
beginning as Menendez continued to procure development jobs for those who
backed his campaign. He proved to be well-rounded in scandal as he was found to
have a staff member that was not only an illegal immigrant but also a sex
offender. Then there’s the whole prostitution scandal in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Dominican Republic</st1:country-region></st1:place> but Menendez has
already proven his worth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) joins the Judicial
Watch’s list of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state></st1:place>’s
“Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians for 2012” in what might be considered a
sort of “Lifetime Achievement Award.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As far back as 2007, Sen. Menendez was<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.hudsonreporter.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18771381&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523588&rfi=6"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">investigated</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">by a federal grand jury for illegally steering lobbying business
to his former chief of staff Kay LiCausi, with whom he was also romantically
linked. In just a few years, her firm reported $1.3 million in business with
nearly $300,000 coming from a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New
Jersey</st1:state></st1:place> medical center that was later awarded
government funding thanks to a push from her<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.hudsonreporter.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18771381&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523588&rfi=6"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">former boss</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">and lover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 2010, Menendez and his colleague in
corruption, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), allocated<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/7/hoboken-got-fed-funds-for-fancy-frontage/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">$8 million</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">for a public walkway and park space adjacent to upscale,
waterfront condos built by a developer whose executives have donated generously
to their political campaigns. The veteran legislators have received about
$100,000 in contributions from the developer, according to federal election
records. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the developer’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">D.C.</st1:state></st1:place>
lobbyist was a longtime senior aide to Menendez.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And to top it all off,
in October 2012,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/01/women-sen-bob-menendez-paid-us-for-sex-in-the-dominican-republic/"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">The Daily Caller</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"> </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">broke the story that two
women from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Dominican
Republic</st1:country-region></st1:place> claimed that the senator had
procured their services while on Spring Break at the luxurious Casa de Campo.
Then in mid-December, the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.trentonian.com/article/20121213/NEWS03/121219885/menendez-intern-a-sex-offender-faces-deportation"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Associated Press</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">revealed that Menendez
employed an illegal immigrant as an unpaid intern in his Senate office who was
a registered sex offender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="line-height: 18.4pt;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">President Barack Obama:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Were
there a “Hall of Fame” for broken promises, here is one that would get in on
the first ballot: "Let me say it as simply as I can: Transparency and the
rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency" (President Barack
Obama, January 21, 2009). Instead of transparency and the rule of law over the
past four years, we have witnessed the greatest expansion of government in
modern political history and, consequently, an explosion of government secrecy,
scandals, and abuses of power. Among the low-lights:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">• Illegal recess appointments: Perhaps
former Attorney General Ed Meese and Todd Graziano summed it up best in their
January 5, 2012,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-01-05/opinions/35438016_1_senate-recess-senate-session-richard-cordray"><span style="color: black;">Washington Post guest commentary</span></a>: “President
Obama’s attempt to unilaterally appoint three people to seats on the National
Labor Relations Board and Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (after the Senate blocked action on his nomination) is more
than an unconstitutional attempt to circumvent the Senate’s advice-and-consent
role. It is a breathtaking violation of the separation of powers and the duty
of comity that the executive owes to Congress.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Illegal immigration: In mid-June, Obama announced that by
executive decree – and in apparent violation of his oath of office – his
administration would stop deporting and begin granting work permits to younger
illegal immigrants who came to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> as children. According to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/obama-to-ignore-immigration-law-pretend-dream-act-passed/"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">The
AP</span></i></a>, “the policy change … bypasses Congress and partially
achieves the goals of the so-called DREAM Act, a long-sought but never enacted
plan …” Lest anyone doubt that Obama knew he was overriding the law of the
land, in<a href="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/flashback-obama-deporting-illegals-america-nation-laws-presidential-action-not"><span style="color: black;">March, 2011, he said,</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>“There are enough laws on the books by
Congress that are very clear in terms of how we have to enforce our immigration
system that for me to simply, through executive order, ignore those
congressional mandates would not conform with my appropriate role as
President.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Unprecedented secrecy: Judicial Watch has had to file almost 1,000
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and nearly 100 lawsuits against the
Obama administration on issues ranging from Obamacare to the continued funding
of the criminal ACORN network; from tracking Wall Street bailout money to the
unconstitutional use of czars; to White House visitor logs; to the attacks on
the integrity of our nation’s elections. This president touts
transparency but condones law-breaking of open records laws by his
administration. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Unconstitutional czars: As far back as 2009,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Reuters</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>reported, “Name a top issue and
President Barack Obama has probably got a ‘czar responsible for tackling it.”<span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></i></span>By the
time the Judicial Watch Special Report<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-releases-comprehensive-special-report-on-president-obama-s-45-czars/"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">President
Obama’s Czars</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>was
published in October 2011, the number of Obama czars had skyrocketed to 45.
Largely unconfirmed by and unaccountable to the Senate, many of Obama’s czars
are often outside the reach of FOIA. Some of these czars exercise
unprecedented and unconstitutional control over major aspects of government
policy and programs. And a number of the czars have been linked to scandals,
thefts and kickbacks, flagrant and offensive statements, conflicts of interest,
and radical leftist political ideologies and policies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Use of Executive Privilege to protect Eric Holder: On<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/06/20/was-obama-right-to-exert-executive-privilege-in-the-fast-and-furious-eric-holder-contempt-case"><span style="color: black;">June 20, 2012, Barack Obama acquiesced to a plea from
Attorney General Eric Holder and asserted “executive privilege” to protect the
Attorney General</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>from
being prosecuted for failing to provide Congress with Fast and Furious
documents. On March 22, 2011, when asked by a<a href="http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2012/jun/18/rick-perry/rick-perry-says-obama/"><span style="color: black;">Univision TV</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>if
he had been informed of the Holder gunrunning program, Obama bluntly stated,
“Absolutely not. This is a pretty big government, the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> government. I’ve got
a lot of moving parts.” So, as Judge Andrew Napolitano said on<a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/judge-napolitano-cant-have-it-both-ways-either-obama-cannot-invoke-executive-privilege-or-holder-lied/"><span style="color: black;">Fox News</span></a>, “They can’t have it both ways. If the
President was not personally involved, executive privilege does not
apply.” To this day, President Obama refuses to detail the specific
documents he is withholding from Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The list could go on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">ad infinitum</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>–
with Benghazigate, bailouts, abusing the perks of office for luxury vacations
for his family, and, of course, his personal involvement in the Solyndra
scandal. But the bottom line is this: The federal government under Barack Obama
is off the rails and out of control. And now, with Obama having been given the
“flexibility” of a second term, it can only be expected to get worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV):</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4bbEAf_OYc1jjfYQwj2TbRhX-LLERxBlJyR6xczA7w6II2mBlbnFNvhf3Dx5PHjJKLxx-s5bqpx4iX152ZwStMSG8aDo1TrNt8DFOx_vAFrHseQn7F1mqQ8oBFDGhMld6Pc__V7RS2e-/s1600/harry+reid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4bbEAf_OYc1jjfYQwj2TbRhX-LLERxBlJyR6xczA7w6II2mBlbnFNvhf3Dx5PHjJKLxx-s5bqpx4iX152ZwStMSG8aDo1TrNt8DFOx_vAFrHseQn7F1mqQ8oBFDGhMld6Pc__V7RS2e-/s320/harry+reid.png" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The corruption
surrounding<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/politician/democrat/harry-reid-net-worth/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Harry Reid</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">is so numerous that most Google search results can’t narrow down
the crimes. There’s rumors that he’s a tax cheat, has connections with
organized crime, and is possibly even a pedophile. The Nevada senator doesn’t
even seem to hide the fact that most of his interests are personal these days
including securing $21 million for a bridge that connects Nevada gambling towns
with a small town in which he owns 160 acres of undeveloped land and securing
land appraised at $38 million for a little over $4 million dollars for the
development of a Chinese green energy company; that Reid’s son happens to be a
principal investor for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A July 30, 2012,
headline in the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Las Vegas Review-Journal</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></i></span>alerted
Nevadans to Sen. Harry Reid’s latest influence-peddling scandal – this one
involving ENN Energy Group, a Chinese “green energy” client of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Nevada</st1:state></st1:place> law firm of which
Reid’s son, Rory, is a principal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/31/us-usa-china-reid-solar-idUSBRE87U06D20120831"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Reuter’s</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">reported on August 31,
2012, “Reid has been one of the project's most prominent advocates, helping
recruit the company during a 2011 trip to <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>
and applying his political muscle on behalf of the project in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Nevada</st1:state></st1:place>. His son, a lawyer with a prominent
Las Vegas firm that is representing ENN, helped it locate a 9,000-acre
(3,600-hectare) desert site that it is buying well below appraised value from
Clark County, where Rory Reid formerly chaired the county commission.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Well below appraised value” is a considerable
understatement. The deal Rory Reid put together for the firm his dad brought to
town saw ENN purchase the site for just $4.5 million – a mere fraction of
separate appraisals that valued the property at $29.6 million and $38.6
million. Even with all of that, however, the project has failed to move forward
as rapidly as Harry and Rory Reid would like – for the simple reason that there
is currently</span><a href="http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/costs-conflicts-arise-in-reid-push-for-green-power-164858086.html"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">no market</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Nevada</st1:state></st1:place>
for the green energy ENN claims it could produce.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But, of course, funneling
money to the Reid family is nothing new for the Senate Majority Leader. As the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Washington
Post</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></i></span>reported
in a February 7, 2012, story titled “</span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/capitol-assets/public-projects-private-interests/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Public projects, private interests</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">:”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 2004 and 2005, the Senate majority leader
secured $21.5 million to build a bridge over the Colorado River, linking the
gambling resort town of <st1:city w:st="on">Laughlin</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Nev.</st1:state>, with <st1:city w:st="on">Bullhead City</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Ariz.</st1:state> Reid owns 160 acres of undeveloped land in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bullhead</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And according to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/12/12/cronies-that-got-away-in-2012/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Peter Schweizer, writing for Fox News on December 12, 2012</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, “Sen. Reid has
sponsored at least $47 million in earmarks that directly benefitted
organizations that one of his sons, Key Reid, [RW1] either lobbies for or is
affiliated with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Needless to say, the well-entrenched Sen. Reid
has been a repeat Top Ten offender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"> Rep. David Rivera (R-FL):</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAIXpk5_t8cjCnvh5DrZU-XyVNbzrlgreUhAFASkiC0il_scdkwijenVTcRBwWEDYfqPkDnKpDitsCUKJIyEU9dFmjxtDSvzG3DLb4PpGZaCqr6-G_hH7kavFmJXcq5vGXyTKKWQvjS7U/s1600/david+riviera.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAIXpk5_t8cjCnvh5DrZU-XyVNbzrlgreUhAFASkiC0il_scdkwijenVTcRBwWEDYfqPkDnKpDitsCUKJIyEU9dFmjxtDSvzG3DLb4PpGZaCqr6-G_hH7kavFmJXcq5vGXyTKKWQvjS7U/s320/david+riviera.png" height="173" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In late 2012 the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place> ethics
commission ruled with probable cause that representative David Rivera committed
11 violations of state ethics laws. The report was surprising in that it<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">ONLY</span>listed 11. Rivera’s
‘mother and grandma’ operate a marketing firm that received over $1 million
dollars from a Florida casino for supposed consulting and he’s even being
investigated for funding the campaign of a candidate running against Rivera’s
opponent in the November 2012 election. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On October 24, 2012,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/rep-david-rivera-faces-11-florida-ethics-charges/story?id=17555529#.UMsqW2_LSy4"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">the Florida ethics commission found "probable cause"
that Rep. David Rivera (R-FL) had committed 11 violations of state ethics laws</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">during his time in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state></st1:place> legislature.
This comes amidst reports that Rivera remains under federal investigation over
his personal and campaign finances. And, in a separate matter, the congressman
is under investigation by the FBI for secretly funding the campaign of Justin
Lamar Sternad, a candidate running against Joe Garcia in the Democratic primary
earlier this year. Garcia defeated Rivera in the November election.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The “probable cause” findings stem from an
investigation by the FBI and the IRS regarding Rep. Rivera’s dealings with the
Flagler Dog Track, now known as the Magic City Casino. The basis for the
investigation relates to payments reportedly totaling as much as $1 million
made by the casino to Millennium Marketing in the guise of a consulting
contract. Most of the money is said to have been paid in 2008. Millennium Marketing
is owned by Rivera’s mother and godmother, and Rivera supposedly benefited from
the arrangement, and is thus the subject of a tax evasion inquiry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For a long time, Rep. Rivera denied ever
receiving any income from the dog track, but just before heading to Congress,
Rivera admitted receiving $132,000 in “undisclosed loans” from Millennium. He
claims he paid the money back. Investigators are also taking a close look at
Rivera’s campaign spending, including $75,000 he paid in 2010 “to a now-defunct
consulting company owned by the daughter of a top aide.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Sebelius"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius</span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On September 12, 2012, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Kathleen Sebelius became<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/12/sebelius-violated-hatch-act-and-may-be-fired-obama-administration-lawyers-find/"><span style="color: black;">the first member of the President’s cabinet in U.S. history</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to have been found guilty of violating
the Hatch Act when she campaigned for the reelection of Barack Obama in her
official capacity of Secretary of HHS. According to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Politico</span></i>,
“During a speech to the Human Rights Campaign Gala in North Carolina in
February, Sebelius . . . outlined the Obama administration’s accomplishments so
far and said, ‘One of the imperatives is to make sure that we not only come
together here in Charlotte to present the nomination to the president, but we
make sure that in November he continues to be president for another four
years.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After
the speech, Sebelius tried to cover her tracks by reclassifying the event from
“official” to “political,” and claiming her appearance was in her personal
capacity. The scheme didn’t work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">According
to the official statement put out by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel: “The
Office of Special Counsel (OSC) sent findings to the President today from its
investigation of complaints of prohibited political activity by Secretary of
Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. OSC concluded that Secretary
Sebelius violated the Hatch Act when she made extemporaneous partisan remarks
in a speech delivered in her official capacity on February 25, 2012. The
Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or
influence to affect the outcome of an election.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thoroughly
unapologetic, Ms. Sebelius justified her transgression by informing the OSC
that she simply “<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81122.html"><span style="color: black;">got a little caught up in the notion that the gains which
had been made would clearly not continue without the president’s reelection</span></a>.”
In other words, her Obamacare agenda took precedence over the law. Normally,
when a government official is found violating the Hatch Act,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/12/sebelius-violated-hatch-act-and-may-be-fired-obama-administration-lawyers-find/"><span style="color: black;">the punishment is termination</span></a>. How did
President Obama respond? There was<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/13/white-house-indicates-sebelius-wont-be-punished-over-hatch-act-violation/"><span style="color: black;">no punishment</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Dishonorable Mentions:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Former Sen. John Edwards
(D-NC):</span></b><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/john-edwards-verdict-not-guilty-guilty-jury-183230275.html"><span style="color: black;">May 31, 2012</span></a>, a jury in the corruption trial of
former U.S. Senator from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">North
Carolina</st1:state></st1:place> and presidential candidate John Edwards said
that it could not agree on a verdict for five of six counts, and U.S. District
Judge Catherine Eagles was forced to declare a mistrial. But, while Edwards may
have been partially exonerated (he was acquitted on one count), he was
certainly not vindicated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">John
Edwards conducted an illicit affair with campaign employee Rielle Hunter that
resulted in the birth of their daughter. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Edwards
reportedly persuaded his former political aide Andrew Young to claim that he
was the father of the child, and not Edwards. The ruse failed and Edwards was
forced to admit to the whole sordid mess. The focus then shifted to whether
Edwards unlawfully diverted campaign funds to hide the affair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Edwards
denies the claim, but according to witness testimony Hunter and Young received
nearly a million dollars in “hush” payments from philanthropist Rachel “Bunny”
Mellon and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>
billionaire Fred Baron, two campaign donors who did not want to see the scandal
derail Edwards’ pursuit of the White House. According to an<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/300365/dishonest-dishonorable-and-illegal-hans-von-spakovsky"><span style="color: black;">excellent analysis by Hans Von Spakovsky at the Heritage
Foundation</span></a>, the money paid to Edwards’ mistress was “dishonest,
dishonorable, and illegal:”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Federal law…prohibits
the conversion of campaign funds to any personal use (2 U.S.C. §439a). Most
important, FEC regulations state that the payment of a personal expense by any
person other than the candidate is considered a contribution to the candidate,
unless the payment would have been made irrespective of the candidacy (11 CFR
113.1). As the FEC said in a prior advisory opinion (AO 2008-17), the key
question is, ‘Would the third party pay the expense if the candidate was not
running for Federal office?’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In
short, John Edwards may have eluded the reach of the law. But, in the courtroom
of public opinion he remains one of the “Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians”
for 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY):</span></b><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Though <st1:place w:st="on">Staten Island</st1:place>’s Rep. Michael Grimm managed to eke out a
reelection victory on November 6, it wasn’t because he had failed to supply his
opponent with serious issues of campaign corruption. During the race, Grimm was
the subject of an FBI investigation into allegations that his 2010
congressional campaign had accepted contributions over the legal limit and from
noncitizen donors via Ofer Biton, a former aide to a prominent Israeli rabbi,
in exchange for helping Biton obtain a green card.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">According to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/york-district-plagued-scandal/story?id=17028626&page=2#.UMumUuROJTI"><span style="color: black;">ABC News</span></a>, “In early 2012, the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">New
York Times</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>reported
that Grimm, a devout Catholic and former agent for the FBI, allegedly accepted
illegal donations from members of an Upper East Side rabbi's congregation. Ofer
Biton, an Israeli citizen and a top aide to the prominent Orthodox rabbi
Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, came under investigation by the FBI over allegations
that Biton embezzled millions of dollars from the congregation. It is said that
while campaigning with Biton, the Grimm campaign collected over $500,000 in
campaign contributions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Secretary of Homeland Security
Janet Napolitano:</span></b><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">According a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/november-15-2012/gallup-62-americans-say-stopping-illegal-immigration-should-be-top-priority.ht"><span style="color: black;">Gallup Poll</span></a>, a full 62 per cent of the American
people believe that stopping illegal immigration should be a top priority of
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place>
government. Unfortunately for the American people, Secretary of Homeland
Security Janet Napolitano is not numbered among that 62%. And she is the person
who is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">supposed</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></i></span>to be enforcing the law. Last year,
Napolitano opened the floodgates of illegal immigration by having the
Department of Homeland Security review all cases then before the immigration
courts with an eye towards halting the deportation of many illegal immigrants
allegedly with no criminal backgrounds. (JW uncovered records demonstrating
this to be an<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/files/documents/2011/dhs-houston-amnesty-docs-2.pdf"><span style="color: black;">utter lie</span></a>. Many of the illegals let off the hook
were convicted of violent crimes.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not
satisfied with skirting the law in 2011, Napolitano decided to abandon it
altogether in 2012. Accordingly, on June 15, 2012, she announced: “By this<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/jamie-dupree-washington-insider/2012/06/15/obama-makes-big-change-on-immigration-policy/"><span style="color: black;">memorandum</span></a>, I am setting forth how, in the
exercise of our prosecutorial discretion, the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) should enforce the Nation's immigration laws against certain young people
who were brought to this country as children and know only this country as
home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In short,
this amounted to blanket “temporary” amnesty for illegals under the age of 30.
With her single statement, she simply declared upwards of one million illegal
aliens entirely legal. Just like that. No legislation. No debate. No votes. No
court rulings. The Constitution of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> notwithstanding. And,
in so doing, she violated the Oath of Office she had taken when sworn in as
secretary of Homeland Security on January 21, 2009: “I, do solemnly swear that
I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all
enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to
the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or
purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of
the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Gen. David Petraeus:</span></b><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">General
Petraeus was forced to resign after news leaked of his long-term extramarital
affair with Paula Broadwell, a writer and military analyst who penned a
Petraeus biography. Compounding the scandal are questions involving whether
Petraeus’ mistress had improper access to classified information from the
nation’s top spy. At the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/11/13/new-video-of-broadwell-in-aspen-raises-more-questions/"><span style="color: black;">University of Denver on July 28</span></a>, Broadwell said,
“I had access to everything, it was my experience not to leak it, not to
violate my mentor, if you will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There is
also a major question about whether Petraeus misled Congress about the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Benghazi</st1:city></st1:place> attack in his
initial congressional testimony. On September 14, just days after the attack on
the consulate, Petraeus briefed congressional intelligence leaders, reportedly
telling them he believed the attack was spontaneous and not carefully
pre-planned. Yet on Friday, November 16, in private hearings before Senate and
House intelligence committees, Petraeus changed his story. According to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/16/petraeus-to-testify-knew-libya-was-terrorism-from-start-source-says/"><span style="color: black;">Fox News</span></a>: “Petraeus' testimony both challenges
the Obama administration's repeated claims that the attack was a
"spontaneous" protest over an anti-Islam video, and according to [New
York Rep. Peter] King conflicts with his own briefing to lawmakers on Sept. 14.
Sources have said Petraeus, in that briefing, also described the attack as a
protest that spun out of control.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA):</span></b><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Judicial Watch uncovered evidence that Elizabeth Warren gave false
statements under oath regarding Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
activities when she served as the agency’s interim director. According to the
records, Warren and the CFPB were intimately involved in brokering a 50-state
settlement underway with the nation’s largest mortgage lenders related to
alleged improper foreclosure procedures. This evidence seems to contradict <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Warren</st1:city></st1:place>’s statements before
Congress suggesting her office<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">responded</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to
requests for advice, but did not seek to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">push</span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>its
views.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">During a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://financialservices.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=237382"><span style="color: black;">March 16, 2011, hearing</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of the House Financial Services
Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, Ms. Warren
downplayed her agency’s involvement in the state settlement negotiations: “We
have been asked for advice by the Department of Justice, by the Secretary of
the Treasury, and by other federal agencies. And when asked for advice, we have
given our advice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But this
does not come close to telling the full story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Emails
obtained by Judicial Watch from several states suggest her agency’s
participation was far more intense and aggressive. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Warren</st1:city></st1:place> called emergency meetings by phone and
in person with attorneys general nationwide to contribute unsolicited input on
the matter. The documents also indicate that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Warren</st1:city></st1:place>’s office insisted on keeping its
contact with the state attorneys general secret. For example, in a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.judicialwatch.org/files/documents/2011/cfpb-ny-response-05232011.pdf#page5"><span style="color: black;">February 25, 2011, email</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to the Executive Committee of the
National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), Iowa Assistant Attorney
General Patrick Madigan wrote: “Elizabeth Warren would like to present the
CFPB’s view on loan modifications.” Two weeks earlier, a similar email was
distributed to NAAG’s Loss Mitigation Subgroup on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Warren</st1:city></st1:place>’s behalf. In an email on February 15
regarding that meeting, Madigan points out that “The CFPB wanted me to stress
the confidential nature of this briefing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h1 style="line-height: 40.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Waters" style="line-height: 18.4pt;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></b></a></h1>
<h1 style="line-height: 40.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8135554391293354729" name="Waters" style="line-height: 18.4pt;"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA):</span></span></b></a></h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2YRtriV1ie355AYE3auVwcWvpyLpLcV3THDEBRcqObMthiPvg2KYl1Fc6g5fp9ldKzmBjqwCGpvD2_GBe9UGXEYFoJl0o8A-InxMExnuCg817v1OltKmH5ddRohBpsKOaKwy73sC4M_z/s1600/maxine+waters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2YRtriV1ie355AYE3auVwcWvpyLpLcV3THDEBRcqObMthiPvg2KYl1Fc6g5fp9ldKzmBjqwCGpvD2_GBe9UGXEYFoJl0o8A-InxMExnuCg817v1OltKmH5ddRohBpsKOaKwy73sC4M_z/s320/maxine+waters.png" height="173" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1041" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="4" style='width:437.25pt;height:237pt'
o:button="t">
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o:href="http://www.therichest.com/cdn/583/316/75/c/wp-content/uploads/4132-583x316.jpg"/>
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<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Maxine Waters has used her time in politics to rise to become a
very influential congresswoman but that does not necessarily mean her influence
has always been beneficial to the people. It turns out the people that have the
most to gain from Waters career is her family who have made over $1 million
through companies whose cause she has supported. She also steered congressional
funding of $12 million dollars to OneUnited Bank, which ironically Waters and
her husband have shares of and even serve on the board. The litany list of
corruption will probably end though once Waters takes her voted-in spot as the
ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In early
December, Democrats chose the scandal-plagued Rep. Maxine Waters to be the
ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee despite her many
transgressions over the years. The influential congresswoman has helped family
members make more than<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2004/dec/19/local/me-waters19"><span style="color: black;">$1 million</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>through
business ventures with companies and causes that she has helped, according to
her hometown newspaper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In
August 2010, Waters’ influence peddling earned the attention of a subcommittee
of the House Ethics Committee which charged Rep. Waters with three counts of
violating House rules and ethics regulations in connection with her use of
power and influence<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/us/politics/31waters.html?scp=4&sq=maxine%20waters&st=cse"><span style="color: black;">on behalf of OneUnited Bank</span></a>. After a highly
controversial investigation, plagued by accusations of impropriety and
corruption, on September 12, the committee failed to hold Waters to account for
steering a $12 million to OneUnited, in which she and her board member husband
held shares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
Financial Services Committee, among other responsibilities, has jurisdiction
over all issues pertaining to; you guessed it, the banking system. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.05pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.05pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Cristina Kirchner</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7erLAqJPrSaDkqwqBQ3V8Pthyphenhyphen4u_1I-tTSmjfVcEO6_U0pFzMXBOhKw1PWjvADUGJduPOxmyh_yIYsQo0e7xph99ZQb5St25-LmHTL8cQasUS9gPuLuJDRj7_s52u0Z9fZ_xluFLR4RD/s1600/christina+kirchner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7erLAqJPrSaDkqwqBQ3V8Pthyphenhyphen4u_1I-tTSmjfVcEO6_U0pFzMXBOhKw1PWjvADUGJduPOxmyh_yIYsQo0e7xph99ZQb5St25-LmHTL8cQasUS9gPuLuJDRj7_s52u0Z9fZ_xluFLR4RD/s320/christina+kirchner.png" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1042" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="3" style='width:437.25pt;height:318pt'
o:button="t">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Just to prove that corruption isn’t limited to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
Argentine President Cristina Kirchner has her share of scandals as well. There
are reports of a $70 million dollar money laundering scandal and the awarding
of government contracts to companies Kirchner is involved with. The residents
of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place>
have even taken to the streets in a peaceful pot-banging protest but Kirchner
seems more enamored with her age than the civil unrest in the city, Tweeting
during the protest “I am old but it’s lucky to reach old age isn’t it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mohamed Suharto</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHM06h7LJZ3f00vOYtrecIZ4zY4I0Fz_dA0OR61MIYX6SL6Uq4DY_4HmPbfIte0gVgI5xLe_Pt9PCFuKMI2_aABK2FcFlM5Eg6bfDLsAFCclkhiFilhe2QPZqfFvLJTfM1Msjdqjj_nhZ/s1600/mohd+sukarto.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHM06h7LJZ3f00vOYtrecIZ4zY4I0Fz_dA0OR61MIYX6SL6Uq4DY_4HmPbfIte0gVgI5xLe_Pt9PCFuKMI2_aABK2FcFlM5Eg6bfDLsAFCclkhiFilhe2QPZqfFvLJTfM1Msjdqjj_nhZ/s1600/mohd+sukarto.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1043" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Mohamed Suharto Top 10 Corrupt Politicians"
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<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This gentleman was president of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region> from the year 1967 till
1998. During his stint as the president of the country he amassed a wealth of
approximately $30 billion. This wealth was in the form of real estate, cash,
shares as well as expensive fine art. During his 31 year presidency, the value
of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
currency fell rapidly and economy went into a bad shape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ferdinand Marcos</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9RZ7lj42lc3bYjMObXDUCKCshRVxzhLcXP9T-Y06I_o3qDkhwSRrQo23RTNbCD7zHqCCVA_8rJ_AAZ9MC8oY2IUDdXn16_jzDR0BGAVENyTgECjJe6v1cWlmo-Aw31GxGKPwkbLVxzOW/s1600/margos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9RZ7lj42lc3bYjMObXDUCKCshRVxzhLcXP9T-Y06I_o3qDkhwSRrQo23RTNbCD7zHqCCVA_8rJ_AAZ9MC8oY2IUDdXn16_jzDR0BGAVENyTgECjJe6v1cWlmo-Aw31GxGKPwkbLVxzOW/s320/margos.png" height="320" width="286" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1044" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Ferdinand Marcos Top 10 Corrupt Politicians"
style='width:217.5pt;height:242.25pt' o:button="t">
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<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ferdinand Marcos is another president who was in news for
misappropriation and diversion of funds for his personal interest. He was
president of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region>
from 1972 to 1986 and made a fortune of roughly $10 billion during this period.
Even his cronies and relatives were accused of political mismanagement and
rampant corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mobutu Sese Seko</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSNxeMVUL9o7Y0x9QEVGwKdKm09k9M9EH5tWTGqn4MQc2AkGmxWGGUAQdW8S3yNbKgyRKqxGiO8RLza4gg6BcWrT-vYO0vr8vx26ddus_5XJ6opE6AjDpCTbJMVJY_ubHMcP0gIKczDPz/s1600/mobuto+sese+seko.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSNxeMVUL9o7Y0x9QEVGwKdKm09k9M9EH5tWTGqn4MQc2AkGmxWGGUAQdW8S3yNbKgyRKqxGiO8RLza4gg6BcWrT-vYO0vr8vx26ddus_5XJ6opE6AjDpCTbJMVJY_ubHMcP0gIKczDPz/s320/mobuto+sese+seko.png" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1045" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Mobutu Sese Seko Top 10 Corrupt Politicians"
style='width:165pt;height:247.5pt' o:button="t">
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<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He embezzled funds worth more than $5 billion during his regime as
President of Zaire from 1965-77. He was involved in many cases of frauds and
scams which hampered the economy of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zaire</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sani Abacha</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2NAk-tVQer8mEOLg7q2mh5OOwdNGXwwjWwwVO-qzL9iRChG4LDTd-forieWwjfDnZjUyLQecxlB1brHRbHLQRFvQcEWP0fjnsO5CzMLFJTC5RZutv9IxVReuBlUgcfEn1y4x-6QoT8hz/s1600/sani+abacha.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2NAk-tVQer8mEOLg7q2mh5OOwdNGXwwjWwwVO-qzL9iRChG4LDTd-forieWwjfDnZjUyLQecxlB1brHRbHLQRFvQcEWP0fjnsO5CzMLFJTC5RZutv9IxVReuBlUgcfEn1y4x-6QoT8hz/s1600/sani+abacha.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1046" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Sani Abacha Top 10 Corrupt Politicians"
style='width:172.5pt;height:225pt' o:button="t">
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o:href="http://cdn.gizmocrazed.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Sani-Abacha.jpg"/>
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<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sani Abacha, this Nigerian president made a fortune of $5 billion
during the years 1993-1998. He had many properties and foreign assets. After
his death, the post-Abacha government recovered more than $3 billion from his
family and representatives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Slobodan Milosevic</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv0lpFOkw6Oh952ExdlN556LwdKvYwziwJiN6X-1NjaT7Vi5DD1Sp-Z4iBLxQm0WW3XNvcYq-dxWJfOaneaHH6LCXYguVZ34kPJYB8rvGlBoIr_DVvnnZ552VWtKQ3_4a8KSR_M335DPk/s1600/slobodan+milosevic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv0lpFOkw6Oh952ExdlN556LwdKvYwziwJiN6X-1NjaT7Vi5DD1Sp-Z4iBLxQm0WW3XNvcYq-dxWJfOaneaHH6LCXYguVZ34kPJYB8rvGlBoIr_DVvnnZ552VWtKQ3_4a8KSR_M335DPk/s1600/slobodan+milosevic.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1047" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Slobodan Milosevic Top 10 Corrupt Politicians"
style='width:150pt;height:192.75pt' o:button="t">
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<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well, no wonder this list contains another president. Slobodan was
president of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Serbia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
for a period of 11 years from 1989 till 2000. He was charged not only with
corruption during his political stint but also for war crimes as well as crimes
against humanity. He amassed wealth of more than $1 billion during his
political career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jean-Claude Duvalier</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_v84fNO89UyGelnY95-yZL-B1VmdahJHbyvxlZyMLgnV5dBAwf_QSFmSMrsiTGpMP9F0asVUcjGHFTg2e2wgSy00HKDsTyYxuyrCf5Trwa12Z9RnKRO7U8DNWAWzEb2Zb_zBe7bHBAad/s1600/New+Picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_v84fNO89UyGelnY95-yZL-B1VmdahJHbyvxlZyMLgnV5dBAwf_QSFmSMrsiTGpMP9F0asVUcjGHFTg2e2wgSy00HKDsTyYxuyrCf5Trwa12Z9RnKRO7U8DNWAWzEb2Zb_zBe7bHBAad/s320/New+Picture.png" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even though he was the president of small country <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Haiti</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the
corruption charges levied against him are too big. He was known in the country
as well as world over for his lavishing lifestyle during the period 1971-1986.
If reports are to be believed, his wedding in the year 1980 cost was worth more
than $3 million. It was also alleged he was involved in drug peddling and human
trafficking and said to divert funds more than $700 million in his own
interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Alberto Fujimori</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJznL8QVbXWqOIiaVQvrM5SuvcLTBsDPZRnr2HoZd0wircSxtupfEHjqynqoAxpNQI5Tw5fg3hzRzF90tCUHY7-locryNBzjMobaEwVCDjNxu-dCaC1Aga5OC60HoEKJYHED6TDvuiPP_c/s1600/New+Picture+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJznL8QVbXWqOIiaVQvrM5SuvcLTBsDPZRnr2HoZd0wircSxtupfEHjqynqoAxpNQI5Tw5fg3hzRzF90tCUHY7-locryNBzjMobaEwVCDjNxu-dCaC1Aga5OC60HoEKJYHED6TDvuiPP_c/s1600/New+Picture+(1).png" /></a></div>
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<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">He was a controversial figure in the political circles of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Peru</st1:place></st1:country-region>. He was
president of the country from a good ten years from 1990 till 2000 and faced
charges of corruptions, violation of human rights as well as authoritarianism.
He faced many trials in the court of law and is said to amass wealth of more
than $600 million during his presidential career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Pavlo Lazarenko</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJbq_suvWSJvFXc6rab42G6ByEIbFbKotRHCe1kMWbhOsDyRKKAog_RzQJfYrFKGz67k97qil6I3xzDlV3_5jzXu_pONqezfZTjOB5RNdT-Q2Hfhad2top3pOeEbOPbiYMM9OnMZb1jqy/s1600/New+Picture+(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJbq_suvWSJvFXc6rab42G6ByEIbFbKotRHCe1kMWbhOsDyRKKAog_RzQJfYrFKGz67k97qil6I3xzDlV3_5jzXu_pONqezfZTjOB5RNdT-Q2Hfhad2top3pOeEbOPbiYMM9OnMZb1jqy/s1600/New+Picture+(2).png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1050" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Pavlo Lazarenko 300x225 Top 10 Corrupt Politicians"
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even though he was the Prime minister of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> for
only a year i.e. 1996-1997, the funds embezzled by him was more than $200
million. He spent widely on lavishing lifestyle. However, later he was
convicted and sent to jail in US on charges of wire fraud, money laundering as
well as extortion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Arnoldo Alemán</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0HZatUlK_Gd4wsz1BDp9lhIOqw8Wx47fszRSvguUER4QKZevo0wRfPlVYYGsDMZtY467eyaak-3gAP4Yb0nYRRerXW2tbdCsbpHEEGHr_6XeMsR3LHxMlaD0OcNlTpD1nZRAx-fkUqLn/s1600/New+Picture+(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0HZatUlK_Gd4wsz1BDp9lhIOqw8Wx47fszRSvguUER4QKZevo0wRfPlVYYGsDMZtY467eyaak-3gAP4Yb0nYRRerXW2tbdCsbpHEEGHr_6XeMsR3LHxMlaD0OcNlTpD1nZRAx-fkUqLn/s1600/New+Picture+(3).png" /></a></div>
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id="_x0000_i1051" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Arnoldo Alemán Top 10 Corrupt Politicians"
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Aronoldo administration was full of cooperation from top to
bottom. At the end of his presidency at 2002, it was alleged that he has
amassed wealth of $100 million. His property and foreign accounts were sealed
by the court and he was sent to prison for nine months on charges of
corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Joseph Estrada</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRBw61PZZ_GKzohwQldZsBehvrd9bGQtioyYySek6NzQprI0PwwS4N1HSHb-WmvT6vJxKZXmUOk2ZeUCZRkCqzs9BuqzqcrFpq6iN0GIj-ZzV_unSxRaJLjAitS3XOMKvJBDhNjygpb2R/s1600/New+Picture+(4).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRBw61PZZ_GKzohwQldZsBehvrd9bGQtioyYySek6NzQprI0PwwS4N1HSHb-WmvT6vJxKZXmUOk2ZeUCZRkCqzs9BuqzqcrFpq6iN0GIj-ZzV_unSxRaJLjAitS3XOMKvJBDhNjygpb2R/s1600/New+Picture+(4).png" /></a></div>
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id="_x0000_i1052" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Joseph Estrada Top 10 Corrupt Politicians"
style='width:225pt;height:225pt' o:button="t">
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<div style="line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last in the list comes
the president of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Joseph
Estrada. He was serving presidential post from 1998 until 2001. He had an
acting career spanning more than 30 films before he joined politics. In just
three years, he was involved in the scams involving more than $80 million. It
is also worthy to note that he was first Philippine president to be impeached
and convicted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></h2>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-46028703153565844282013-08-07T10:30:00.000-07:002013-08-07T10:30:07.995-07:00CORRUPTED POLITICIANS OF PAKISTAN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;">Top Five Corrupt
Politicians of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">There are many names in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s political history who
devoted their life and everything to this country and its people. They include
such as Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal and Nawabzada Liaqat Ali
Khan and Zulifqar Ali Bhutto just to name a few. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.5pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Bu there
are the ones who harmed the insterests of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> in any way they can. In
this post I am going to list those politicians who are considered the
most corrupt politicians of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.75pt;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">1.Asif Ali Zardari</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx2gKTUiwuRfVw1JYGezBMoYJaA9XWZhvJdYzuwRWlGjZXOMPTyv0BSDt3l8PgUO6DJS-MPrbm7aJWmU2VDEC6ZYKG2DpRl1lk-opFIEG50SIbA8qJe19-AW0gzwgXj6sHqMa-2KPupje/s1600/New+Picture+%252810%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx2gKTUiwuRfVw1JYGezBMoYJaA9XWZhvJdYzuwRWlGjZXOMPTyv0BSDt3l8PgUO6DJS-MPrbm7aJWmU2VDEC6ZYKG2DpRl1lk-opFIEG50SIbA8qJe19-AW0gzwgXj6sHqMa-2KPupje/s320/New+Picture+%252810%2529.png" width="277" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Unfortuantely, Asif
Zardari is currently the Preseident of Pakistan. He is the co-chairperson of
Pakistan People's Party. Since his party i.e PPP has come into power, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> has
lost a huge amount more than Rs 8.5 trillion ($94 billion) in corruption, tax
evasion, bad governance during the last four years. He is called "Mr 10
Percent" for his corruption that he did in over two decades. He had also
been arrested in on corruption charges, extortion and kidnapping in 90's.
Systematic corruption is prevalent from top to bottom in the government of Asif
Ali Zardai.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b>2.Yusuf Raza Gilani</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">This man is student of
Asif Ali Zardari. Former Prime Minister of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Yusuf Raza left no stone
unturned to accumulate wealth for his sons Musa and Abdul Qadir Gilani ( they
are also involved in a scandal) . He used to wear 15 lac worth of suits and
coats in his incompetent premiership and proudly acknowledged that
these coats and suits have been gifted to him by his friends. Supreme Court of
Pakistan disqualified Yusuf Raza Gilani on charges of contempt. He denied
writing a letter to Swiss authorites to reopen graft cases against Asif
Zardari.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b>3.Nawaz Sharif</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Head of Pakistan
Muslim League (N) party, Nawaz Sharif is former premier of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. He is
alleged to have been involved in money laundering and corruption in his tenure.
He took billions of rupees loans from National and commercials banks of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region> and
never repaid the loans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b>4.Shahbaz Sharif</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbuwRsp60LE_4F5c0QQ3lfc_71h2ksF_vYUJ2svMyYdXUbbvnY8QPM5Z4Y-ISy-C73EsSBLNmgJzGUf8mNMsedznw9uB3GcsAU3jTzpMrfErNA3OVhK7ADuijg8xAEuU7kPdbGJyZfFAG/s1600/New+Picture+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbuwRsp60LE_4F5c0QQ3lfc_71h2ksF_vYUJ2svMyYdXUbbvnY8QPM5Z4Y-ISy-C73EsSBLNmgJzGUf8mNMsedznw9uB3GcsAU3jTzpMrfErNA3OVhK7ADuijg8xAEuU7kPdbGJyZfFAG/s320/New+Picture+%25281%2529.png" width="277" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""
href="http://insightpakistan.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/shahbaz-sharif11-640x480.jpg"
style='width:129.75pt;height:150pt' o:button="t">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Shahbaz Sharif is
presently chief minister of <st1:place w:st="on">Punjab</st1:place> province.
He is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif. Sharif was involved in failed
"Sasti Roti" and yellow cabs schemes for which billion of rupees were
wasted and no relief was passed on to poor people of Punjab. Both the brothers
never pay the taxes while they are the owner of biggest mills and
factories of <st1:place w:st="on">Punjab</st1:place>.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>5.Pervaiz Musharraf</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKexY_vTMvgo2ei1l2Q2Obufs-NGFiP-lzJiAbYvbNGT6EQX6_2N53pvh2rvdkEOdDL8fi62gdYs8SMwEtjiWVK6dtE8JsvzuOwIfvJIpdVcrDvvTUwHCFwND3BNn6hx5Q16CZ_AcT1nC/s1600/New+Picture+(7).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKexY_vTMvgo2ei1l2Q2Obufs-NGFiP-lzJiAbYvbNGT6EQX6_2N53pvh2rvdkEOdDL8fi62gdYs8SMwEtjiWVK6dtE8JsvzuOwIfvJIpdVcrDvvTUwHCFwND3BNn6hx5Q16CZ_AcT1nC/s320/New+Picture+(7).png" width="265" /></a></div>
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id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""
href="http://www.topnews.in/law/files/pervez-musharraf_23.jpg" style='width:124.5pt;
height:150pt' o:button="t">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Pervaiz Musharraf is
the former President of Pakistan. Though he took many steps to bring stability
to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
economy but his presidency was marred with many corruption scandals . One of
them related to PSMC (Pakistan Steel Mill) He and his government were
involved in the privatization of Pakistan Steel Mill Corporation from which
they extorted money for their own interest . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-33021480555882014392013-08-07T10:16:00.001-07:002013-08-07T10:16:37.476-07:00WORLD MAP OF CORRUPTED COUNTRIES<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTsZNJQYFboT7w4khT0t51wrA57RB_Mc_COID_cXZif58YWyV2vvO7h8AvBNIs2YSqSCcOX15xnRlHf-RE8UUwl39J4fH41DMTtxoAbj32z6l4ftPt8fHBH1OFH-PoNqRja-bfz8tiyJY/s1600/Screen-shot-2012-12-05-at-12.17.00-PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTsZNJQYFboT7w4khT0t51wrA57RB_Mc_COID_cXZif58YWyV2vvO7h8AvBNIs2YSqSCcOX15xnRlHf-RE8UUwl39J4fH41DMTtxoAbj32z6l4ftPt8fHBH1OFH-PoNqRja-bfz8tiyJY/s640/Screen-shot-2012-12-05-at-12.17.00-PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-65538671462462373452013-08-07T09:52:00.000-07:002013-08-07T09:52:22.155-07:00CORRUPTED POLITICIANS OF INDIA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.35pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 14.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ten Most Corrupt Indian
Politicians<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fin.lifestyle.yahoo.com%2F10-corrupt-indian-politicians-134933044.html&media=http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/kUyVk4EboF38eyrpQOxw_A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYwMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_IN/News/MensXP/corrupt_0.jpg&description=10%20Most%20Corrupt%20Indian%20Politicians%20-%20Yahoo!%20Lifestyle%20India" title=""></a>While everyone
has been animatedly supporting <a href="http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/4213-anna-hazare-the-fight-against-corruption.html"><span style="color: #990033;">Anna Hazare's fight against corruption</span></a>, people
seem to have forgotten who the people are who actually led to this situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The peak of irony was
when Anna was, allegedly, lodged in the same<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/5602-activists-and-their-prison-connection.html"><span style="color: #990033;">jail</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that
housed the people who were responsible for two of the biggest scams in the
country ever. How must the authorities have felt when they saw Raja and Kalmadi
fill their plates while Anna was on a fast because of their misdeeds?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corruption has become
an unavoidable part of politics and every now and then, one or the other
politician re-affirms this fact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is our pick of
the 10 most corrupt politicians of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suresh Kalmadi<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76_32K9s34j5DAHVc7P_qthgU7jx2lmLdh9qao3hOPYJZYLP1YuLDwWkpmQnQaAPNzvziizgCn6kdZ9hNHMrKHFJgpWP49NqnHVe2EfC-O7Gtyns9Swuuz9DT9-AbU-SB8Fv-LpVrru58/s1600/New+Picture+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76_32K9s34j5DAHVc7P_qthgU7jx2lmLdh9qao3hOPYJZYLP1YuLDwWkpmQnQaAPNzvziizgCn6kdZ9hNHMrKHFJgpWP49NqnHVe2EfC-O7Gtyns9Swuuz9DT9-AbU-SB8Fv-LpVrru58/s320/New+Picture+(1).png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/cartoon-of-the-day/3092-kalmadi-accepts-blame-for-cwg-mess.html%20"><span style="color: #990033;">Suresh Kalmadi</span></a>, almost single handedly caused
a loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to the country. The Commonwealth Games,
organized by Kalmadi was no less than a loot with numerous reports of the
magnum opus event being soaked in corruption making headlines way before the
Games had even started. Apparently, out of Rs. 70000 crores spent on the Games,
only half of the amount was actually spent. Owing to his involvement in the
scam, Kalmadi was charged with corruption and sent to Tihar jail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A. Raja<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT5TKFyhQEXdkY9CHfPQxei942lWYuqr2h-kPnvrAZE8bfyZwv6QOOO6KsCbwgMAf6gICB7IEZdMjTxLNEBIYVEbhIUnobuWzFw-9-tDre4o6sbve7XXXsjYI6EaMJ4scaiP9q1nGWP-N/s1600/New+Picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT5TKFyhQEXdkY9CHfPQxei942lWYuqr2h-kPnvrAZE8bfyZwv6QOOO6KsCbwgMAf6gICB7IEZdMjTxLNEBIYVEbhIUnobuWzFw-9-tDre4o6sbve7XXXsjYI6EaMJ4scaiP9q1nGWP-N/s1600/New+Picture.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A scam worth Rs.
176,000 crore had former Union Cabinet Minister for Communications and
Information Technology, Andimuthu Raja at the centre. A. Raja as he is
generally called, was the prime accused in the 2G spectrum scam, which was the
largest that the country had seen in a long time. Following the shocking
exposure, Raja was indicted and forced to resign. Presently, he is too has been
lodged at the Tihar jail and is awaiting his trial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mayawati<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSZy3mcS5JEQuMFugtPNBe2tyVx38l9APQ9dn9KBkqCQFj0uYD3_ZHVM2ehbirmajxF96BmqOVL6VgKWw_gzTQLrBYpxRS02R746GD_TUyxWo2o0sTBg5aUstnUHoAI8KQFDBzUSrzyiP/s1600/New+Picture+(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSZy3mcS5JEQuMFugtPNBe2tyVx38l9APQ9dn9KBkqCQFj0uYD3_ZHVM2ehbirmajxF96BmqOVL6VgKWw_gzTQLrBYpxRS02R746GD_TUyxWo2o0sTBg5aUstnUHoAI8KQFDBzUSrzyiP/s1600/New+Picture+(2).png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75"
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<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mayawati has always
been criticized for ostentatious display of power in her state. She has
allegedly used her status as chief minister to amass large amounts of personal
wealth. She was charged with corruption when the Taj Heritage Corridor Case was
uncovered. Mayawati's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/cartoon-of-the-day/3165-how-john-lennon-celebrated-his-birthday.html"><span style="color: #990033;">birthdays</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>have
always been media events, where she usually appears decked in diamond jewellery
and also accepts public donations for which, she often comes under fire. Her
assets are worth millions of dollars and in the year 2007-08, she had paid an
income tax of Rs. 26 crores, which placed her amongst the top 20 taxpayers of
the year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lalu Prasad Yadav<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
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<div style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.2pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact that Lalu
Prasad Yadav has been an accused in 63-odd cases serves for the fact that Lalu
stands as one of the strongest competitor in the list. The biggest scam that
rocked Lalu's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mensxp.com/work-life/life-at-the-office/570-political-skills-to-win-at-office-politics-.html"><span style="color: #990033;">political career</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>was the fodder scam which involved the
embezzlement of Rs. 950 crore approximately. The accusation of nepotism against
him has come up time and again but hardly any action has been taken against him
owing to his 'connections' in the government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Madhu Koda<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Former Jharkand Chief
Minister, and only the third independent legislator to assume the office of
chief minister in India, Madhu Koda was responsible for a scam worth over Rs.
4000 crore. The man exploited the state's natural resources by licensing
illegal mining leases and stashing away the wealth amassed during the
undertaking. Furthermore, the Maoists received a 30% share of the booty. Koda
was arrested on charges of money laundering and is still in prison following
the rejection of numerous bail applications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mulayam Singh Yadav<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mulayam Singh Yadav is
also known as one of the most corrupt ministers in the country despite not
being directly involved in any major scams. Apart from his name being involved
in appointments of tainted officers and mishandling of his power as chief
minister, Mulayam Singh had one major allegation levelled against him–
accumulation of disproportionate assets. The case drew limelight on his sons
and daughter-in-law as they too were holders of the assests that amounted to
crores of rupees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karunanidhi<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The corruptions
charges against M. Karunanidhi are so many that he is often referred to as the
king or emperor of corruption. He was accused of lending support to the LTTE
and was indicted for abetting the LTTE in the interim report which oversaw the
investigation into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karunanidhi reportedly
institutionalized corruption in the South. He was a leading player in the cash
for votes scams that are common in the southern region, as well as notorious
foe extreme nepotism shown under his rule. Not so surprising, is the fact that the
main accused in the 2G scam, A, Raja, considers him to be his mentor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sharad Pawar<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very few people can
miss the cosy relationship that Sharad Pawar shares with power and money.Every
now and then, Pawar draws flak for alleged investments made by him and his
family in various illegal projects. He was named by Abdul Karim Telgi, during a
narcoanalysis test, stating that it was Pawar's brainchild to print fake stamp
papers across the country and mint money. He was also accused in a multi-crore
scam involving wheat imports and institutions headed by him and his close
associates were served notices by the Bombay High Court for showing favoritism
to his family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jayalalithaa<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu has a staggering 46 corruption cases against her. Amongst the
various scams were the Rs. 70 million coal import scam, Tansi land deal case,
case of disproportionate assets and colour TV case, amongst many others. A raid
in her residence and business establishments led to the seizure of some 28 kg
of jewellery (worth Rs 51 crore), 91<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mensxp.com/fashion/style-guide/669-wrist-watches-one-for-every-occasion.html"><span style="color: #990033;">wrist-watches</span></a>, 41 air-conditioners, 10,500
sarees, 750 pairs of footwears, etc. She along with her former cabinet
colleagues and senior bureaucrats who worked with her are still facing
investigation with regard to corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BS Yeddyurappa<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most recent
politician<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/top-10/5458-meet-the-top-10-young-politicians-of-india.html"><span style="color: #990033;">http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/top-10/5458-meet-the-top-10-young-politicians-of-india.html</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to be caught in the web of corruption
is former Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yeddyurappa. While he has a number
of corruption lying against him, the one that toppled his career was his
alleged involvement in the illegal iron ore export scam in districts of
Karnataka. A lot of blame game followed and ended up with Yeddyurappa losing
his ministerial post last month. Despite his denial, his image as one of the
most corrupt politicians of the country will not fade anytime soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-50639125653904428802013-08-07T09:13:00.000-07:002013-08-07T09:13:02.476-07:00CORRUPTED POLITICIANS OF U.S.A.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial;">Ten
Most Corrupt Politicians Of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.A.</st1:country-region></st1:place></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.05pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Boss <st1:place w:st="on">Tweed</st1:place> </span></b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The American symbol of inner-city
political corruption, William “Boss” <st1:place w:st="on">Tweed</st1:place>
brilliantly mastered the form of aiding his constituents and business partners
in return for votes, money and power. Tweed, a Democrat, served as a member of
and eventually headed <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>’s
Tammany Hall amidst heavy war profiteering during the Civil War. He was elected
to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1852, the New York City Board of
Advisers four years later, and the New York State Senate in 1867.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 8.35pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The city’s debts jumped about $100 million
dollars in just two years from 1868 to 1870. <st1:place w:st="on">Tweed</st1:place>
was convicted in 1873 for his role in a corruption ring that stole at least $1
billion in today’s dollars and given a 12-year sentence. <st1:place w:st="on">Tweed</st1:place>
was released a year later however after his prison term was reduced, though he
was immediately rearrested, as the city sued him for $6 million. Tweed escaped
and fled to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region> where he
was arrested and sent back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York
City</st1:place></st1:city>. <st1:place w:st="on">Tweed</st1:place> died in
prison from pneumonia in 1878. Many, including <st1:place w:st="on">Tweed</st1:place>
himself, believed that despite his crooked ways he did a lot of good for the
city, especially for the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Ray Blanton<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A former member of the Tennessee House of
Representatives, Blanton was elected Governor in 1975. He came under
significant pressure after he pardoned a convicted double murderer whose father
was later found to be a county chairman for Blanton. With the unlikelihood of
winning reelection, Blanton, a Democrat, decided not to run, and Republican
Lamar Alexander was elected his successor. Near the end of his term, three
state employees -- two from Blanton’s office --were charged by the FBI with
extortion and conspiracy to sell pardons, paroles and commutations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Blanton’s most serious acts of corruption
occurred just shortly before his term was to expire as pardons were delivered
for 24 convicted murderers and 28 prisoners of other crimes in what many
believed were performed in exchange for money. To stop Blanton’s pardon spree,
the Lieutenant Governor and State House Speaker claimed the state constitution
was unspecific as to when a newly elected Governor must be sworn in. As a
result, Alexander was sworn in three days before his scheduled inauguration to
get Blanton out before he could pardon anyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fred Thompson became famous when in 1977 he
represented Marie Ragghianti who had tried to inform authorities of the corruption
taking place while she served as chairwoman of the state’s Pardons and Paroles
Board. She was fired by Blanton but sued for reinstatement and won. The story
was made into a book and later a film (“Marie”), in which Thompson played
himself, launching his movie career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Budd Dwyer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A Republican politician from <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state>, Budd Dwyer was a member of the
state House of Representatives from 1965 to 1970 and spent the following decade
in the state Senate. Dwyer was then elected state Treasurer -- the post he held
until committing suicide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On January 22, 1987, Dwyer was one day away from
a federal court sentencing hearing after a jury found him guilty of taking
$300,000 in campaign donations from a computer company in a quid pro quo
exchange for a $4 million state contract. Dwyer was also accused of five counts
of mail fraud, four counts of inter-state transportation in aiding racketeering
and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Dwyer faced a maximum of 55
years in prison and a $300,000 fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">At a press conference the morning of January 22,
with TV cameras rolling and reporters watching, Dwyer pulled out a loaded .357
Magnum from a manila envelope and took his own life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Edwin Edwards<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Edwin Edwards served four terms as Democratic
governor of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Louisiana</st1:place></st1:state>
in a time span ranging from 1972 to 1996. The New Orleans Times-Picayune
recently described Edwards as such: “He was a swashbuckling figure of engaging
charm and dubious ethics whom critics blame for cementing the popular national
image of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Louisiana</st1:state></st1:place>
as a captivating but corrupt backwater, the province of rogues and scoundrels.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Despite accusations of impropriety beginning
early in his career -- a former associate claimed he was involved in several
corrupt practices, including the sale of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Louisiana</st1:place></st1:state>
agency posts; and he was accused of accepting money from a South Korean rice
broker while serving in the U.S. House -- his political career continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then in 1997, FBI agents raided his house and
seized records and more than $400,000 in cash. The FBI had monitored over 1,500
hours of telephone conversations, and Edwards was charged for his involvement
in extorting payments from businessmen -- including <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place></st1:city> 49ers owner Edward Debartolo
Jr. -- in return for riverboat casino licenses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1998 Edwards was indicted by the federal
government and found guilty on 17 of 26 counts of extortion, fraud,
racketeering, and conspiracy. Edwards, now 80, had been seeking a pardon or
sentence commutation by President Bush.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Spiro Agnew<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Republican Spiro Agnew served as Vice President
under President Richard Nixon from January 1969 until his resignation in
October 1973 due to issues unrelated to the Watergate scandal. He was the
second <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
vice president to resign from office, following only John Calhoun, who did so
in 1832. Agnew was a crusader for what became known as “The Silent Majority,”
which the administration depicted as patriotic, conservative, middle-class
Americans opposed to the counterculture events of the time. He was often used
as Nixon’s voice in the public to attack the media, war protestors and the
administration’s opponents in colorful, bombastic ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">After Nixon won re-election, Agnew was targeted
by a U.S. Attorney investigation for tax fraud, bribery, extortion and
conspiracy related to his earlier political career in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:state>. He was formally charged with
accepting bribes of more than $100,000. Agnew decided not to face trial and
resigned, entering a plea of no contest to charges of evading income taxes.
Agnew was given three years probation and fined $10,000. In 1981, a civil court
revealed that Agnew had in fact accepted the sum of $147,000 in bribes while
governor of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:state>.
He received $17,500 of the cash while he was serving as Vice President. Agnew
was forced to reimburse the state $268,000.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Carroll Hubbard<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Carroll Hubbard served in the Kentucky Senate
from 1968 to 1974 before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives
in the state's 1st District. After a failed bid for Governor in 1979, Hubbard,
a Democrat, was re-elected to the House six more times before being defeated in
the 1992 primary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hubbard was indicted for misusing government
property and personnel as part of the 1992 Rubbergate House Banking Scandal, in
which House members were found to have overdrawn their House checking accounts.
Hubbard's wife was also put on probation for five years for illegally using the
congressman's aides for her own failed run for Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">To lessen his punishment, Hubbard worked as an
FBI informant with the name "Elmer Fudd" although he ultimately
proved useless to the agency. In 1993 Hubbard complained about this job to the
Washington Post and certain news programs. The following year he pled guilty to
three felony charges of violating federal campaign spending rules, conversion
of federal property, theft and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to
three years in federal prison in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Fort
Worth</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place> and
fined $153,794.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 2005 Hubbard ran for office in the Kentucky
Senate, losing by only 58 votes. He lost again in 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">George Ryan<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Ryan served as the Republican Governor of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:state> from 1999 until
2003. Investigations into Ryan began in 1994 when he was serving as Illinois
Secretary of State in what would become known as the license-for-bribes
scandal. That year, an explosive car accident in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Milwaukee</st1:place></st1:city> killed six and left their two
parents significantly burned. An investigation found that the driver, who did
not speak English, had possibly used a bribe to receive his license. An
investigation began into the sale of drivers licenses for money, though Ryan
tried to stop it from proceeding. An eight-year investigation would reveal that
the secretary of state’s office had given licenses to unqualified truck drivers
for bribes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 2003, Ryan’s ex-chief of staff and campaign
manager was convicted of racketeering and fraud. In Decemeber of that year Ryan
was indicted along with lobbyist Lawrence Warner on 22 counts including
racketeering, bribery, money laundering, extortion, and tax fraud. Ryan was
accused of forwarding numerous state contracts to Warner and other associates,
taking campaign funds for personal use, and obstructing justice in trying to
stop inquiries into the license-for-bribes scandal. Ryan's trial began in late
2005 and in April 2006 he was found guilty by a jury on all counts. Ryan
appealed the verdict but in September of that year he was sentenced to six and
a half years in prison. He is scheduled for release on July 4, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">James Traficant<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A nine-term Democrat from <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ohio</st1:place></st1:state> serving from 1985 to 2002, Traficant
was known as a colorful, unconventional congressman willing to say whatever was
on his mind. In a 420-1 vote in 2002, Traficant was kicked out of Congress a
week after the House Committee of Standards of Official Conduct had recommended
it be done. Traficant was only the second member of the House to be removed
since the Civil War. Rep. Michael Myers was the other, expelled in 1980 after a
conviction for taking bribes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Traficant had been convicted of 10 felonies
involving bribery, tax evasion and racketeering. Charges ranged from filing
false tax returns to making his aides work at his <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ohio</st1:place></st1:state> farm. He was defiant until the end,
claiming he was unfairly targeted by federal prosecutors, outlining what he
said were problems with the prosecution’s case against him and lies told by
witnesses. Traficant claimed the government sought to get back at him after he
was acquitted of bribery charges in 1983 when he was the sheriff of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Mahoning County</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place>.
In his final speech he stated, “I’ll go to jail before I resign and admit to
something I didn’t do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Traficant is currently serving out his
eight-year prison sentence and is expected to be released in September 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Randy "Duke"
Cunningham<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOT2O0Q0ffFdG5sGKtnbfIuFgPEwp69G5bXqhriUmH-Vs3oySSxkviQvfIANL4xaUL1b7fYWx5XW-6D4jAx-CVbNuFmZXQnJkd6hSEmcw9SO5Tys5XT70acXM_36b1k_ed9l2A3WiXX2x/s1600/New+Picture+(8).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOT2O0Q0ffFdG5sGKtnbfIuFgPEwp69G5bXqhriUmH-Vs3oySSxkviQvfIANL4xaUL1b7fYWx5XW-6D4jAx-CVbNuFmZXQnJkd6hSEmcw9SO5Tys5XT70acXM_36b1k_ed9l2A3WiXX2x/s320/New+Picture+(8).png" width="261" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cunningham, a decorated Navy fighter pilot
during the Vietnam War, represented <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San
Diego</st1:place></st1:city> as a Republican in the U.S. House from 1991 to
2005, when he resigned from Congress in disgrace. His story is best told in the
book, “The Wrong Stuff: The Extraordinary Tale of Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham, the
Most Corrupt Congressman Ever Caught,” written by the Copley News Service
reporters who helped expose him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 8.35pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Cunningham sat on the powerful House
subcommittee that designates spending to certain defense programs, and he
resigned from Congress in November 2005 after pleading guilty to bribery. He
admitted taking bribes of at least $2.4 million -- the highest known amount a
congressman has ever taken -- from at least three defense contractors in
exchange for government business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cunningham had used the bribes to make
extravagant purchases such as a yacht, Roll Royce, suburban-D.C. condominium
and a mansion. On March 3, 2006, Cunningham was sentenced to eight years in
federal prison and ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Huey Long<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOj6O1szuYxl_7abcehADTYFeJWRJdEVLJJlU32BjMH6hMHI1eLqEV1KC6FQSYbejqi80mCD7YjSEbPMTbtQXWMdYmC0eZ_UwpuGbJKlGF-BpjK3Re3IkwnHPDYmUl0Dp-jKq2tk76ZGC/s1600/New+Picture+(9).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOj6O1szuYxl_7abcehADTYFeJWRJdEVLJJlU32BjMH6hMHI1eLqEV1KC6FQSYbejqi80mCD7YjSEbPMTbtQXWMdYmC0eZ_UwpuGbJKlGF-BpjK3Re3IkwnHPDYmUl0Dp-jKq2tk76ZGC/s320/New+Picture+(9).png" width="289" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Known as <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Louisiana</st1:place></st1:state>’s
“Kingfish”, a name he gave himself, Democrat Huey Long served as Governor from
1928 to 1932, during which he pushed through a public works program of
unprecedented scale. To do so he used extensive political patronage and almost
any means he could, including threats and buying votes to beat back wealthy,
entrenched opposition. Long was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1930 but did not
take office until the end of his gubernatorial term two years later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 8.35pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 1929 Long sought to increase taxes on the
production of oil but was confronted by strong opposition in the state
Congress. Impeachment of Long was sought on charges of corruption, bribery and
gross misconduct. The state House passed numerous charges against him but Long
succeeded in getting one third of the Senate to sign a document saying they
would vote against any charge regardless of the evidence, thus preventing the
two-thirds majority required. Those who signed the document were later given
state jobs, cash, or other rewards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.05pt; margin-bottom: 8.35pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.35pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Long was known to intimidate his opponents by
firing their relatives from state jobs. He sought to establish a tax on
newspapers to forbid them from publishing material he deemed slanderous. In
1934 Long sought further control of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Louisiana</st1:place></st1:state>
state government by nearly eliminating local government, giving himself the
power to choose all state employees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Long was shot in the Louisiana Capitol in
September 1935 -- one month after announcing his candidacy for president.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-22429665295994118302013-08-06T23:58:00.000-07:002013-08-07T00:02:13.495-07:00LIST OF CORRUPTED COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 16.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> is the 94th 'most
corrupt country' in the world for doing businesses, a new survey has revealed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 16.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the 2012 Corruption Perceptions
Index, created by Transparency International, India was ranked 94th, a step up
from last year's ranking, while Russia was 133rd, 10 places higher than 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 16.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The survey showed <st1:country-region w:st="on">Denmark</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Finland</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sweden</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Singapore</st1:place></st1:country-region>
topping the list as the 'cleanest countries' to do business in the world, CNN
reports.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 16.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the report, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Somalia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">North
Korea</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Sudan</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Myanmar</st1:place></st1:country-region> ranked
at the bottom of the list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>
was ranked 19th in the world, below <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>
and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> and ahead of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Chile</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Uruguay</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the survey noted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The survey also noted that while <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> has
become the world's second largest economy, doing business in that country is
now perceived to be more corrupt, as it dropped five spots to 80th place out of
176 countries surveyed in the 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 16.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Europe, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region>, whose ailing economy faces
tough austerity measures to meet international standards to get bailout cash,
plummeted to 94th place on the list, down from the 80th spot last year, the
survey added. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmV8J_Efqm42ZUPRYmiu3smmQRd41mLunjfgOgKH8jqY3f4evZMfWdy3GWFMdZfR2_PBepllV3SNTrTpw7Nv9peDMXJCCTAm2F20gSaCdtgBTw0gu8QSNoQ3Z7oVQIhyscQ_6UlE9_iv-/s1600/Haiti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmV8J_Efqm42ZUPRYmiu3smmQRd41mLunjfgOgKH8jqY3f4evZMfWdy3GWFMdZfR2_PBepllV3SNTrTpw7Nv9peDMXJCCTAm2F20gSaCdtgBTw0gu8QSNoQ3Z7oVQIhyscQ_6UlE9_iv-/s400/Haiti.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><strong>Haiti</strong></st1:country-region></st1:place><strong>
ranks 165 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 19 out of 100.</strong><br />
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="color: #333333;">Haiti</span></st1:country-region><span style="color: #333333;">
was struck by a massive earthquake in 2010, but the 2 billion dollars that came
into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region></st1:place>
as funds for the people inflicted by the earthquake was consumed by the rampant
corruption practiced by the bureaucracy.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2011 Human Rights Report by the U.S. State Department
found that corruption “remained widespread in all branches and at all levels of
government” even after <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region></st1:place>
elected a new president in 2011. “In this country everything is money,”
Chairman of the Port-au-Prince Bar Association Stanley Gaston said. “There
isn’t value in any other thing. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 16.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<st1:place style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Haiti</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">’s CPI score is 1.8 (ranked 175th), and they are plagued by the rampant
corruption of the impenetrable bureaucracy. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.4pt; margin-bottom: 16.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4pt;">In September 2011, a
renowned Iraqi journalist was murdered in his home because he was accused of
leading anti government protests.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4pt;"> </span></div>
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<st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Venezuela</span></strong></st1:country-region></st1:place><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 165 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 19 out of 100.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Venezuela</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">
has earned a CPI score of 1.9 and are ranked 172nd out of 182 countries of the
world. The event that kicked off the country’s slide in to corruption was the
discovery of vast amounts of oil and by the time the ’70s decade arrived, the
Venezuelans had started calling the petroleum being mined as ”the Devil’s
excrement”.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<br /><span style="background: white;">Hugo Chavez came by in 1999 promising to remove
corruption but did nothing to even slow it down as his movement was accused of
the same ills as the movement before him; ills such as political patronage,
cronyism, and of course, corruption.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:place></st1:country-region>, even the police, the
department appointed to protect the law, are notorious for their corruption and
bribery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Iraq</span></strong></st1:country-region></st1:place><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 169 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 18 out of 100. </span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the Saddam regime, the corruption was so
rampant that anyone that so much as lifted a finger against the government was
immediately captured and brutally murdered. Saddam and his son were quite
infamous for their brutality and corruption.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">“Millions of dollars are being stolen, and some
of this money is going to terrorist groups,” a former political exile told the
BBC in 2009. “The government cannot win the war against the insurgency if it
does not fight corruption first. And the war against corruption is much harder
to win.”</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Their CPI score is 1.8 and are ranked 175th.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoLc-BPGH40LJLfnNNXTH2FCO_rcD07JAgtnIQ35QLrIqSDR_PetOGOGof9vs2wr0C5pIrqfPt_9d_ADPMp7FODQagzcPikT6DuEhLeto6grW4-aYS_jNG5OOWISOhYqKyl3Zy6tLEVq-/s1600/CC4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoLc-BPGH40LJLfnNNXTH2FCO_rcD07JAgtnIQ35QLrIqSDR_PetOGOGof9vs2wr0C5pIrqfPt_9d_ADPMp7FODQagzcPikT6DuEhLeto6grW4-aYS_jNG5OOWISOhYqKyl3Zy6tLEVq-/s400/CC4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Sudan</span></strong></st1:place></st1:country-region><strong><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 173 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 13 out of 100.</span></strong></span><st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Sudan</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
gets millions of dollars in aid for development to start the rebuilding process
that has become a necessity in the country ravaged by years of war.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">But the aid funds seldom (read: almost never) go
to the purposes of development and instead end up in private hands of the
government officials and their foreign banks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white;">South Sudan</span></st1:place><span style="background-color: white;">
produces half a million barrels per day, and the $10 billion in oil revenues
collected since 2005 has funded nearly 98 percent of the government’s budget.
But it has lost more than $4 billion due to public sector corruption since
gaining self-rule in ’05.</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Since the country gained self rule in 2005, no
effort has been put into prosecuting the officials responsible for corruption
despite a commission being set up for just this job. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sudan</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s CPI score is 1.6 and are
ranked at 177th. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-se7JheO9UgNvK6PcwoIECXFVE0m4M_wyfhSa7J4oZjuYogj5bnHLTR618lNAKgMx4dO_hdsS03EaLXhDwZQeskG-evDSOty6AUvvmOpGGP__DnI2R9dIsC2vmRfBF7u4JQIEldUbGUiC/s1600/CC5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-se7JheO9UgNvK6PcwoIECXFVE0m4M_wyfhSa7J4oZjuYogj5bnHLTR618lNAKgMx4dO_hdsS03EaLXhDwZQeskG-evDSOty6AUvvmOpGGP__DnI2R9dIsC2vmRfBF7u4JQIEldUbGUiC/s400/CC5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:427.5pt;height:300pt'>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Turkmenistan</span></strong></st1:country-region></st1:place><strong><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 170 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 17 out of 100.</span></strong><br />
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Turkmenistan</span></st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">
spent 69 years under the <st1:place w:st="on">Soviet Union</st1:place> and
their time with the Soviets has left its effects on the government.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Though the country declared independence in
1991, the totalitarian rule of the Soviets left its imprint and has led to a
totalitarian control by the government of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Turkmenistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The people suffer intense human rights
violations and face severe restrictions whenever they try leaving the country.
It has the world’s third worst freedom of the press, and is the tenth most
censored country in the world. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Turkmenistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>
has a CPI of 1.6 and are ranked at 177. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6AfR3Jfi3mu0Ory9FKlEgf5hpm-EJ-qiJvoThciHCf-cCZxn6DO5t-yh2W2a4-V1jEb28l09uqaZv1NzoKSQP2RxDyDXO9yReK4prLcnPjBQ4WdGBXFwSAg9C6tM5zSQNYD4OeUhM1sC/s1600/CC6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6AfR3Jfi3mu0Ory9FKlEgf5hpm-EJ-qiJvoThciHCf-cCZxn6DO5t-yh2W2a4-V1jEb28l09uqaZv1NzoKSQP2RxDyDXO9yReK4prLcnPjBQ4WdGBXFwSAg9C6tM5zSQNYD4OeUhM1sC/s400/CC6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:427.5pt;height:300pt'>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Uzbekistan</span></strong></st1:country-region></st1:place><strong><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 170 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 17 out of 100. </span></strong></span></div>
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<st1:country-region style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Uzbekistan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is
a country rich in resources, but the government does not allow for growth in
the independent private sector as they keep control over all the resources.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The government, infamous for its
authoritarianism, is often called the root of all the corruption and the
problems that arise as a result.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">According to a local businessman, the country’s
half-hearted war on corruption reaped no results and there has been “no
progress in the battle against corruption. The country and its society are
corrupted through and through.” <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Turkmenistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s
CPI is 1.6 and its ranked at 177. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iNZuz7Rc_V2AY_8RSMvvjh3Cb70BW3anVuheXcQ7tDg3DrG2GM4yLpCI8blRdoQOEngQnj3SI6G5REoEF0A8tTPIXNPOAK4NEn8SoCSB_4iXnSpitLy9M7uhhoLcRpA3k1wgmpzh9V9f/s1600/CC7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iNZuz7Rc_V2AY_8RSMvvjh3Cb70BW3anVuheXcQ7tDg3DrG2GM4yLpCI8blRdoQOEngQnj3SI6G5REoEF0A8tTPIXNPOAK4NEn8SoCSB_4iXnSpitLy9M7uhhoLcRpA3k1wgmpzh9V9f/s400/CC7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:427.5pt;height:300pt'>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white;">Afghanistan</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 174 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 8 out of 10. </span></b></div>
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<st1:country-region style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Afghanistan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is
a state riddled with the the corruption of bribery. As recent as 2010, Afghani
people paid around 2.5 billion dollars in bribes and nearly half the Afghan
population had paid the country in kickbacks.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Bribery and the menace of kickbacks are so
commonplace in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>
that 38 percent of the people consider it to be normal.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Even meeting a politician, something that seems
as simple as a normal talk or a handshake, involves giving kickbacks 40 percent
of the time. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s
CPI is 1.9 and is ranked 180th in the world.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnhAwD2SmYt8EwRrEcVSbabpKpX0G5cPst-jq92IgGRpGAGlJZI9hYNgZgqswCL3g2lZZy27_W1Jw7fNzxekSATUE0t1ud-il8mRxXWcLVnzCOPQNFLKQ26UalP7wHpp-8kSxo3Hw0jvF/s1600/CC8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnhAwD2SmYt8EwRrEcVSbabpKpX0G5cPst-jq92IgGRpGAGlJZI9hYNgZgqswCL3g2lZZy27_W1Jw7fNzxekSATUE0t1ud-il8mRxXWcLVnzCOPQNFLKQ26UalP7wHpp-8kSxo3Hw0jvF/s400/CC8.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:427.5pt;height:300pt'>
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o:title="CC8"/>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Myanmar</span></strong></st1:country-region></st1:place><strong><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 172 out of 182 countries and earned a score of 15 out of 100. </span></strong></span></div>
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<st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Myanmar</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is
rich in natural resources, a blessing that is more of a curse in this country
riddled with drug rings and widespread corruption.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">In fact, these reasons have not only affected <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Myanmar</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
but has been considered the root of all problems in the Golden Triangle.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">After emerging from five decades of military rule
in March 2011, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Burma</st1:country-region> (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Myanmar</st1:place></st1:country-region>)
drafted an anti-corruption law, state officials were told to repay embezzled
funds and citizens were told to report bribery and corruption. But the
country’s rich natural resources such as oil, timber and gems are still
controlled by former military-regime insiders. </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">On top of all that, the country has been witness
to brutal ethnic violence on a large scale and the human rights issues has had
it isolated by most of the developed countries of the world.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The country’s CPI is scored at 1.5 and is ranked
180th in the world tied with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI2OvjyZmOiF4KhvPqqXQlhMLOeU1QisMhlHRTQKTmJDg86SbbODTAZ78oMQdm4faVjhAt13LGXu3v5oFmrxvvAWGMkztjOlPTnqGa5PdHy96p5j6gN7imI7ftjTQv_QYZUOf74pPZh7z/s1600/CC9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI2OvjyZmOiF4KhvPqqXQlhMLOeU1QisMhlHRTQKTmJDg86SbbODTAZ78oMQdm4faVjhAt13LGXu3v5oFmrxvvAWGMkztjOlPTnqGa5PdHy96p5j6gN7imI7ftjTQv_QYZUOf74pPZh7z/s400/CC9.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:427.5pt;height:300pt'>
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<st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">North
Korea</span></strong></st1:country-region></st1:place><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 174 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 8 out of 100.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This picture shows the “great” leader of </span><st1:country-region style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">North Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
standing with his “happy” citizens having the time of their lives. Yeah, right!
It is reported by the RFA that a Chinese national who snuck in and out of </span><st1:country-region style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">North Korea</st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> said, “In some places in </span><st1:place style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">North Korea</st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,
people are starving to death, but railway security agents wear Seiko watches
and smoke [Craven A] cigarettes.”</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is little foreign investment in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">North Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
and the country is plagued by structural corruption in its political and
bureaucratic system since the early 1990s when the Stalinist North Korea
collapsed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">There is no reason why someone should even try
going to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">North Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
but even getting there requires payments of huge sums of money as bribes to
officials.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">There is little that is known about North Korea,
as once you’re in, you either get captured or find worse fates, or you pay huge
bribes to escape, and the testimonies that shed any light on the conditions in
North Korea are from the refugees who either paid bribes to escapes or snuck
out some other dangerous way. The CPI score, based on what is known, is a lowly
1 and they are ranked at the second last spot, 181st. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMD7mHguxYYakvzLaBqVJuV_IFBX_QfWXl_WKUw8GNSaxIVGoHVKKKEIkpr0A8TA2Cr5AXI_4-V7wpe2JVt49_jJj2gTdFHkJlzsaefFCtmtoN-JmmnOW9MoDBKHIOXgJYqSi5vVG0JMs/s1600/CC10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMD7mHguxYYakvzLaBqVJuV_IFBX_QfWXl_WKUw8GNSaxIVGoHVKKKEIkpr0A8TA2Cr5AXI_4-V7wpe2JVt49_jJj2gTdFHkJlzsaefFCtmtoN-JmmnOW9MoDBKHIOXgJYqSi5vVG0JMs/s400/CC10.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:427.5pt;height:300pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\ADMIN\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image011.jpg"
o:title="CC10"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:place style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Somalia</span></strong></st1:country-region></st1:place><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">
ranks 174 out of 174 countries and earned a score of 8 out of 100.</span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it weren’t for the fact that </span><st1:country-region style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Somalia</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is even
considered a country, some circles believe it shouldn’t be considered as such
unless at least a stable shadow of a government is present, it wouldn’t even be
on this list.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The state and the officials, however they are,
are so infested with the malice of corruption and brutal violence that it is
ranked at the very last among the countries in the world, and by some circles,
it is not even considered a country.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The corruption and violence was sparked when the
<st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">USSR</st1:country-region> used <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Somalia</st1:place></st1:country-region> as a battleground for the
political ideologies and backed clans and militias into fighting for their
respective sides. Funding from the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> really kicked off the particular
Siad Barre regime which took corruption to a whole new level.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Since the oust of the regime in 1991, Somalia
has been essentially lawless and has no government except for parts being
governed and fought over by different clans and militias and the coastal areas
are riddled by pirates.</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Transparency International’s annual
Corruption Perceptions Index, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Somalia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
is the world’s most corrupt country, highlighting the convergence of conflict
and corruption. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background: white;"> Their CPI is the lowest 1 and for that, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Somalia</st1:country-region></st1:place>
earns the top spot in being the most corrupt country in the world as of 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 20.1pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #2758A5; height: 20.1pt; padding: 4.2pt 4.2pt 4.2pt 4.2pt;"><h2 align="center" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 16.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">List of most corrupt countries<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</td>
<td style="background: #2758A5; height: 20.1pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 9.2pt;" width="12"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 29.3pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #ACBDE2; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 29.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 3.35pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rank<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #ACBDE2; border-left: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 29.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 3.35pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Name<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #ACBDE2; border-left: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 29.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 3.35pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Percentage<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sierra Leone</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">84<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Liberia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Yemen</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">74<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Cameroon</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Libya</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mozambique</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Uganda</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">61<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">57<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Senegal</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">57<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Tanzania</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">56<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ghana</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">54<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">54<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Morocco</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">49<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">47<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DR Congo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Kyrgyzstan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">45<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mongolia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">45<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ethiopia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">44<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">44<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Algeria</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">41<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">39<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on">South Sudan</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">39<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">37<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">37<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Bolivia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">32<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Kazakhstan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">33<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Solomon Islands</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">34<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">33<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">36<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">37<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">38<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">39<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Moldova</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">29<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Bosnia and
Herzegovina</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">41<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Madagascar</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Papua New
Guinea</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">43<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">44<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Lithuania</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">45<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Serbia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">46<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Paraguay</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">47<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Colombia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">48<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Greece</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 29.3pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #ACBDE2; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 29.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 3.35pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rank<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #ACBDE2; border-left: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 29.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 3.35pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Name<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #ACBDE2; border-left: none; border: solid white 1.0pt; height: 29.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid white .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid white .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 3.35pt;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Percentage<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">49<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Slovakia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Turkey</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">51<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Peru</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">52<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Cyprus</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">53<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Latvia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">54<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sri Lanka</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">55<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Armenia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">56<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">57<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Tunisia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">58<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Macedonia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">59<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Romania</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sudan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">61<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kosovo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">62<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Czech</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Republic</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">63<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Argentina</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">64<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Rwanda</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">65<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vanuatu</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">66<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">67<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Hungary</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">68<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">69<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Jamaica</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">71<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">72<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Chile</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">73<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Bulgaria</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">74<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">US<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">76<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Estonia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">77<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Slovenia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">78<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">79<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">80<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">81<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Croatia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">82<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">83<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">84<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">85<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Maldives</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">86<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">87<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Norway</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">88<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Portugal</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">89<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">South Korea</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">90<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Uruguay</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">91<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">92<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">93<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Denmark</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">94<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Finland</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #D2DDBD 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #D2DDBD .75pt; padding: 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt 3.35pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-11843530347271169572013-08-06T09:06:00.003-07:002014-05-09T09:41:03.859-07:00CORRUPTION AROUND THE WORLD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="stbubblehcount"><span style="background-color: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">0</span></span><span class="stbubblehcount"><span style="background-color: #eceef5; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">1</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span class="stmainservicesst-sharethis-counter2"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;"> </span></span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://newint.org/issues/2006/12/01/"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #a03c3c; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">ISSUE
396</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Due to the hidden nature of corruption and the
paucity of criminal convictions, scientific evidence is difficult to come by.
Much of the information on these pages comes from surveys of people’s opinion,
experience and perceptions of corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<h2 style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Corruption by country ^1^</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">According to Transparency International’s
Corruption Perceptions Index of 2006<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which areas of activity are the most corrupt?^2^<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Out of 69 countries surveyed 45 ranked political
parties as the institution most affected by corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Sectors
and institutions most affected by corruption</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
(1= not at all corrupt 5 = extremely corrupt)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=" " style='width:322.5pt;
height:192.75pt'>
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o:href="http://newint.org/features/2006/12/01/ni396facts_2.jpg"/>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leaders^3^<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The ten most corrupt heads of state, based on
the estimated sums they are alleged to have stolen, are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYn7A81nWyM68dxDHJi6MbCa6HuYB_SYdYjGIHeTutvIWBSE1imz-WJbw4Qn_kSUlrZaA-lb-0T6F95RtIpcbejtW1YYv0-M6itbr7WLQKNx0ijxjR79oBXkE3OASBRWwfJ_HYUnbyHIJ/s1600/New+Picture+(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYn7A81nWyM68dxDHJi6MbCa6HuYB_SYdYjGIHeTutvIWBSE1imz-WJbw4Qn_kSUlrZaA-lb-0T6F95RtIpcbejtW1YYv0-M6itbr7WLQKNx0ijxjR79oBXkE3OASBRWwfJ_HYUnbyHIJ/s320/New+Picture+(2).png" height="148" width="320" /></a></div>
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height:186pt'>
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id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=" " style='width:399.75pt;
height:188.25pt'>
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o:href="http://newint.org/features/2006/12/01/ni396facts_3b.jpg"/>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Daily life^4^<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The amount that ordinary people have to spend on
bribes in everyday life varies from country to country. So does per capita
income and purchasing power. The table below shows the impact on ordinary
citizens by indicating the actual amount paid in bribes (the green column) and
what that amount means (the red column) in terms of affordability and
purchasing power (known as Purchasing Power Parity).*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Bribes
paid by household members over 12 months</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DzzNc01isfo2oPNqhcSCP2dVY8vRvQQstloUpZ_a3p1kEaP9RhEAqCRYp8MNfqDsk0YBVyFa6UZUo-X25Df-fG9zB_uS85nZCqRqDI_qJ0hmHrqMixiewu4zf6ejR8OgO28d7B3E0yWr/s1600/New+Picture+(4).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DzzNc01isfo2oPNqhcSCP2dVY8vRvQQstloUpZ_a3p1kEaP9RhEAqCRYp8MNfqDsk0YBVyFa6UZUo-X25Df-fG9zB_uS85nZCqRqDI_qJ0hmHrqMixiewu4zf6ejR8OgO28d7B3E0yWr/s320/New+Picture+(4).png" height="203" width="320" /></a></div>
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id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=" " style='width:399.75pt;
height:255pt'>
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o:href="http://newint.org/features/2006/12/01/396_daily_life.jpg"/>
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<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">*Purchasing
power parity (<span class="caps"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">PPP</span></span>) is a method
of measuring the relative purchasing power of different countries’ currencies
over the same types of goods and services. It allows us to make more accurate
comparisons across countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Who bribes most to get and keep business?^5^<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Overseas bribery by companies from the world’s
export giants is still common despite the existence of international bribery
laws criminalizing this practice. The lowest bribers in 2002 had actually
increased their propensity to bribe by 2006. The higher the score out of ten,
the lower the propensity to bribe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Propensity
to bribe</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=" " style='width:300pt;height:147pt'>
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o:href="http://newint.org/features/2006/12/01/396_propensity_to_bribe.jpg"/>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sleaze by sector^6^<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The top ten business sectors most likely to
demand or accept bribes are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=" " style='width:281.25pt;
height:124.5pt'>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Corporate criminals^7^<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3FN61QJmidHI7d71mIuEJcb2v_ycTLEkRQUclF0nCXNQbjArcMnI474pXr3V4Ia1B7sPNBpAaEBcwIb6FXi6L9JF0-HTuYBplVCwKVhJ5AsNcKTXlwlH0pgSZz65sN2WPlyKA4t3xh4W/s1600/New+Picture+(8).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3FN61QJmidHI7d71mIuEJcb2v_ycTLEkRQUclF0nCXNQbjArcMnI474pXr3V4Ia1B7sPNBpAaEBcwIb6FXi6L9JF0-HTuYBplVCwKVhJ5AsNcKTXlwlH0pgSZz65sN2WPlyKA4t3xh4W/s1600/New+Picture+(8).png" /></a></div>
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height:135.75pt'>
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<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Energy multinational Enron, which collapsed amid
scandal in 2001, became a byword for corruption. Many others get away with it.
Here are a few that got caught.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiez9w1sP54yA8K2X4H6YvcSnT8Czt0TAvIOCnFJicykWnzo4uTtSVXIT8SRvlZ71YAQiKcYrg2Y-KlT1SAj9gqa8lMsAFAyi4C38c5hGo3ikMRyEqh6iF-reelFsy4M3MTYqFwKvH8OgA/s1600/New+Picture+(9).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiez9w1sP54yA8K2X4H6YvcSnT8Czt0TAvIOCnFJicykWnzo4uTtSVXIT8SRvlZ71YAQiKcYrg2Y-KlT1SAj9gqa8lMsAFAyi4C38c5hGo3ikMRyEqh6iF-reelFsy4M3MTYqFwKvH8OgA/s320/New+Picture+(9).png" height="154" width="320" /></a></div>
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o:href="http://newint.org/features/2006/12/01/396_corporate_criminals_table.jpg"/>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">In recent times the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> Justice Department has had to
take action against Monsanto, ExxonMobil, Schlering-Plough, Titan, ABB and
InVision Technologies (part of GE) for corrupt practices.<sup>10</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">General Electric (GE) was involved in so many cases of fraud that
in the 1990s the Pentagon’s Defense Contract Management Agency created a
special investigations office specifically for the company, which indicted GE
on 22 criminal counts and recovered $221.7 million.<sup>8</sup><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Creamers^9^<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<div style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And there are those who just make huge amounts
of money from the corrupt deeds of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Between $20-$40 billion acquired from corruption in developing
countries enters Western bank accounts each year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Multinational companies launder around $207 billion of profits
tax-free out of developing countries a year. By contrast, aid from rich
countries to poor countries is $80 billion a year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F4F3F2; margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">At least $11 trillion is currently held in off-shore tax havens –
approximately 30 per cent of the wealth of the world’s richest individuals.
Half of 72 global tax havens are British territories, dependencies or
ex-colonies where <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Britain</st1:place></st1:country-region>
has significant influence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index of 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer 2005<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Transparency International 2004<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer 2005 and
World Bank Development Indicators Online<a href="http://publications.worldbank.org/WDI/"><span style="color: #a03c3c;">http://publications.worldbank.org/WDI/</span></a>.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Transparency International Bribe Payers Index 2006<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Transparency International Bribe Payers Index 2002<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F4F3F2; line-height: 17.3pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Corporate Crime reporter /<a href="http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/top100.html"><span style="color: #a03c3c;">www.corporatecrimereporter.com/top100.html</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F4F3F2; line-height: 17.3pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; padding: 0in;">Corporate Swine Inc<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.corporateswine.net/weaponsindustry.html"><span style="color: #a03c3c;">www.corporateswine.net/weaponsindustry.html</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Corpwatch<a href="http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=7846"><span style="color: #a03c3c;">http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=7846</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F4F3F2; line-height: 17.3pt; margin-left: 24.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">World Development Movement, press release on DfID governance white
paper 13/07/06.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">10.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial;">Paul Burnham Finney, ‘Anti-bribery efforts failed to stop
executives from greasing palms’,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The
New York Times</i>, 17 May 2005.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18267831001256007310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135554391293354729.post-86270784661473772712013-08-06T08:46:00.001-07:002014-05-09T09:40:04.599-07:00TYPES OF BRIBERY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Common
Forms of Bribery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">bribe<o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="prondelim"><span style="color: #333333;">[</span></span><span class="pron"><span style="color: #333333;">brahyb</span></span><span class="prondelim"><span style="color: #333333;">]</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="showspellpr"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" target="_blank"></a></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="prontoggle"><span style="color: #333333;">Show IPA</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">noun,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">verb,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span style="color: #333333;">bribed,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="secondary-bf"><span style="color: #333333;">brib·ing.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">noun</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span style="color: #7b7b7b;">1.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">money<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>any<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>other<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>valuable<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>consideration<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>given<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>promised
with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>view<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>corrupting<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>behavior<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>person,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>especially<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>person's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>performance<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>as<span class="apple-converted-space">
</span>an<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>athlete,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>public<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>official,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>etc.: <span class="ital-inline">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">motorist</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">offered</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">arresting</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">officer</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">bribe</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">let</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">him</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">go.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span style="color: #7b7b7b;">2.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">anything<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>given<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>serving<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>persuade<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>induce:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">children were</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">given</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">candy</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">as</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">a</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">bribe</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">be</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">good.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">verb</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">(used</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">with</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">object)</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span style="color: #7b7b7b;">3.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>give<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>promise<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>bribe<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">They</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">bribed</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">reporter</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">forget about</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">what</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">he</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">had</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">seen.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span style="color: #7b7b7b;">4.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>influence<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>corrupt<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>bribe:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">The</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">judge</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">was</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">too</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">honest</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">to</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="ital-inline">be bribed.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">verb</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">(used</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">without</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span class="pg"><span style="color: #333333;">object)</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span style="color: #7b7b7b;">5.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>give<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>bribe;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>practice<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bribery"><span style="color: #333333;">bribery</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Origin:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
<span class="rom-inline">1350–1400;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="rom-inline">Middle</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="rom-inline">English</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> <<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="rom-inline">Middle</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="rom-inline">French:</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> remnant<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>food<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>givenas<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>alms,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>said<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>be<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>an<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>expressive<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>base<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="ital-inline"><span style="color: #333333;">*bri</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">(<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="ital-inline"><span style="color: #333333;">m</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="ital-inline"><span style="color: #333333;">b-</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"> denotingsomething<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>small<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery is a <a href="http://www.lawyershop.com/practice-areas/criminal-law/white-collar-crimes/">white
collar crime</a> in which money, a favor or something else of value is
promised to, given to, or taken from an individual or corporation in an attempt
to sway his or its views, opinions, or decisions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example, if an electoral candidate offered bottles of liquor in
exchange for votes, it would be considered a bribe, and therefore, a crime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery is a crime in which one party offers another party a gift in
exchange for preferential treatment in their legal or professional duties.
While bribery can take many forms, those facing bribery charges of any type
should take these accusations seriously, as conviction can come with strict
penalties. The standard fine can be up to three times the value of the bribe in
question and some cases can also result in lengthy jail sentences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have been accused of bribery, it is of the utmost importance that
you get an attorney who can protect your legal rights and interests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Types of Bribery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribes can take many forms and can occur in many different fields. Some
of the more common instances of bribery include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery of Witnesses in Court<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery of a Public Official<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery of Doctors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery of Foreign Officials<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A bribery charge can reach a felony level, where the punishments are the
most severe. However, an experienced attorney may be able to have the charges
against you decreased in severity or in some instances, may be able to have the
charges dismissed altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery by / of a Public Official<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any public official (anyone acting on behalf of the United States, such
as a senator, witness, or juror) who demands, receives, or accepts a bribe in
exchange for orchestrating an illegal change in his duties will be fined not
more than three times the value of the incentive and/or imprisoned for no more
than 15 years. The public official may also be prohibited from holding any
political or government office in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery by / of a Witness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conversely, anyone who offers a bribe to a public official will be fined
and/or imprisoned for no more than two years.<br />
Any witness who demands, receives, or accepts a bribe in exchange for altered
testimony faces a fine of three times the value of the bribe and/or up to 15
years in prison, while anyone who bribes a witness faces a fine and/or up to
two years in prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery of a Foreign Official<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1977, The U.S. Congress passed The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act,
which made it illegal for an American corporation to bribe a foreign government
official with money or gifts in hopes of landing or maintaining important
business contacts. According to the act, all publicly traded companies must
keep records of all business transactions—even if the companies do not trade
internationally—to ensure that this act is not being violated.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, in the act, there are loopholes of which many <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
corporations take advantage. For example, the act permits “grease payments”,
which are incentives paid—without penalty—to foreign officials to help expedite
the completion of paperwork and to ensure the receipt of licenses or permits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bank Bribery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the Bank Bribery Amendments Act of 1985, 1) the
solicitation of an employee, director, etc. in any capacity in exchange for
business and 2) the acceptance of anything (including meals, entertainment, and
accommodations during travel) but a legitimate salary, wages and fees from
anyone in connection with the bank’s business are prohibited. If any
representative of a bank accepts a bribe, he will be fined three times the
value of the incentive, or he will be imprisoned for not more than thirty
years. However, if the value of the bribe is less than $1,000, the
representative will be fined but sentenced to not more than one year in jail.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If a bank official is offered a bribe, he must disclose all information
to the bank so that the situation may be addressed appropriately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery in Sporting Contests<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sporting official who accepts a bribe in exchange for a promise to “fix”
a sporting event is guilty of bribery and may be punished under Title 18 of the
United States Code, Sect. 224. For example, if a referee is convicted of
“throwing” a major sporting event, he will be fined, imprisoned for up to five
years, or both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Industries Prone to Bribery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kickbacks are often associated with <a href="http://www.lawyershop.com/practice-areas/criminal-law/white-collar-crimes/government-fraud/">government
fraud</a>. The crime is committed in a variety of settings, however, including
the <a href="http://www.lawyershop.com/practice-areas/criminal-law/white-collar-crimes/healthcare-fraud/">healthcare
industry</a> and employee benefit or pension plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Examples of Illegal Bribes / Kickbacks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A building contractor might kick back part of what he is paid to the
government official responsible for selecting his company for the job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A pharmaceutical or medical device company might offer free training or
other benefits to doctors who prescribe its drug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A benefit or pension provider might provide cash or another bonus to
brokers who convince companies to choose their services over those of another
provider.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Punishments for Bribery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Issuing or accepting bribes is a serious crime that may result in heavy
fines or several years in prison. Both civil and criminal charges can be levied
against those suspected of being involved in kickback schemes.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Anti-Kickback Act of 1986 prohibits government contractors and
subcontractors from issuing or accepting kickbacks. If a contractor or
subcontractor forces an employee to kick back part of his or her compensation,
the contractor may face a $5000 fine and/or five years in prison. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1570d2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Different Forms of Bribery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery, as defined by Black's Law Dictionary, is "The
receiving or offering of any undue reward by or to any person whomsoever, whose
ordinary profession or business related to the administration of public
justice, in order to influence his behavior in office, and to incline him to
act contrary to his duty and the known rules of honesty and integrity." Put
in other words, bribery is the use of money to induce another with power and
official, legal responsibility not to abuse that power, to then use that power
in an abusive fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bribery does not include just money bribes, although money bribes
are the most commonly recognized form of bribery. Bribery laws also restrict
bribes involving transfers of rank, preferment, privilege, objects of value, or
unfair advantages. To display how serious bribery is treated in American
bribery laws, consider the following: in Article 2, Section 4 of the
Constitution, bribery is cited as one of only two crimes which, when committed,
should immediately lead to the impeachment of the offending President,
Vice-President, or any other officer of the law to have committed it, either by
offering bribes or accepting them. The other crime? Treason.<br />
<br />
Today, bribery laws generally bear certain common traits concerning how bribery
is to be treated. According to law.jrank.org, these common traits are, first,
that bribery laws apply to both those giving bribes and those accepting bribes
equally; second, that they apply to anyone working for the Government in any
capacity, even a temporary one, including jurors and legislators; third, that
bribery can be committed by the briber even if the individual being bribed is
unaffected and does not take the bribe; and fourth, that they treat bribery not
as a misdemeanor, but as a felony.<br />
<br />
Bribery laws in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>
prevent officials from being influenced by bribes, but they also go so far as
to disallow gifts for "official acts" performed by the legal
officials in their jobs. Regardless of whether these gifts were given with
intent to manipulate, both offering and accepting such gifts falls under the
domain of bribery.<br />
<br />
A form of bribery laws in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
anti-corruption laws, often deal with campaign contributions, limiting them and
directing them towards certain legal forms, such that politicians theoretically
will not be bribed by lobbyists or others to change their policies as the
lobbyists desire. Violations of these laws, however, are often interpreted as
misdemeanors, instead of felonies, and are often construed in a different light
than bribery.<br />
<br />
Most bribery cases come to light only because of either particularly egregious
violations of bribery laws which cannot go ignored or political investigation
on the part of political opponents. Despite the harshness of bribery laws, the
punishments of those laws have not been enforced in all cases unequivocally,
and as a result, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
methods of dealing with bribery are a little more in flux than they might seem
at first.<br />
<br />
Regardless, however, clear and blatant acts of bribery will undoubtedly go
noticed and will be punished to the fullest extent of the law, especially after
so many famous instances of political corruption, including Watergate. Indeed,
after Watergate, a number of programs sought discovery and prosecution of those
who had either made or accepted bribes.<br />
<br />
Bribery, as one of the most constant threats to the correct functioning of the
American governmental system, remains one of the clearest possible violations
of the law that any public official might make, especially now in the times of
major companies with plenty of money available for strong bribes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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