(October 2, 2004) Tax authorities in Chile have filed a formal lawsuit against the former dictator Augusto Pinochet, alleging massive fraud and tax evasion through offshore accounts that came to light in July.
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France, U.S. entrenched in Iraq debt dispute
(October 2, 2004) France and the United States dug into polarized positions on how much of Iraq’s debt to cancel at a meeting on Saturday aimed at promoting international harmony.
Pinochet faces fraud charges over secret £4.4 million accounts
(October 2, 2004) Santiago: Tax authorities in Chile have filed a formal lawsuit against the former dictator Augusto Pinochet, alleging massive fraud and tax evasion through offshore accounts held at the Riggs National Bank, based in Washington DC. Chile’s internal tax service alleges that General Pinochet – who underwent two hours of psychiatric and neurological tests this week to determine his fitness to stand trial – filed "false or maliciously incomplete tax declarations.
U.S., France in Iraq debt dispute
(October 2, 2004) Americans meeting resistance to cancellation of most of $120 billion owed.
IMF chips in, for Iraq and the US
(October 2, 2004) The International Monetary Fund (IMF), one of the most powerful architects of the world economy and controlled by the planet’s wealthiest nations, has marked its return to US-occupied Iraq with a new loan of US$436 million.
Iraq debt deal not imminent: Paris Club chairman
(October 1, 2004) An agreement among the Paris Club group of creditor nations on a write-off of a portion of Iraq’s foreign debt is not imminent but could be achieved by the end of the year, the group’s chairman said.
Kuwait disputes US suggestion Iraq debt only grant
(October 1, 2004) Kuwait’s foreign minister has dismissed a U.S. suggestion that Iraq may not need to repay $45 billion in debt claimed by Gulf states.
WB, IMF debate Iraq debt relief
(October 1, 2004) Advocates and activists on Thursday pressed the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to forgive the debt of the world’s poorest countries, and sparked debate on the fairness of targeted relief for Iraq.
U.S. weighs raising nations’ debt relief
(September 30, 2004) The Bush administration is exploring proposals to significantly expand debt relief to some of the world’s poorest countries, including forgiving all existing debt, Treasury Secretary John Snow said Thursday.
Iraq to get $436m emergency loan
(September 30, 2004) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved an emergency loan of $436m (£232m) to Iraq, the first from an international organisation.
Debt dooms development goals, UN
(September 30, 2004) On the eve of a G7 finance ministers’ meeting in Washington, a new report released by the United Nations claims that unless debt owed by the poorest African nations is forgiven, those countries stand no chance of achieving the world’s development goals by the target date of 2015. According to the report, the US$22.2 billion Africa received in aid in 2002 was lower than the $26.6 billion received in 1990. Most of the benefits of aid, said the report, are lost through debt servicing, which amounted to $22 billion in 2002.
Iraq’s economy crippled by heavy debt and foreign hegemony
(September 30, 2004) For some tyrants it matters not whether they are asleep or awake, present or absent: their tyranny and exploitation go on regardless.
What are the prospects for debt cancellation?
(September 30, 2004) G7 finance ministers meet tomorrow in Washington, DC, and they’ll consider plans for debt cancellation for the poorest countries. At least two proposals are being floated at the meeting.
Support grows for debt write-off
(September 30, 2004) After long discounting it, the United States now supports the doctrine of “odious debt” – that nations shouldn’t have to repay debts incurred by deposed despots who didn’t have popular support.
World Bank finds corruption is costing billions in lost development power
(September 29, 2004) While the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been inquiring into combating corruption in the multilateral development banks, the World Bank has been attempting to compute the scale and cost of widespread corruption in the developing countries.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
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Probe Media
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