(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.
Other News Sources
IMF approves first loan to help in rebuilding Iraq
(September 29, 2004) The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday approved an emergency loan of $436.7 million for Iraq, the first assistance it has provided to help the country rebuild its wartorn economy.
Creditors agree to defer Iraq debt payments – IMF
(September 29, 2004) The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday Iraq’s official bilateral creditors had agreed to defer debt the country owes them until the end of 2005.
Green energy for Pehuenche Indians
(September 29, 2004) Pehuenche indigenous people who waged and lost an eight-year legal battle against the construction of the Ralco hydropower dam in southern Chile have signed an agreement to build a green-friendly
micro-hydropower plant to supply them with electricity.
Iraq clears IMF debt
(September 29, 2004) Iraq cleared $81 million in debt it owed the International Monetary Fund late last week, fund sources said yesterday, opening the way for the first aid to flow from the global lender to Iraq, as soon as this week.
Nam Theun 2 Dam: Locals see only positives
(September 28, 2004) Meeting backs construction despite objections from activists, NGOs.
Hutiao dam project demands reconsideration
(September 28, 2004) Were it not for the nine non-government organizations focusing on environmental protection, most people would not know that a dam is going to be constructed at Hutiao Gorge in South China’s Yunnan Province.
Iraq’s odious debts
(September 28, 2004) An odious debts arbitration would demonstrate to Iraqis that justice can be served by the rule of law. An arbitration would also expose the role of foreign creditors and thus help establish accountability in other countries.
Combating corruption in the multilateral development banks
(September 28, 2004) As the U.S. Senate hearing on corruption in multilateral development banks continued this week, chair Senator Richard Lugar drew attention to the Lesotho corruption trials and the difficulties poor countries face when they try to prosecute corruption.
Global finance chiefs seek to forge Iraq debt deal
(September 27, 2004) Finance chiefs from leading industrialised countries must bridge a transatlantic rift over how much of Iraq’s foreign debt to write-off if they are to make progress towards a deal.
Congress probing U.N. Oil-for Food program
(September 27, 2004) U.S. congressional investigators are trying to determine whether lax monitoring at a French bank that held more than $60 billion for the U.N. oil-for-food program facilitated illicit business deals by the former Iraqi government.
China leaders warn of corruption
(September 27, 2004) In an unusually blunt message, China’s Communist Party has warned its members that corruption and incompetence could threaten its hold on power.
Jubilee USA network lukewarm to British debt cancellation plan
(September 27, 2004) “We laud Brown to his commitment to 100% debt cancellation. But the truth is his call to finance that cancellation through G7 government appropriations threatens to scuttle a deal on debt for October 1st.”
Stop the Hutiaoxia dam!
(September 26, 2004) Endorsed by Green Earth Volunteers, Institute of Environment and Development, Green Island, Global Village of Beijing, Friends of Nature, Partnership for Community Development, Global Environment Institute, Alashan SEE Ecology Association and Beijing Brooks Education Centre.
Acres and acres of graft
(September 24, 2004) A Canadian firm is blacklisted abroad for bribery, yet no penalties from Ottawa. What’s wrong here?


