(August 1, 2004) Contrary to common perception, corruption is rampant not only in developing but also in developed countries, with more than one trillion dollars being paid in bribes each year across the globe, according to the World Bank.

(July 29, 2004) The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has asked the Justice Department to review whether a former federal bank examiner of Riggs Bank broke ethics laws after he left government and went to work at the bank.

(July 28, 2004) Governments around the world, north and south, are on the brink of making a fatal mistake that will cost countless lives: Namely, the failure to make the fight against corruption a key pillar of the Doha trade talks.

(July 23, 2004) When it comes to money laundering, it’s better to do it big time.

(July 19, 2004) President George W. Bush said allegations of money-laundering at Riggs National Corp. are being investigated after a U.S. Senate report found the bank helped former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet hide millions of dollars from prosecutors.

(July 19, 2004) Riggs Bank, which for years billed itself as “the most important bank in the most important city in the world,” now finds itself the most scrutinized bank in the most unforgiving city in the world.

(July 4, 2004) International oil and mining companies are abetting the vast misappropriation of public funds in the developing world, a report has said.

(June 2, 2004) The former head of the UN oil-for-food program in Iraq says the Security Council prevented him from effectively administering the multibillion-dollar-a-year program that is now the focus of several inquiries.

(June 22, 2004) When ministers in India declare themselves stoutly in favour of economic reform, the sub-text is their enthusiasm for hefty loans from multilateral development banks – conditionalities and all – which come in handy in greasing their political machines.

(June 16, 2004) Serious concerns remain about the effectiveness of the G8 member states’ voluntary approach to transparency, and the lack of proper and meaningful follow-up efforts to fulfil commitments made in Evian.

(May 27, 2004) Australian wheat exporter AWB Limited says it’s considering legal action against allegations it was involved in paying kickbacks to the former Iraqi regime.