(April 2, 2004) Iraq’s debt is "simply unsustainable" and must be reduced if the country’s economy and government are to be rebuilt, said former Secretary of State James A. Baker III at a lunch in Dallas.
New law to tackle SA firms abroad
(April 1, 2004) The South African government plans to enact legislation that will make it possible to prosecute South African companies accused of corruption in foreign countries.
China forgives Afghan debt as part of warming ties
(April 1, 2004) China has agreed to write off debts owed by Afghanistan as part of efforts to shore up relations with its war-torn neighbor, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday.
Gulf News says: Iraq’s debts can be forgiven
(March 31, 2004) There is something deeply unsettling about the issue of Iraq’s debt.
DNA linked plaintiffs to African slaves who suffered atrocities
(March 30, 2004) Descendants of slaves filed a $1 billion lawsuit Monday against U.S. and British corporations, accusing them of profiting by committing genocide against their ancestors. Lawyers for the eight plaintiffs said the complaint was the first slave reparations lawsuit to use DNA to link the plaintiffs to Africans who suffered atrocities during the slave trade.
Cynicism is corruption’s bedmate
(March 29, 2004) The Canadian engineering company convicted of bribing the former chief executive of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, seems to be intent on wriggling out of paying a R13 million fine imposed on it for its crimes in the mountain kingdom.
Iraq’s odious debt: Where do we go from here?
(March 29, 2004) It can be said without exaggeration that the collapse of the Iraqi economy was unique among developing countries in the 20th century.
Iraq faces $310bn debt crisis
(March 28, 2004) Iraq is heading for economic meltdown under the weight of its $310 billion international debt and reparations bill.
Why needs may not succeed, World Bank
(March 24, 2004) This month, the World Bank formally reopened a corruption investigation against a leading Canadian engineering company convicted in the high court of Lesotho over multibillion-dollar bribery charges.
Canadians pledge new investment
(March 23, 2004) A Canadian trade delegation has pledged to get more investors for Kenya. Members of the delegation said the country had made improvements in the investment climate.
Activists prod World Bank on Canadian corruption case
(March 23, 2004) "This is a monumental case for the future of corruption in international development projects, especially World Bank projects" and a "moment of truth" for the World Bank, said Patricia Adams of Canadian group Probe International.
UN awaiting reply from Iraq on alleged corruption in oil-for-food program
(March 23, 2004) The United Nations is awaiting reply from the Iraqi Governing Council on allegations of corruption in the UN-run oil-for-food humanitarian operation, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday.
Crooked company snubs Lesotho
(March 21, 2004) Acres International has snubbed the impoverished kingdom of Lesotho by not paying a R13 million fine after being convicted of corruption and bribery.
Western firms face bribery blacklist
(March 19, 2004) If Acres is debarred, it will send a powerful signal to the world’s big construction companies, which rely heavily on the World Bank and other international financial institutions for support.
Aid can’t develop Africans
(March 18, 2004) Western governments should accept that the debt owed by all African and developing world countries is odious and should be written off immediately for everybody, not just favorite strong men rulers who they hope will act or are acting as their foremen in Africa,’ writes Abdul-Raheem Tahudeen for the Ugandan newspaper New Vision. Furthermore, said Tahudeen, aid does not and cannot develop any society.
Probe International 