(November 23, 2003) The New Partnership for African Development (Nepad), which many of Africa’s leaders have pinned their hopes on for economic recovery, has been blasted by civil society as another form of colonialism and imperialism.
Germany backs Iraq debt relief by Paris Club
(November 23, 2003) German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Germany would endorse a reduction of Iraq’s debt to Germany, once Iraq’s security situation and political structure had improved.
Nigeria intimidating debt profile
(November 20, 2003) The entire process of debt renegotiation and rescheduling may be fraught with shady dealings. Nigerians need to know exactly the status of both the domestic and external debt profile and strategy for tackling it.
U.S.’s Snow sees no threat of trade war over steel
(November 17, 2003) U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said he had a figure in mind for how much Iraqi debt should be forgiven.
Experts meet on Africa’s debt in Dakar
(November 17, 2003) Experts from across the continent and beyond would meet from tommorrow to Wednesday in Dakar, Senegal on debt problems in Africa.
U.S.’s Snow has figure in mind
(November 17, 2003) In Europe to discuss trade issues, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow told reporters he had a figure in mind for how much Iraqi debt should be forgiven. "It has to be a debt level that’s sustainable and that doesn’t cripple the country going forward, suffocate it,"
Africa is not in flames
(November 17, 2003) While Bono’s oratory may be splendid, his analysis sells Africa short . . . As Africans know too well, the more that their governments have received foreign aid, the more poverty has grown.
Groups fear Canadian funding for Romanian mine
(November 16, 2003) The World Bank’s refusal to help fund a Canadian company’s controversial development of a huge open pit gold mine in Romania has raised concerns the Canadian government will step in with money.
Robin O’Hood lives tax free
(November 14, 2003) I have no wish to make an argumentum ad Eminem against Bono, who is due to speak on Third World development at this evening’s coronation of Paul Martin. There is no reason why the lead singer of Irish rock group U2 should not, at least in theory, present viable ideas on the topic. We should have no more a priori skepticism about his analysis than about the expectation that, say, Milton Friedman might be a dab hand with a Stratocaster. If anybody were to attack Bono, it should be on the basis of his ideas. So here goes. But first a few personal details.
Opinion: Iraq’s debt
(November 14, 2003) The basis of the [odious debt] argument is not just moral and political: it is grounded on a century-old international legal doctrine that has been revived recently to deal with increased accountability for creditor complicity in shady lending practices.
Ex-Im Bank proposes to underwrite U.S. exports to Iraq
(November 13, 2003) Ex-IM president announces a $500m credit facility with the new Trade Bank of Iraq: "In order to have physical security and political stability, we must do something to enable Iraqis to realize their wealth more quickly."
South African Export Credit
(November 13, 2003) Business Day reports that Saddam Hussein owed 159.4 million rand ($24m) to the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South African Limited, according to the Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel.
Human rights supersede profit
(November 11, 2003) It was arguably economic pressure brought by sanctions that eventually brought down the racist apartheid system; but by the same token, it was economic support from the outside including loans from multinational banks which kept the system going.
Leading company implicated in Lesotho bribery case
(November 11, 2003) French-based Schneider calls itself one of the world’s leading manufacturers of equipment for electrical distribution, industrial control and automation. It boasts operations in 130 countries.
IMF still discussing Iraqi debt
(November 9, 2003) The International Monetary Fund is still assessing how much of Iraq’s debts should be forgiven and what level of debt would be sustainable for the country scarred by years of war and isolation.
Probe International 