(June 18, 2004) Caught in an African bribery case and facing possible blacklisting by the World Bank, one of the great names in Canadian engineering, Acres International Ltd., has quietly accepted a takeover by a larger Ontario firm.
OIC backs Iraq’s new government
(June 17, 2004) OIC countries appealed all states to contribute to the alleviation of the financial burden on Iraq by writing off Iraqi debts as an expression of their support and as a contribution to the reconstruction of the country.
Independent oil-for-food probe will separate allegation from fact, Annan says
(June 17, 2004) Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged critics to allow a panel investigating allegations of corruption within the UN Oil-for-Food programme for Iraq to reach its conclusions before pronouncing judgement.
Landslides cause havoc in Three Gorges area as heavy rain forecast
(June 16, 2004) Dozens of landslides in the Three Gorges reservoir area have claimed the life of a train driver, destroyed hundreds of houses and forced more than 40,000 people to flee their homes, the Chongqing Evening News reports.
Publish What You Pay NGO coalition statement – G8 Summit, Sea Island
(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.
17 officials implicated in scandal
(June 16, 2004) Seventeen officials, seven private firms and the late politician Yingphan Manasikarn were involved in irregularities in the Klong Dan wastewater reatment plant project, according to the findings of a police investigation.
Iraqi Fire Sale: CPA rushes to give away billions in Iraqi oil revenues
(June 16, 2004) With international attention focused on the impending transfer of power in Iraq, the Coalition Provisional Authority is committing billions of dollars to ill-conceived projects just before it dissolves, according to a new briefing.
Former CSIS chief probes oil-for-food program
(June 16, 2004) The former head of Canada’s spy agency will conduct an investigation into allegations of corruption and fraud surrounding the United Nations’ oil-for-food program in Iraq.
Honesty doesn’t pay at UN, staff say in survey
(June 16, 2004) Whistleblowers find themselves passed over for promotions.
Iraq must have a leadership Iraqis can respect
(June 15, 2004) The unanimous passage of a new United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq last week, together with the appointment of an interim Iraqi government on June 1, provides some long overdue clarity about what will happen on June 30.
G8 fails to write off Africa’s debt but promises help for Aids vaccine
(June 14, 2004) The leading industrial powers plan to help Africa by developing an anti-Aids vaccine and training thousands of new peace-keepers, but did not come up with the hoped for breakthrough on forgiving debt for the world’s poorest countries, almost all of them African. The announcements came as part of an "Africa Outreach" at the final session of the G8 summit that was attended by six African heads of government. Debt of the 42 poorest and most indebted countries totalled $35 billion, Irungu Houghton, an Oxfam spokesman said. "If G8 leaders are willing to write off $90 billion for Iraq, why not a third of that for Africa?
Iraq debt is up to creditors: IMF
(June 14, 2004) The International Monetary Fund will not make a recommendation on forgiving Iraq’s debt, IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato said today, calling it a decision for Iraq’s creditors.
UN failed to refute Saddam propaganda, former official says
(June 12, 2004) Oil-for-food program: Co-ordinator says colleagues blamed U.S., Britain for Iraqi suffering.
World powers leave divided on Iraq debt
(June 11, 2004) World leaders broke up a three-day summit Thursday without bridging a deep rift over U.S. President George W. Bush’s proposal to forgive the vast majority of Iraq’s $US120 billion debt.
Russia to consider Iraqi debt as Paris Club member
(June 11, 2004) Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the G8 summit on Sea Island, said that Russia will not make any unilateral decisions on writing off Iraqi debt, Itar-Tass agency reported on Friday.
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