(February 29, 2004) A trip report by Non-Governmental Organizations that visited the proposed Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project in Laos, in December 2003.
China to waive Iraq debt if given greater role in rebuilding
(February 29, 2004) Beijing is ready to forgive a big part of the estimated 5.8 billion dollars owed to it by the previous regime of Saddam Hussein if Chinese companies are allowed into major rebuilding projects in Iraq.
Al-Sistani issues fatwa for return of stolen government documents
(February 27, 2004) Iraqi Shi’ite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has reportedly issued a fatwa calling on Iraqis to return documents looted from government offices in the aftermath of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Ernst & Young to be back in Iraq within a few days
(February 27, 2004) Top Middle East accountancy practice Ernst & Young is pushing ahead with its efforts to move back into Iraq and plans to reopen there within days.
Crown’s Heads of Argument: Appellant’s Appeal
(February 26, 2004) “Certainly in the eyes of the international community Lahmeyer looks far less blameworthy than does Acres, when in truth it is at least, if not more blameworthy.”
Iraq needs big debt writeoff — Fitch ratings agency
(February 26, 2004) Iraq needs a big reduction in its $117-$122 billion debts, but it is unlikely to receive as generous a reduction as 90 percent given to the likes of Congo, credit rating agency Fitch said on Thursday.
A primer on Iraq’s finances
(February 25, 2004) For Iraq’s ratio of external interest payments/foreign exchange earnings to be comparable to the median of sovereigns rated ‘B+’and lower, we estimate gross external debt would need to fall by about 90% to USD14bn.
Iraq debt levels ‘cannot be sustained’
(February 25, 2004) Iraq’s $120bn external debt is "clearly unsustainable" and creditors will need to grant reductions of almost 90 per cent, says Fitch Ratings, the rating agency, in a report published on Thursday.
Global company fined R10m for Lesotho bribery
(February 25, 2004) One of the world’s leading electrical companies, Schneider Electric, was fined R10 million in the Lesotho High Court today after admitting to bribery.
Despotic leaders beware, peer review is here . . .
(February 24, 2004) The recent African leaders’ summit in Rwanda finally adopted a unique peer-review system that has the potential of irreversibly changing the face of governance in Africa.
Call for audit of national debt
(February 22, 2004) A local debt cancellation lobby group, the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) has called for an immediate audit of the national debt stock to establish its extent.
Consortium told to give back B17bn
(February 21, 2004) The public prosecution yesterday filed a suit against the private consortium building the Klong Dan wastewater treatment plant in Samut Prakan over contract violations.
Debt relief double standard for Iraq and Ethiopia, says campaigner
(February 20, 2004) A successor to the Jubilee 2000 UK movement has accused the United States government of a "glaring double standard" in its approach to debt relief for Iraq, compared to Ethiopia.
African advocates to U.S.: Reduce our debt like Iraq’s
(February 20, 2004) In their financial histories, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo share something in common: billions of dollars in international loans that vanished into the coffers of their former dictators, Saddam Hussein and Mobutu Sese Seko.
True North?
(February 20, 2004) Canada’s auditor general dropped a bombshell on the country’s ruling Liberal government last week in a report roundly condemning it for the misuse of at least CDN$100 million in public funds.
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