(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.
U.S.’s Snow says France could help to ease Iraq debt
(November 16, 2003) U. S. Treasury Secretary John Snow did not say whether France might forgive Iraqi debt or relieve its debt burden in another way, nor did he give any figures. Iraq owes France $2.994 billion in principal.
Giant tree roots cause big trouble in the reservoir
Yangtze boat operators who have been helping to clear debris from the Three Gorges reservoir say they are shocked by how much floating garbage has suddenly appeared since the water level was raised an additional four metres last month.
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.
The president’s state visit to Britain: Advancing the Anglo-U.S. special relationship
(November 14, 2003) The White House and Downing Street should formulate a joint position on the Iraqi debt question, calling for the forgiveness, not restructuring, of Iraq’s international debt.
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.
Interview with the speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, Jassem El-Kharafi
(November 10, 2003) We’re not going to make the issue of war reparations something that embitters relations and causes hatred between our two peoples.
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.
Thai utility signs electricity deal with Laos dam project.
(November 8, 2003) Thailand’s electricity authority signed an agreement committing itself to buying five billion dollars worth of electricity from the much controversial Nam Theun II hydro-electric power project in Laos.
Three Gorges shiplift resurfaces
After almost half a century of study, a decision on the design of the world’s biggest shiplift at the biggest dam has been made, the Three Gorges Project Daily (Sanxia gongcheng bao) reports.
Construction of the Three Gorges shiplift, which will be the largest in the world both in terms of height and hoisting capacity, is scheduled to start in 2005 and be completed in 2009, the newspaper said.
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