(December 11, 2003) President Bush found himself in the awkward position of calling on the leaders of France, Germany and Russia to forgive Iraq’s debts, just a day after the Pentagon excluded those countries from $18 billion in U.S.-financed Iraqi reconstruction projects.
Russia won’t write off $8 bn Iraq debt
(December 10, 2003) Russia today maintained a sturdy silence on the reported decision by the United States barring its companies from competing for contracts to rebuild Iraq but said it will not write off the eight billion US dollars debt owed by Baghdad.
Allies angered at exclusion from bidding
(December 10, 2003) Countries barred by the Pentagon from bidding for $18.6 billion worth of prime reconstruction contracts in Iraq, noted the move was all the more astonishing given recent appeals by Washington for help in postwar Iraq.
Pentagon bars three nations from Iraq bids
(December 10, 2003) The Pentagon has barred French, German and Russian companies from competing for $18.6 billion in contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq, saying it was acting to protect "the essential security interests of the United States.
Treasury plans bailout for £9bn of export bad debts
(December 10, 2003) The Treasury is drawing up a face-saving plan to rescue the Export Credit Guarantees Department, after the government agency, which insures British exporters, ran up bad debts of £9 billion
Southbound shiplock closes for two-week inspection
The Three Gorges shiplock is closing in one direction on Dec. 10 for an inspection that will disrupt navigation through the dam for two weeks, China News Service (Zhongguo xinwen she) reports.
Former Iraqi official says Hussein stashed tens of billions abroad
(December 8, 2003) A former Iraqi minister said Saddam Hussein began depositing 5 percent of Iraq’s oil revenues in overseas accounts in 1972, and has likely accumulated tens of billions of dollars outside Iraq.
Finance minister says Iraq will demand assets from Syria
(December 8, 2003) Finance Minister Kamil al-Kaylani has said that Iraq will soon demand that Syria turn over an estimated $3 billion in Iraqi cash assets held in its banks on behalf of the former Hussein regime.
Seaport study in stormy seas
(December 7, 2003) A feasibility study by a Canadian company for an international seaport in Hambantota has been deemed un-bankable by a steering committee of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Iraq debt write-off plea waits for PM
(December 7, 2003) Saying "No" to America on the request for troops in Iraq was easy. For South and North Blocks, the next phase of US pressure on India in sorting out the post-war mess is going to be much more difficult.
Wildlife in peril
(December 7, 2003) Last week, five appeal judges in London did not find in favour of
environmental campaigners. They have reserved judgment and say that
their decision is unlikely until some time next year.
Review of Boston Consulting Group Analysis of Power Sector Reform Alternatives
Our overall impression is one of disappointment in the quality and accuracy of the BCG analysis. The analysis that we have reviewed is simply wrong in many ways.
James Baker: Negotiating through a minefield of debt
(December 6, 2003) Can Iraq’s debt be classified as odious? Yes, say many experts.
Bush turns to Baker as Iraq debt envoy
(December 5, 2003) U.S. President George Bush appoints longtime family friend and troubleshooter to be his personal envoy in seeking an international deal to lower and refinance Iraq’s staggering foreign debt.
Laws needed to protect dam from attack: magazine
As political tensions escalated this week across the Taiwan Strait, a Beijing magazine urged the central government to pass tough new laws to help prevent military attacks on the Three Gorges dam.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 