(March 5, 2004) Japan’s government is considering forgiving at least $3 billion of the $7 billion owed to it by Iraq, the Nikkei English News reported, without saying where it obtained the information.
Official corruption scenes roil Mexico
(March 4, 2004) “The fundamental problem of our country – corruption – hasn’t been solved. . . . As long as there is corruption, we can’t get ahead.” – Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Must the show go on?
(March 4, 2004)With Aristide seemingly ousted, American and French troops have once again landed in Haiti to run the island’s affairs, writes Gamal Nkrumah.
World Bank president eyes Iraq debt relief
(March 4, 2004) Creditors are likely to forgive $80 billion to $90 billion of Iraq’s $120 billion debt owed to donor nations, said World Bank President James Wolfensohn.
Did Saddam Hussein buy support in Russia and the West?
(March 4, 2004) Roman Kupchinsky, editor of the weekly "Crime, Corruption & Terrorism Watch" report published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, investigates the Al-Mada newspaper expose that named nearly 270 individuals, companies and organizations allegedly given oil coupons in exchange for political support by Saddam Hussein’s former regime.
Government memo says Aborigines once treated like Nazi slave labour
(March 1, 2004) Thousands of Aboriginal workers whose wages were paid into official trust funds and never returned have been compared to Nazi slave labourers in a secret government document.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 