DEVELOPMENT: G8 Offers Meagre Debt and AIDS Plan

Leaders of the world's most industrialised nations ended their annual gathering Thursday without committing to any major debt relief for poor nations or new financial backing for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

IRAQ: Torture Victims Sue U.S. Security Companies

Lawyers for Iraqis tortured while in U.S. custody have sued two private security companies for allegedly abusing prisoners to extract information from them with the goal of winning more contracts from the U.S. government.

DEVELOPMENT: World Bank Bows to National Safeguards in New Policy

Watchdog groups are accusing the World Bank of further diluting its environmental standards with a project in Mexico that will apply national safeguard policies, part of a new strategy to increase lending to middle-income countries.

/UPDATE*/IRAQ: Torture Victims Sue U.S. Security Companies

Lawyers for Iraqis tortured while in U.S. custody have sued two private security companies for allegedly abusing prisoners to extract information from them with the goal of winning more contracts from the U.S. government.

IRAQ: Torture Victims Sue U.S. Security Companies

Lawyers for Iraqis tortured while in U.S. custody have sued two private security companies for allegedly abusing prisoners to extract information from them with the goal of winning more contracts from the U.S. government.

DEVELOPMENT-U.S.: Congress Mulls Debt Cancellation

U.S. legislators are examining a new bill that would completely cancel the debts that poor countries owe to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

POLITICS: G8 Set to Snub Development, Poverty Issues – Groups

The Middle East, security, Iraq, nuclear proliferation, oil and the world economy will likely squeeze aside other pressing issues like HIV/AIDS, development, poverty and debt at the coming meeting of the leaders of the world's richest countries, activists here say.

POLITICS-U.S.: Mideast Reform Stresses Economic Liberalisation

A U.S. proposal to democratise the Middle East on the agenda of next week's meeting of leaders of the world's most industrialised countries has metamorphosed into an economic blueprint for the region, with the World Bank and other financial institutions slated to play a central role.

TRADE-U.S.: Opponents Predict Defeat for Central American Deal

The Bush administration will sign the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with five developing nations Friday, but opposition Democrats and civil society groups predict the deal will fail in Congress.

FINANCE: Groups’ Input Ignored in IMF/Bank Poverty Policy – Report

Attempts by civil society groups to influence policies at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a controversial consultation programme have been mostly fruitless, a new study says.

RIGHTS: Washington Urges Media Freedom – But Not for AlJazeera

When the U.S. state department shyly released a human rights report two weeks ago amidst an international outcry over U.S. soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners, it slipped in some tough talk on media freedom - against the practice, not for it as would be expected.

RIGHTS: Washington Urges Media Freedom – But Not for AlJazeera

When the U.S. state department shyly released a human rights report two weeks ago amidst an international outcry over U.S. soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners, it slipped in some tough talk on media freedom - against the practice, not for it as would be expected.

POLITICS: Bush Official Defends IMF, World Bank Reform

The Bush administration came out strongly in defence of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday, two institutions accused of being slow to reform.

IRAQ: Halliburton Under Renewed Fire for Overcharging

U.S. construction giant Halliburton came under renewed fire Tuesday when auditors urged the Defence Department to hold back payments to the company on an Iraq-based contract, while critics geared up to protest the controversial Houston-based firm's annual meeting.

DEVELOPMENT: World Bank Oil Loans Boost Business, Not Poor – Report

The World Bank, the world's largest public lender whose mandate is to reduce poverty, may be reluctant to stop funding oil projects because its traditional borrowers - western corporations - stand to lose lucrative contracts, a watchdog group charges in a new report.

DEVELOPMENT: Poorest Pay for World Bank Corruption – U.S. Senator

The World Bank has lost about 100 billion dollars slated for development in the world's poorest nations to corruption since 1946, nearly 20 percent of its total lending portfolio, according to a U.S.. Senate committee.

AID: U.S. Names Nations Eligible Under New Scheme

The Bush administration has chosen 16 countries to receive aid under a new programme that provides financial assistance for nations that undertake political and economic reforms approved by Washington.

FINANCE: IMF Pick for Top Job Proves ‘Back-Room’ Process – Groups

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has chosen a former finance minister of Spain, Rodrigo Rato, as its new managing director, ending a process marred by accusations of favouritism toward European nations and the exclusion of the developing countries that are most affected by IMF lending policies.

POLITICS: Even Democracies Need ‘Sunshine’ Against Corruption

Vibrant democratic countries are still far from immune to corruption or abuse of power, and offer little protections for whistle-blowers, says a report released Thursday.

DEVELOPMENT: No Progress at IMF, World Bank Meetings

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank concluded their meetings here Sunday after spotlighting global economic recovery but sweeping human development issues under the carpet.

FINANCE: Southern Nations Demand More Power in IMF, World Bank

As several thousand people protested outside the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) here Saturday, a coalition of developing countries also complained loudly about the democracy deficit at the two institutions.