ECONOMY: Davos and Porto Alegre Pursue Identical Aims, Says WEF Chief

World Economic Forum President Klaus Schwab says his elitist forum, currently underway in the luxury ski resort of Davos, and its simultaneous "anti-Davos" alternative, the World Social Forum (WSF), organized by non-governmental organizations, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, are in fact one and the same.

ECONOMY: Tight Security Belt Around Davos Forum

Holding his helmet in one hand and his baton in the other, the Swiss anti-riot police officer assigned to keep calm around the venue of the World Economic Forum here in this Alpine resort, appeared nervous as he said his wish for the weekend.

FINANCE: BP Ignored Safer Route for Caspian Sea Pipeline – Report

British Petroleum (BP), the leading force behind a multi-billion-dollar Caspian oil and gas pipeline, ignored more ecologically and socially friendly routes in favour of the project's current controversial course, says the report of a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

FINANCE: BP Ignored Safer Route for Caspian Sea Pipeline – Report

British Petroleum (BP), the leading force behind a multi-billion-dollar Caspian oil and gas pipeline, ignored more ecologically and socially friendly routes in favour of the project's current controversial course, says the report of a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

TRADE: African Groups Set to Protest U.S. Forum in Mauritius

Next week, the United States and 38 Sub-Saharan African nations will discuss a trade pact that Washington says would give Africa greater access to the U.S. market but that critics call little more than a ''colonial'' sham.

TRADE: U.S., Central American Nations Launch Free Trade Talks

The United States and several Central American countries launched free trade talks on Wednesday as part of the U.S. administration's drive towards a free trade deal for the western hemisphere.

FINANCE: IMF Releases Rules on Bankrupt Nations Despite Opposition

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed late Tuesday a set of rules that would provide the basis for a global bankruptcy mechanism capable of anticipating debt crises across the globe and helping insolvent countries streamline their debt.

DEVELOPMENT: Critics Bash Bush’s Delay of African Trip

U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to delay a widely anticipated trip to Africa has prompted accusations from experts that Washington is growing callous to the world's development problems.

DEVELOPMENT: Critics Bash Bush’s Delay of African Trip

U.S. President George W. Bush's decision to delay a widely anticipated trip to Africa has prompted accusations from experts that Washington is growing callous to the world's development problems.

DEVELOPMENT: Bank’s Inspection Arm a Mess, Critics say

The investigative arm inside the largest public bank operating in Latin America is in disarray, lacks transparency and is not independent, say activists from a leading economic watchdog.

DEVELOPMENT: Bank’s Inspection Arm a Mess, Critics say

The investigative arm inside the largest public bank operating in Latin America is in disarray, lacks transparency and is not independent, say activists from a leading economic watchdog.

FINANCE: Private Creditors Dump on IMF Debt Restructuring Proposal

Groups representing international private creditors are stepping up their campaign to bury a proposal by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) designed to help bankrupt countries streamline their debt owed to private lenders.

FINANCE: Private Creditors Dump on IMF Debt Restructuring Proposal

Groups representing international private creditors are stepping up their campaign to bury a proposal by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) designed to help bankrupt countries streamline their debt owed to private lenders.

FINANCE: Private Creditors Dump on IMF Debt Restructuring Proposal

Groups representing international private creditors are stepping up their campaign to bury a proposal by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) designed to help bankrupt countries streamline their debt owed to private lenders.

ECONOMY: Groups Demand U.S., Chile Release Details of Trade Deal

Civil society groups are calling on the United States and Chile to reveal the text of a controversial trade agreement they reached two days ago.

ECONOMY: Groups Demand U.S., Chile Release Details of Trade Deal

Civil society groups are calling on the United States and Chile to reveal the text of a controversial trade agreement they reached two days ago.

DEVELOPMENT: Group Unveils Ethical Guidelines for Multi-nationals

An anti-corruption group has unveiled a set of guidelines that it says will help reduce corrupt practices by trans-national corporations and their agents in the developing world.

DEVELOPMENT: Group Unveils Ethical Guidelines for Multi-nationals

An anti-corruption group has unveiled a set of guidelines that it says will help reduce corrupt practices by trans-national corporations and their agents in the developing world.

ECONOMY: Slow Growth to Hinder Fight Against Poverty – World Bank

The global fight against poverty is likely to be further derailed over the next 18 months, dragged down by a sluggish world economy and slower growth, the World Bank warned Wednesday.

ECONOMY: Slow Growth to Hinder Fight Against Poverty – World Bank

The global fight against poverty is likely to be further derailed over the next 18 months, dragged down by a sluggish world economy and slower growth, the World Bank warned Wednesday.

FINANCE: IMF Strong-Arming Debtors Despite New Lending Guidelines

Three months ago the International Monetary Fund said it had adopted a new set of lending guidelines that would permit borrowing countries to take control of their economies like never before, but in the last week it has imposed conditions critics say mean "business as usual".