Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

Foreign bribery enforcement in the UK has increased significantly since 2012 notably thanks to the pragmatic and effective approach taken by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to investigate and resolve foreign bribery cases.

Reforms in public spending would boost agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa, raising farmer’s incomes, and promoting broader economic growth, says a new World Bank report released on March 23. Reaping Richer Returns: Public Spending Priorities for African Agriculture Productivity Growth explores the performance of agricultural spending in Africa, and presents a wealth of important lessons from which African policy makers and development practitioners, and academics can draw options for reform.

The EU Commission should propose rules obliging all players in the textile and clothing industry supply chain to respect the labour and human rights of their workers, say Development Committee MEPs in a resolution voted on Tuesday. They also advocate introducing EU tariff preferences and labels for sustainably-produced textiles.

High-tech equipment such as smartphones, tablets and cars are able to run thanks to minerals and metals such as tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold. However, as their mining and illegal trade are often controlled by armed groups, they also help to feed a vicious circle of conflicts.On 16 March MEPs voted in favour of making EU companies take responsibility for the origin of the minerals they import.

Stronger global economic growth and continued gains in commodity prices are helping to drive up Indonesia’s economic growth forecast to 5.2 percent this year from 5.0 percent in 2016. Global policy uncertainty and fiscal dynamics pose downside risks, according to a new World Bank report released on March 22.

“Unacceptable.” President Antonio Tajani was clear this week in his condemnation of Turkey accusing Germany and the Netherlands of Nazi methods for preventing Turkish ministers from campaigning in their countries in favour of a referendum to give the president additional powers. Although the EU and Turkey cooperate on anything from trade to migration, relations have become strained in recent year.

Stronger global economic growth and continued gains in commodity prices are helping to drive up Indonesia’s economic growth forecast to 5.2 percent this year from 5.0 percent in 2016. Global policy uncertainty and fiscal dynamics pose downside risks, according to a new World Bank report released on March 22.

The World Bank on March 21, approved a $15 million grant to help the government provide access to income generating opportunities to targeted poor and vulnerable youth in Togo. These include young men and women aged 15 to 35 living in poor communities in all five regions of the country, who have not completed primary education or who may have physical disabilities.