The World Bank's Board of Directors approved on June 5th a US$150 million loan for Peru to improve results in health, nutrition and primary education by defining standards and setting goals for the outcomes families should expect for their children.

In recent months, the international debate on climate change has gained momentum. We welcome the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) summary reports from Working Groups 2 (impacts and adaptation) and 3 (mitigation options) and applaud the leadership shown by the European Union (EU), under the presidency of Chancellor Merkel, at the Spring Council.

Leading CEOs from the largest corporations in the energy sector called on June 4th for the establishment of a global carbon market as a way to spur innovation, clean energy development, and the additional investments needed to steadily move to a global lower carbon economy.

World Bank finds donor nations lag on promises on greater aid, freer trade

First Ever Regional Catastrophe Risk Insurance Pool Up and Running in Time for 2007 Hurricane Season

US$225 million approved for the third Road Sector Development Project

The World Bank said on May 31st it is taking a step forward to try to limit the damage of the so-called vulture funds on heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs), and announced the extension of its Debt Reduction Facility for another five years to help such countries reduce the commercial debts they owe.

Output growth gained further pace across the 10 new European Union member states in 2006, but is likely to slow down in 2007, according to the latest World Bank EU8+2 Regular Economic Report.

The World Bank approved on May 29th a EUR15 million (USD20 million) loan for the Second Trade and Transport Facilitation in South East Europe Project (TTFSE2) for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Project will help improve livelihoods of cotton farmers and support equitable and efficient cotton industry

World Bank Approves Three Major Loans

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved on May 30th two loans for Uruguay totaling US$112.1 million to support the Uruguayan government with the implementation of its reform program.