Global: World Bank secures enough votes for debt relief

The World Bank says it has secured enough backing from member countries to proceed with $37 billion in debt relief for 17 poor countries. "We have secured the total votes necessary to enact the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative," World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said in a statement. "Countries will now be able to put more resources into programs that directly help those who need it most - the poor who need better education, better health services and greater access to clean water, for example," he added.