Friday 4 July 2008

Wednesday, 2nd July 2008

0753
I want to the world to be on holiday.
But that's not possible is it?





World Bank pressures G-8 on oil and food
WASHINGTON: Warning that rising food and oil prices pose a crisis for the world's poor, Robert Zoellick, the president of the World Bank, is calling on President George W. Bush and other leaders convening in Japan next week in an economic summit meeting to make new aid commitments to avert starvation and instability in dozens of countries.
"What we are witnessing is not a natural disaster — a silent tsunami or a perfect storm," Zoellick said in a letter sent Tuesday evening to the major leaders of the West. "It is a man-made catastrophe, and as such must be fixed by people."
Zoellick's letter, obtained by The New York Times, came with a lengthy study of the impact of rising prices for food, fuel and commodities on the world's poor. He sent the letter as Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda prepares to host Bush and six other world leaders in the Group of 8 economic summit meeting on the northern island of Hokkaido.
In recent weeks, the United States and some other countries have stepped up their pledges to get food to the poor in the 50 hardest-hit countries. But Zoellick said in his letter that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Food Program had short-term needs of $10 billion.
Bank officials said that the world faced a shortfall in aid, but that pledges of financing had not been channeled into a central place and the size of the shortfall was not clear. "This is a test of the global system to help the most vulnerable, and it cannot afford to fail," Zoellick said.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/02/news/02zoellick.php






Colombian military frees Ingrid Betancourt
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/02/america/02ingrid.php
















Palestinian kills 3 in rampage with construction vehicle
Clashes in Somalia kill 53 and dozens wounded



Chad says over 60 followers of "holy man" killed

http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/07/02/africa/OUKWD-UK-CHAD-MUSLIM.php

Mongolia on alert after 5 die in election riots

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/02/asia/mongolia.php


11 militants and 1 soldier killed in clashes in Indian Kashmir

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/02/asia/AS-Kashmir-Rebels-Killed.php




China man blows up govt office and injures 12

http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/07/02/asia/OUKWD-UK-CHINA-BLAST.php





9 killed in Russian helicopter crash in Siberia; 7 survive

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/02/news/Russia-Helicopter-Crash.php








































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