World Bank chief Wolfowitz stresses need for Africa help
Kyodo) - World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz on Tuesday stressed the importance of helping Africa solve its poverty and the importance of Japan’s role in developing assistance for the world’s poor countries in terms of contributions as well as being a role model for such countries due to its economic success.
Wolfowitz, who is visiting Japan for the first time after he assumed the post in June, expressed gratitude to Japan in a speech given at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo, as the World Bank depends heavily on Japan’s financial market.
As the World Bank leader, Wolfowitz said, he is putting priority on Africa to help the countries in the region attain sustainable development. (more…)
Egypt hails ElBaradei, its second Nobel Laureate
CAIRO (AFP) - Mohamed ElBaradei drew praise in his native country after he became the second Egyptian to win the Nobel Peace Prize, following Anwar Sadat who shared the prize with Israel’s Menachem Begin almost three decades ago.
The Nobel Committee praised ElBaradei for his efforts to ensure nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes, though his critics say he has unfairly bent to the demands of the United States over Iran’s nuclear program.
Analysts in the Egyptian capital said that despite contrasting views about ElBaradei’s performance as head of the UN nuclear watchdog, the 63-year-old diplomat’s award provided the country with a new source of national pride.
“This is great news for Egypt. This gives Egyptians back their confidence. It has brought in a sense of national rehabilitation,” said Mustafa al-Sayyed Said, professor of political science at Cairo University. (more…)
‘Poverty deepening in Sub-saharan Africa’ Ultimate Media
A Commissioner on the Blair Commission for Africa has said poverty is deepening in sub- Saharan Africa despite the available structural adjustment reforms in basic economic infrastructure such as agriculture.
Dr. William Kalema, who was speaking during the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture (PMA), meeting held at Hotel Africana recently said the number of poor people is expected to rise from 315 million recorded in 1999 to 404 million people by 2015. (more…)
IMF-World Bank meet draws attention on Africa
Winching to fore the plight of Africa at this year’s IMF-World Bank annual meet, the Governor of the Fund for Congo, Andre Philippe Futa, said the world was “inter-dependent, where what happens in one region will affect the rest.”
Starting off with a poser: “Why focus on Africa”, he explained, “It was the only region where people are poorer today than they were 30 years ago.”
“In Africa, poverty is being exacerbated by the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, lack of basic services and infrastructure, corruption and poor governance, violence and a technology deficit,” he explained. (more…)