Morning News Wrap
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:41G8
Its the second day of the G8 meeting in Japan and all eyes are on the leaders at the summit to come up with a solution to the global crises! The G8 called on China to let the Yuan’s tightly controlled exchange rate depreciate, to help reduce global financial imbalances. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her satisfaction on issues of climate change, food and oil. Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush says he and Merkel are in agreement to work together on Iran instead.
The United Nations and the World Bank have urged G8 leaders to live up to their promises to double aid to Africa by 2010. But many Western leaders have used the summit to express concern about the situation in Zimbabwe. Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete says there are some disagreements about what to do with Zimbabwe. An African Union summit, issued a resolution last week calling for talks leading to a national unity government in Zimbabwe.
CLIMATE
Staying with G8 matters, one of the agenda is to include a "shared vision" to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The European Union and Japan have been pressing on that issue. The leaders will urge big emerging economies to share that vision. Meanwhile, scientists, conservationist and politicians from Europe are gathering at Reunion Island, for a five-day climate change conference. After taking over the European presidency, France is pushing hard on the issue of biodiversity.
NIGERIA
As the world faces soaring oil prices, Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has called for a global clampdown on the theft and smuggling of crude oil. This has become an international trade which is fuelling unrest in the country's southern Niger Delta. The Nigerian leader says he will present a proposal to the UN laying out steps to end the illicit trade. Nigeria is the world's eighth biggest exporter of crude oil, but some analysts' estimates 100,000 barrels of crude is stolen per day. That’s equivalent to around US$14 million daily.
The oil is shipped out of Nigeria and sold to the international market. Unrest in the Niger Delta has largely been driven by militant groups alleging neglect by successive governments. They have blown up oil pipelines and kidnapped foreign oil workers to press for more development.
HOTEL
Libya's ambassador to Kenya Hesham Ali Shariff reportedly said the government knew about the sale of Nairobi's Grand Regency hotel to a company called Libyan Arab African Investment Kenya Limited. The subsequent row has resulted in parliament carrying a vote of no-confidence against Kenyan Finance Minister Amos Kimunya last week. Lands Affairs Minister James Orengo tabled documents indicating that the hotel was sold for $28 million, far below its valued worth. The minister has refused to resign, but there's pressure for him to leave cabinet.
BITI
In Zimbabwe, the treason trial of MDC Secretary General will go to court next month. Tendai Biti was released on bail last month. He was arrested for treason when he returned from South Africa. His charges relate to documents which he allegedly authored. Biti's lawyer has asked that a report on his client's treatment in jail be made available for trial.
LUBANGA
A panel of judges at the International Criminal Court has ruled that a former Congolese warlord, Thomas Lubanga must remain in custody. That's until they settle an appeal by prosecutors against a decision to free him. The judges believe he could not get a fair trial because prosecutors were withholding evidence. Most of the evidence was provided by the United Nations under confidentiality deals. That means prosecutors were not allowed to show it to judges or defence attorneys. The U.N. agreed to grant the judges limited access to the evidence. Lubanga is charged with recruiting and sending child soldiers to fight in bloody conflicts in the Ituri region of eastern Congo between 2002 and 2003. His trial would have been the first at an international court to focus solely on child soldiers.
