Lunchtime News Wrap

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:48



G8

Its the second day of the G8 meeting in Japan with 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 exchange rate depreciate, to help reduce global financial imbalances, but the leaders reached tentative climate change deal. The Group is also likely to include a "shared vision" to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Making a symbolic gesture to show their commitment to the environment, the G8 leaders planted trees. The European Union and Japan have been pressing for a G8 statement that goes beyond a summit pledge - to seriously consider a goal of halving global carbon emissions by mid-century. Senior officials met President George W. Bush to thrash out the wording and sign on to a goal of reducing greenhouse emissions.

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.

MALI

Against the backdrop of the G8 summit, the "anti G8" summit has kicked-off in the Malian town of Kalibougou. The organiser of the conference stressed that social justice is an obligatory and unavoidable phase. This, it says, will ensure a durable and definite solution to the current problems the world is facing. It says the governments of the G8 are most responsible for the global climate change and the international food crisis. To counter-balance the G8 summit in Japan, the Malian summit will tackle themes such as education in Africa, cooperation for development on the African continent.

D8 SUMMIT

Another summit underway is happening in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Leaders of Muslim developing nations are attending the Developing Eight summit. It has warned of danger from rising food and fuel prices. They are calling for urgent measures to lift food and oil output. Also under discussion is bio-fuels. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other leaders painted a gloomy picture over the crisis.

HOTEL

Libya's ambassador to Kenya Hesham Ali Shariff reportedly said the government knew about the deal. The sale of Nairobi's Grand Regency hotel to a company called Libyan Arab African Investment Kenya Limited sparked a row. It resulted in parliament carrying a vote of no-confidence against Kenyan Finance Minister Amos Kimunya last week. But many question why President Mwai Kibaki hasn't acted on the matter.

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.