Italy and France are failing Africa

Originally set up by Irish rock star and fierce campaigner, Bono, the anti-poverty group One has accused both Italy and France of failing to increase aid to African nations.  A pledge was made back in 2005 at an economic summit outlining budgets and figures for the countries involved. Italy has blamed the current economic crisis for its own decrease in aid, but promises to stay committed to the overall target. The same report has highlighted France as reducing its aid target and budgets. The U.S, Canada and Japan have all kept to their modest targets.
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Aid warning amid Pakistan unrest

Aid agencies around the world have received warnings that decreased funding is limiting the help available to those who have fled the ongoing fighting in Pakistan’s Swat valley. Reports state there are currently 2.5 million people in need of emergency supplies, costing around $42 million. The fight between the army and the Taliban continues and has now spread to parts of the north-west.
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China launches  its own green power revolution

This week, a senior Chinese official  announced that by 2020 China plans to match Europe’s use of wind and solar power; in total producing a fifth of its total energy from renewable sources. Zhang Xiaoqiang, Vice-Chairman of China’s national development and reform commission believes the current targets are now out of date and is aiming for figures three times as much as they were before.
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Battle of the chocolate bunnies

An argument has arisen between the Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprungli and Austrian chocolate makers Hauswirth concerning the chocolate bunnies wrapped in gold foil with a bell. Both companies use the image but Lindt holds a trademark supposedly barring rivals from using the same representation. Other producers have seceded but Hauswirth argues that bunnies have been produced and wrapped in this way for decades. The company claims that technological difficulties, which occur through production, cause the bunny to be that particular shape, and the similarities cannot be helped.
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Global warming could lead to the largest human migration

In a report released on Wednesday (10 June) from Bonn, Germany, Global warming is causing more and more people to uproot from their homes. It said that if this is left unchecked it could result in the greatest human migration ever. A report from the International Organisation for Migration cites that by 2050 200 million people will be displaced by environmental pressures.
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India elects first female speaker

For the first time in history, India has elected a female speaker for its parliament. Congress veteran Meira Kumar who is a former lawyer and diplomat was elected to the sound of cheers from MP’s. Observers have commented that this move will substantially improve the congress party’s image by promoting pro-woman values and supporting the lower castes, where Ms Kumar is from.
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White House seeks security advice from hackers

The newest member of the U.S Department of homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) is a white hat hacker who set up Black Hat and Defcon computer conferences. Jeff Moss will join the other 24 members who are made up from former heads of the CIA and FBI, governors of Maryland and Georgia and the head of the Navajo Nation.  They will be responsible for advising on how to secure America’s critical IT infrastructure against attack. The new move in personnel is signalling to many the increase in attention that the U.S. government is paying to the problems of IT security.
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‘Elaborate’ drug tunnel found along Mexico border

Authorities and law officers are left stunned after finding a massive underground drug smuggling tunnel making its way through the Mexican-U.S border. Those involved in the discovery of the tunnel have been marvelling at the sophistication involved. The tunnel, still uncompleted was found last week by border patrol and measured 48 feet in the U.S and a further 35 feet in Mexico. The inside contains side walls and a ceiling construction, with inbuilt electrical work and a hose system for ventilation and lighting.
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Iranians head to polls in crucial vote

In what was a colourful presidential election Iranian voters were casting their votes between President Mahmoud Ammadinejad and Mir Hossein Moussavi who is the leading reformist candidate. The polls will be open for 10 hours, but if necessary will be extended. The rallies held on Wednesday were mainly in support of Moussavi with graffiti proclaiming ‘Change’ on the posters of the candidates. Overall the rallies were said to be peaceful with dancing, chanting and honking car horns.
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