New Zealander may replace Wolfowitz

Source: tvnz.co.nz

A New Zealander, World Bank’s managing director Graeme Wheeler, may replace the outgoing president of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz who leaves next month with a massive golden handshake.

Paul Wolfowitz to resign

Source: World Bank / Statement by Paul Wolfowitz

I am pleased that after reviewing all the evidence the Executive Directors of the World Bank Group have accepted my assurance that I acted ethically and in good faith in what I believed were the best interests of the institution, including protecting the rights of a valued staff member.

Italy to lead EU efforts for death penalty ban at the UN

Source: Reuters

The European Union has mandated Italy to lead a push for a United Nations moratorium on the death penalty across the world, the 27-member bloc said on Monday.

Germany, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said Rome had been asked to draft a text calling for the suspension of the penalty at the next meeting of the United Nations General Assembly later this year.

Tony Blair at the World Bank?

By Andreas von Warburg

While the White House is officially supporting Paul Wolfowitz’ leadership at the World Bank, President George W. Bush’s staff is no doubt working on a possible short list of names to replace the embattled head of the Washington-based organization.

Observers have already started to speculate about successors; development experts have voiced their disappointment over Wolfowitz tenure and some are even proposing an ‘extreme’ solution. “He [Bush] should propose a European candidate for the job – namely Tony Blair,” Edward Mortimer, senior vice-president and chief program officer of the Salzburg Seminar, writes in the Financial Time. “The outgoing British prime minister, who is stepping down next month after 10 years in office, is still at the height of his powers and is a familiar figure on the world stage. He has also proved, far beyond the call of duty, his affection for the US and his loyalty as an ally.”

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt donate $1 million to humanitarian programs

Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt have donated US$1 million towards the humanitarian effort assisting millions of people affected by the crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Planning for the post-Wolfowitz era

By Andreas von Warburg

While the White House is still publicly supporting Paul Wolfowitz’ leadership at the World Bank, observers are speculating on possible successors for the bank top post.

The selection process of the head of the Bretton Woods institutions, both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is a very delicate one and the Wolfowitz affair might force the international community to reform it.

Wolfowitz affair: World Bank split, Democrats pressure Bush

By Andreas von Warburg

The 24-nation Board of Directors of the World Bank has given Paul Wolfowitz more time to respond to a special panel report, which found him guilty of a conflict of interest in arranging for a pay raise and promotion for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza, in 2005. Since the crisis broke earlier last month, pressures have been mounting on the White House and president George W. Bush, who nominated Wolfowitz, his former Deputy Secretary of Defense, to the bank top post in January 2005.

Calls for resignation have been increasing by the minute. Yesterday, senior U.S. Democrats added their voice to the general discontent and urged Bush to help end the “historic crisis.”. In a letter to the U.S. President, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic Senators Patty Murray, Richard Durbin and Charles Schumer warned that the crisis was damaging the institution and undermining U.S. interests.

Report: World Publics Favor New Powers for the UN

Source: The Chicago Council on Global Affairs / WorldPublicOpinion.org

Publics around the world favor dramatic steps to strengthen the United Nations, including giving it the power to have its own standing peacekeeping force, to regulate the international arms trade and to investigate human rights abuses.

Large majorities believe the United Nations Security Council should have the right to authorize military force to prevent nuclear proliferation, genocide and terrorism. However support is not as robust among the publics polled for accepting UN decisions that go against their countries’ preferences.