More news in brief.
Ghanaian finance minister dies
ACCRA -Ghana's respected finance minister died yesterday in a South African hospital after a short illness, the presidency of the West African country said.
Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu (56) became finance minister in 2005. He earned praise for his steady guidance of one of West Africa's most promising economies through a period of economic growth fuelled by high prices for gold and cocoa exports despite debilitating power shortages and a surge in inflation this year. - (Reuters)
Emergency food aid for Yemen
DUBAI -The World Food Programme said yesterday it was launching an emergency operation to help feed 600,000 people in Yemen who are struggling to survive because of high food prices.
"Yemen is one of the countries most hard hit by high food prices . . . In recent months, prices have decreased slightly, though they are still out of reach for many, the UN agency said.
The $30 million (€20m) operation will provide food for people who are most affected by a global rise in costs that earlier this year saw Yemen's domestic wheat prices nearly double, it said. - (Reuters)
Italy questioned over soccer fund
BRUSSELS -The European Commission said yesterday it had given the Italian region of Calabria until September 29th to explain why development aid is being used to sponsor the national soccer team.
Calabria, one of Italy's poorest regions, has spent €1.8 million of aid to promote its tourism image by sponsoring the world champions in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The commission wants to be satisfied that the money had been spent according to its rules, said a spokesman. - (Reuters)
Head of pharaoh statue found
CAIRO -Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a granite statue probably depicting the head of Ramses II, one of ancient Egypt's most powerful pharaohs, the country's culture ministry said yesterday.
Researchers discovered the statue 150cm (five feet) underground in the eastern Nile Delta town of Tell Basta, which was once the capital of ancient Egypt, the culture ministry said. Archaeologists are hoping to finding the rest of the statue. - (Reuters)
Death toll in Iraq ambush hits 35
BAGHDAD -The death toll from an ambush of Iraqi security personnel northeast of Baghdad yesterday rose to 35 from 20, police said. Gunmen killed policemen and members of US-backed Sunni local patrol groups in the attack close to Baquba in Diyala province, police said. - (Reuters)