| Latest Commentary: | Volume VI, Number 66 |
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Bush Appoints Robert Zoellick to Presidency of World Bank -- President Bush announced on Wednesday that he would appoint former US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick as president of the World Bank. Mr. Zoellick replaces the completely unqualified Paul Wolfowitz, who is resigning over ethical short-comings effective the end of this month. While Mr. Zoellick is a supporter of the Bushevik approach to Iraq-Nam, he is vastly more qualified than Mr. Wolfowitz, having actually spent most of his career in international economics and finance.
UN Security Council Approves Hariri Tribunal -- The UN Security Council approved a resolution that creates a special court to investigate and try any suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. The vote passed 10-0 with 5 abstentions. Those who voted for the court, largely the western powers, hope that any trial would help stabilize Lebanon. Those abstaining (Russia, China, Qatar, Indonesia and South Africa) claimed to be worried about Lebanese sovereignty being undermined by an international court. Apparently, they weren’t concerned enough to vote “no.” US GDP Growth Slows to Anemic 0.6% in First Quarter -- The US Commerce Department released the country’s first quarter GDP growth figure yesterday, and it was a disappointing 0.6%. That was less than half the 1.3% government economists originally forecast, and it is the weakest growth rate the US has seen since the final quarter of 2002, when the rate was 0.2%. The Fed remains on guard for a burst of inflation, confident that there is more to worry about there than from the risk of recession. The Fed may well be wrong. Californian 8th Grader Wins National Spelling Bee -- Once again, the American Broadcasting Corporation aired the final of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in prime time last night. The winner of the 80th annual bee was Evan O’Dorney of Danville, California, a home-schooled 13-year old. He beat out Nate Gartke of Spruce Grove, Alberta, who was trying to become the first Canadian to win. As impressive as his victory was, young Mister O’Dorney appears more interested in this year’s math camp than in winning the spelling contest. He told the press after his triumph, “spelling is just a bunch of memorization.” © Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux. |
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