WORLD ECONOMY: The World Bank says it believes the global economy will shrink in 2009, for the first time since World War Two.
In a paper released Sunday, the bank also said it expects world trade
to fall by the largest amount in 80 years, with the sharpest losses in
Asia.
The report said the global financial crisis will create a multi-billion
dollar financing shortfall for poor and developing countries. The bank
says only one in four vulnerable developing countries will be able to
ease the impact of the economic downturn through job creation or safety
net programs.
CHINA-TIBET: China and Nepal have each increased security in advance of Tuesday's
50th anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.
Authorities say they are taking action to prevent any possible protests
by supporters of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
Officials in Tibet have deployed extra police. China's official Xinhua
news service on Monday quoted Kang Jinzhong, a senior police chief in
Tibet, as saying that his troops are ready to handle any infiltration
and sabotage activities by what he called the Dalai Lama clique and
other hostile forces.
KOREA-US-MILITARY: North Korea put its military on alert Monday and warned that it will
retaliate against anyone seeking to intercept its planned satellite
launch.
As U.S. and South Korean forces began annual military drills on Monday, the North's official news agency (Korean Central News Agency) said shooting down the satellite would mean war.
THAILAND-PROTESTS:Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday reiterated his
resolve to heal the country's political rift amid fresh protests.
Mr. Abhisit made his statement a day after protesters threw plastic
bottles, sandals and other objects at him and other ruling party
officials Saturday, during a tour of Thailand's provinces.
The protesters, mainly supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra dressed in red shirts, targeted Mr. Abhisit as his motorcade
passed by a health center in Lop Buri, the capital of Lop Buri province
northeast of Bangkok.
ZIMBABWE-TSVANGIRAI: Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai returned home Monday from
Botswana, where he was treated for injuries sustained in the car crash
that killed his wife Friday.
He will finalize funeral arrangements for Susan Tsvangirai, who will be buried Wednesday.
The driver of the truck that hit the car carrying Mr. Tsvangirai and
his wife is due to appear in court Monday to face charges of culpable
homicide.
A joint U.S.-British AIDS project owns the truck. Britain calls the tragedy a "genuine accident."
