africa: Growing gulf between rich and poor

The first Arab-hosted annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, in the Gulf state Dubai, which ended on Wednesday, exposed the widening gap between rich and developing nations. Despite Dubai's label as the city of gold - with the highest concentration of jewellery shops in the world - little glittered for poor countries during arguments over aid and the power to shape their own future. The annual meetings offered cold comfort for those fighting to prevent the 30,000 deaths a day from hunger, to help the billion people denied basic education, and to support the 42 million living with HIV/Aids.