The board of the World Bank has chosen an American academic, Jim Yong Kim, as its new president despite an unprecedented challenge from a non-American candidate. Doctor Kim is an expert on health issues in the developing world. Andrew Walker reports from Washington.
Jim Yong Kim was a surprise choice when President Obama nominated him. His predecessors were all American, but they were either political figures or financiers. He is neither. What he does have is a knowledge of health problems, and that is an important part of the bank's work. For the first time there were other candidates, and they offered wider experience of economic development, which is the bank's main business. The American nominee can, however, expect support from Europe as a long-standing deal gives the bank to an American and the top job at the IMF to a European.
The United States has warned that heightened violence in Syria threatens the viability of sending 200 UN ceasefire monitors to the country. The warning from the American ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, comes on the day an advance group of six monitors started work in Damascus. Opposition activists say heavy shelling by government forces has continued in Homs, and 30 people were killed.
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Sudan's parliament has voted to brand South Sudan "an enemy" after Southern troops captured the north's main oil field last week. The parliamentary speaker said Sudan would now use all its resources against South Sudan. Last Tuesday's attack on the Heglig oil field, which is vital to the north's economy, has shut down production there. South Sudan became independent last year after a protracted civil war.