Five years ago, at the start of the new millennium, the world's governments united to make a remarkable promise to the victims of global poverty. Meeting at the United Nations, they signed the Millennium Declaration a solemn pledge "to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty".
Zimbabwe has made a surprise $120m payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a bid to stave off expulsion from the international lending institution. "Zimbabwe has managed to pay $120m to the IMF out of its own resources as part of efforts aimed at servicing its international debt," Zimbabwean state television said last night.
