Standing and applauding, the 192-member United Nations General Assembly today paid a thunderous and prolonged tribute to Secretary- General Kofi Annan at the end of his 10-year tenure before swearing in his successor Ban Kimoon, who takes over as the world’s top diplomat on 1 January.
Both Mr. Annan and Mr. Ban stressed the indissoluble links uniting security, development and human rights as the three pillars of the UN, without any one of which world peace will not be achieved.
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MR KIBAKI came to power promising to fight poverty Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has rejected an $18,000 monthly salary increase given to him by parliament.
He said he had turned down the offer because "there are other priority projects in need of urgent funding".
Last week, MPs agreed to raise his basic pay and allowances from $26,000 a month to more than $44,000.
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TWO church congregations in the US have voted to break away from the Episcopal Church because of its decision three years ago to consecrate a gay bishop.The Truro Church and the Falls Church voted to place themselves instead under the authority of the Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola. He has called for the Episcopal Church to be expelled from the worldwide Anglican Communion.
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