U.N. chief: Rich nations must help Africa.

UNITED NATIONS - Under the cloud of a global financial crisis, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged the world's rich nations to spend $72 billion a year to help Africa achieve U.N. goals to fight poverty, improve health and ensure universal primary education.
He told the opening of a high-level meeting on Africa's development needs that the price tag may be daunting but "it is affordable," and pointed to the estimated $267 billion that the world's richest nations spent last year just on agricultural subsidies.
"In this context, the cost of solving the food crisis, addressing global warming and pulling millions out of extreme poverty in Africa looks like good value," he said.More.

Israel Describes Iranian President's UN Speech as Anti-Semitism.

Israel has reacted angrily to the United Nations speech of the president of Iran, who lashed out at Jews and the Jewish state. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at UN, 23 Sep 2008Israeli officials are describing the speech by Iran's president at the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday as a notorious manifestation of anti-Semitism. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referred to "deceitful" Zionists who are manipulating Americans and Europeans and who control the world's financial system. Officials here say it is reminiscent of the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion"- an anti-Semitic book from the early 1900s that described a Jewish plot to take over the world. Right-wing Israeli parliamentarian Avigdor Lieberman is a former Cabinet minister who coordinated strategy on Iran. "Ahmadinijad is not hiding his intentions," Lieberman told Israel Radio, and "Israel must take the necessary steps" to stop him. Lieberman was asked if that means Israel might launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities."There is a full menu of options and proposals," he said, adding that he could not discuss them on the radio. He said it is better not to talk but to act. More.