Combating the spread of infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS and the spread of poverty, are of primary concern, financial officials said at the close of the spring meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Briefing reporters after the final session of the Development Committee, World Bank President James Wolfensohn said there was "warm recognition both of the Bank's role and of the partnership which exists between the Bank and the Fund with poverty at its center."

Brian Wilson, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Minister of State, on 4 May met representatives of the Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana governments as well as from the cocoa and chocolate industry on the issue of slave labour in the cocoa industry.
The meeting has resulted in agreement to establish a task force comprising government, industry and trade, and non-governmental organisations to address the issue of forced labour in West African cocoa production.

A case arguing the constitutionality of an aspect of the Western Cape education department's rationalisation programme will be tackled in the Constitutional Court today. The governing bodies of schools for children with disabilities, Education for Learners with Special Educational Needs (Elsen), are challenging the department's rationalisation programme in an appeal case.

This not-for-profit independent research body has received a foundation grant to implement a research project on the implications of globalisation for the countries of East Africa. Dates: Apply before June 30 2001, to commence by end 2001. 2 year contract. Positions: 1 post-doctoral fellow, 2 assistant research fellows, 1 research assistant.