Happy friday the 13th. Here's a summary of this weeks news items related to Millennium Promise, sustainable development and Africa...

Jen & John Double Date with the Cox-Arquettes
Anniston playfully tousled Mayer's hair and discreetly held his hand under the table, uhh, all to support Millennium Promise and extreme poverty!
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20206522,00.html

Toilet cleaners to walk NY ramp
Using the catwalk to promote sanitation awareness
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Toilet_cleaners_to_walk_NY_ramp/articleshow/3124939.cms

In more serious news..

Uganda announces budget: Africa news round-up - 13.6.08
http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/2008/jun/13/background

Sustaining growth is the century’s big challenge
review of Common Wealth by Martin Wolf, with responses by Sachs, Easterly and Collier.
http://blogs.ft.com/wolfforum/2008/06/column-sustaining-growth-is-the-century%e2%80%99s-big-challenge/

Sachs and Novogratz Find Common Ground
http://blog.acumenfund.org/2008/06/12/sachs-and-novogratz-find-common-ground/

G8 nations face 'credibility crunch' as ministers meet to tackle global crises, Oxfam warns
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/applications/blogs/pressoffice/2008/06/g8_nations_face_credibility_cr.html

Will it ever be able to stave off starvation?
http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11549764

Kenya Votes in Peace for 5 Parliament Seats
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/world/africa/12kenya.html

Rwanda Arrests First Senior Officers Over War Crimes

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-rwanda-genocide.html

Monsanto on the Menu
It's betting the food crisis will create new markets for genetically modified products
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089032620970.htm

Two articles fromAllAfricathat talk about gender and water/sanitation:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200806120757.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/200806120755.html

AGRA, US join forces to help small-scale African farmers
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9dGYFJ_B8tny6zjZ0CG1-svLvng

Nutrition, Africa-Issues G-8 can't afford to ignore at summit
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/summit/20080612TDY13103.htm

A few good articles in All Africa on development in Nigeria and Rwanda:

Nigeria: Minister Identifies Policy Reforms As Key to Continuity
http://allafrica.com/stories/200806110637.html

Nigeria: World Bank Votes N45bn for Country's Roads
http://allafrica.com/stories/200806110206.html

Rwanda: Rural Rwanda - Enhancing Agriculture and Alleviating Poverty
http://allafrica.com/stories/200806110496.html

Deadline extended for Design 21/Millennium Promise
A reminder for those that might know creative types interested in submitted a design:
http://www.design21sdn.com/design21/news/2027

John Legend Honored by CARE
http://news.smoothjazznetwork.com/?p=166

speaking of CARE, Jeff Sachs will be speaking at their National Conference on June 18-19
https://my.care.org/care/events/2008conference/details.tcl?source=170760460000&channel=default

Help Save a Life. Kidz-Med, Inc. Announces “Buy to Give” Initiative

http://www.millenniumpromise.org/site/DocServer/ASFX_PR_Millennium_6-9-08.pdf?docID=1421

Malawi cultivates cash gains for its farmers

Financial Times article highlighting yet another rich corn crop, thanks to a government subsidy scheme and Millennium Village interventions.

http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto060920082226424051

Worries Mount as Farmers Push for Big Harvest

The next installment in the NY Times Food chain series...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/business/10planting.html?hp

Food aid declines to near 50-year low
http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=577286