Mario Osava

Third world cities have been dumped by the IOC from its list of possible hosts for the 2012 games and Brazil lambasts the decision as a political one brought about by pressure from rich first world nations wanting to monopolise the games prestige, glamour and downstream benefits.

Sergio Vieira de Mello perished in the attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad yesterday, and his country mourns for him. Ironically, in his last interview, the UN official said he felt safe in Iraq.