The Malaysian Insider

ROME, July 4 — Silvio Berlusconi has landed himself in hot water with almost all of the G8 member nations, managing to personally offend the leaders of each country.

From Angela Merkel to Barack Obama, few have emerged unscathed from his peculiar brand of music hall humour, adolescent japes and sexist quips.

As Italy prepares to host the 2009 G8 summit, we list the colourful comments the Italian prime minister has made on each attending country — the only G8 countries to have escaped his attention appear to be Canada and Japan. But all of that could change by next week.

NEW DELHI, July 4 — When Mumbai unveiled a sea bridge meant to cut travel time to the downtown area by more than 30 minutes this week, public enthusiasm was so high that commuters instantly clogged the US$400 million (RM1.4 billion) facility spanning Mahim Bay.

The bridge itself is a mere 5.6km long but the popular response underscores the demand for quality infrastructure in India, whose US$1.2 trillion economy is projected to grow at least 6.25 per cent this year, despite the global downturn.

Economists say India loses as much as two percentage points of growth each year because of its creaky railways, clogged ports, poor roads and inadequate power supplies.

JAKARTA, July 4 — When Indonesia's 176 million voters trickle into the 450,000 polling stations next Wednesday, they are likely to stick with tradition and pick their new president based on personality and appearances.

Analysts and at least 12 out of 15 voters The Straits Times spoke to agreed that what the candidates say about hot issues like economic development matter little to them.

Said car mechanic Agus Rahmat, 31: “I don't believe in the programmes. The candidates may say one, two or three things now and forget them when elected.”

ANCHORAGE, July 4 — Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Republican John McCain's vice-presidential running mate in 2008, said yesterday she will resign this month, an unexpected move that could signal a run for higher office.

Palin took no questions after a brief news conference in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, with Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell and much of her state Cabinet at her side. She gave no indication of her future plans.

"I'm not seeking re-election" in 2010, Palin said, adding she would transfer authority to Parnell on July 26.

LONDON, July 4 — A three-week-old baby and two children were among six people killed when a fire tore through a 12-storey block of flats in southeast London yesterday, emergency services said.

The blaze broke out at on the fourth floor of the flats on the Sceaux Gardens Estate in Camberwell and rapidly spread, the London Fire Brigade said.

Eighteen fire engines were sent to the scene and more than 100 firefighters tackled the fire. A brigade spokesman said the blaze swept up to the 11th floor and 30 people had to be rescued.