The world scored an abysmal two out of 10 for its efforts in trying to save the planet from environmental mayhem this year. That is the stark view of the World Economic Form, which has blasted governments for failing to make progress on global warming and on the safeguarding of the world’s endangered environment.

Rukia, aged 14, leaps forward excitedly at the books spread on the floor. She is orphaned, survives on a diet of tea, bread and maize and lives in the African bush in a home built of twigs and dried grass. Books give her a reason to hope. ”I want to be a doctor when I leave school,” she says in flawless English.

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will inflame the transatlantic row over America’s alleged torture of terror suspects in secret jails by telling British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and other European officials to ”back off”. Human rights groups have alleged the CIA is flying terror suspects to secret jails in planes that have used airports throughout Europe.