BY HARRY RING

That's capitalism - Worldwide, more than one person in five lives on less than $1 a day, according to a World Bank report. In 1987, 1.23 billion people were in that income bracket. By 1993, their numbers had climbed to 1.31 billion.

Separate, but firmly linked- "In the wake of reports that gaps between rich and poor in the United States are wider than they have been in half a century, a United Nations survey...finds that the phenomena is worldwide and that the wealthiest and poorest people - both within and among countries - are living in increasingly separate worlds." -

July 15 New York Times.

The virtues of `English only' - In San Francisco, Nancy Yu and her son put down $6,000 on a $12,000 Toyota and thought they had signed a loan for the balance. They learned they had signed a lease and, to finally own the car, would be shelling out some $26,000.

Declared the Toyota manager: "The burden is on the consumer to know what they're signing. There's no obligation on the dealer's part to translate for them."

`Free world' ally - The president of the advisory council appointed by Saudi Arabia's King Fahd ruled out any prospects for elections and, also, the idea of any woman being added to the council. "In elections," he said, "candidates require publicity for their campaigns and this could lead to negative campaigning, which is not approved in Islam."

They don't see how well the system works - The British Parliament took a brief break from the drive against workers' standard of living to vote themselves a 26 percent pay hike. Meanwhile, Labor Party honcho Anthony Blair found it "a frightening fact" that in the last election 2.5 million people eligible to vote for the first time didn't bother to do so.

Better to vote Tory than not vote, he declared.

Terrorists? - "The sophisticated radar system designed to warn pilots of dangerous wind conditions at Washington's National Airport has been down almost once a week on average since it started operating in January, the Washington Post reported. The same system has frequently been out of commission at other major U.S. airports." - News item.

We promise, no more - Besides the reported 17 million divorce settlement, Princess Diana will have a rent-free home and 400,000 in "office expenses." Plus access to the Royal Squadron and Royal Train. But, investment experts warn, if she doesn't earn some extra, in 50 years she'll be down to peanuts.

Thought for the week - "Some economists and social critics warn that Yeltsin must attend quickly to weaving a more durable safety net for the poor if Russian society is to maintain stability and be safe for private enterprise. Part of building capitalism, they say, is constructing a means to help the new class of poor it creates." - Los Angeles Times on growing Russian poverty.  
 
 
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