United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on July 26 that he will urge Group of Eight (G8) nations to bolster efforts to combat disease, global poverty, climate change, the ongoing food shortage, Agence France-Presse reports (afp.google.com, 6/27).

At the upcoming G8 summit in Tokyo, to be held July 7-9, Ki-moon will ask world leaders to immediately address the global food crisis—suggesting a second green revolution to stimulate farm production—and to agree to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“I will also seek increased funding for specific programs relating to infant and maternal health, community health projects and disease control, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases,” he said.