Luanda/Rome - The Angolese President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos on Friday is not allowing foreign press to formal visiting ceremony by Pope Benedict XVI despite a previous agreement.

Vatican spokesman Padr Federico Lombardi announced that the Vatican would request an explanation from the Angolan ambassador in Rome.

Vatican journalists reported that only representatives of Angola's national media were allowed into the ceremonial visit by the pope.

Budapest  - Hungary's economy is set to shrink by 4 to 5 per cent this year, the head of economic think tank Kopint-Tarki said on Friday.

The economic research institute has issued increasingly grim forecasts over recent months as Hungary's economic gloom has deepened.

In December, the estimate was a contraction of 1.3 per cent, said Kopint-Tarki head Eva Palocz.

Sacramento - A tent city that sprang up in the California state capital of Sacramento and became a symbol of the country's desperate economic plight is to be closed within three weeks, the Sacramento Bee reported Friday.

Mayor Kevin Johnston said the plan was to move hundreds of the tent city residents to "safer, more sanitary" quarters and cordon off the pasture which they had called home.

Washington - With an eye to the nation's expanding waistlines and dwindling incomes, Michelle Obama is organizing a vegetable garden at the White House.

The spade was to be turned later Friday for the first such garden at the White House since the victory garden planted by Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II, media reports said.

Fifth graders from a local elementary school in Washington are to help plant, harvest and cook the vegetables, berries and herbs.

Moscow/Bishkek  - Kyrgyzstan's parliament on Friday set early presidential elections for July 23, timing that observers say hands the advantage to incumbent Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Bakiyev, who came to power on the back of popular protest dubbed the Tulip revolution in 2005, announced last month he would seek a second term.

The former hero of the revolution was elected to a four-year term, but that was amended in the constitution to five. But with the declaration last month that new elections should take place in 2010, Bakiyev sparked public debate on the question.

Finally, the suspense will-he-won’t-he ends?

Ha, but I wish people had asked me instead of speculating about my contesting the elections. I looked at my colleagues in politics and wondered why they were lobbying so hard for a ticket. Gairon se kaha tumne gairon se suna tumne kuch humse suna hota kuch humse kaha hota. I’d have happily given over my candidacy to anyone who asked for it. I didn’t come into politics to become rich or to gain power. I was influenced by the political ideology of Jaiprakash Narayan . I came into this field to practice healthy politics.

Isn’t ‘healthy politics’ a contradiction in terms?