The international community has pledged $500 million (half of it from the World Bank) to help the recovery effort in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in Asia. But what exactly is half a billion dollars in today's global economy? Let's have a look.

Four wide-bodied Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner jets [Turkish Press]

Dubai Bazaar [AME Info]

A wireless network in India [Channel News Asia]

Capitol bond program for Oklahoma Higher Education [Channel Oklahoma]

About half of the Scottish Parliament building which cost 500 million, in pounds [The Scotsman]

For more perspective: the US has pledged $35 million, which is how much it spends in Iraq every 7 hours. Donate: Red Cross.

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