AFRICA: “Everything but Arms Deal Doesn’t Benefit Enough People”

The Everything but Arms trade initiative, which provides preferential treatment to poor countries, benefits only a limited range of people in the target populations. It should also be expanded to more countries, civil society organisations say.

Q&A: “Latin America Faces an Environmental Emergency”

The Latin American economy based on exploitation of natural resources does not create social well-being and is unsustainable in the context of climate change, says Uruguayan Eduardo Gudynas, lead researcher at the Latin American Centre for Social Ecology (CLAES).

WEST AFRICA: New Cocoa Agreement Is a Sweet One, Producers Say

The new international cocoa agreement will provide a positive shake-up in the cocoa market and ensure better prices for stakeholders, including small farmers.

AFRICA: Cautionary Notes Sounded as South-South Trade Booms

An Indian textile engineer and entrepreneur called Raj Rajendran visited Rwanda in 1999. He was tasked to close down an unviable textile factory following the civil war. But he discovered propitious agro-climatic conditions, particularly volcanic soil -- ideal for the rearing of silk worms to produce raw silk.

ECONOMY: “G20 Meeting Should Address Plight of Poorest States”

The Group of 20 should show its concern about those that the global economic crisis "is leaving behind" by putting the plight of least developed countries on the agenda at its meeting later this month.

Q&A: “Militarisation of Zimbabwe’s Diamond Fields Continues”

Almost a year after a review mission of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) found Zimbabwe guilty of "serious non-compliance" with the scheme’s minimum criteria on conflict diamonds, the militarisation of the southern African country’s diamond mining operations continues.

Q&A: Can Democracy Survive the “Oil Curse” in Africa?

Africa’s economic boom, driven by oil, has undermined the idea that democracy is a prerequisite for economic development on the continent.

CHINA: To Congo, With Trouble

A massive barter deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo trumpeted by China as a showcase of its "win-win" strategy in Africa has been hit by charges of corruption, a court case, and a barrage of western criticism. The surprise onslaught is causing Beijing to suspect a plot to undercut its expanding presence in the resource-rich continent.

ENERGY: Eskom Loan “Will Help” South Africa’s Poor Neighbours

The 3.75 billion dollar World Bank loan for a new coal-fired power station in South Africa is essential for economic growth in neighbouring low income countries, according to Dr Mohamed Abdelrahman, energy advisor for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a programme of the African Union.

ENVIRONMENT-NIGER: French State-Owned Company “Poisoning” Poor

Recent research by Greenpeace suggests that French state-owned company Areva’s public claims of decontamination of populated areas near uranium mines in Niger are false. High radio-activity persists in towns and rural areas near the mines, affecting some 80,000 people.

TRADE-BRAZIL: Commodities Rule in Exports to China

China took over from the United States as Brazil's top market in 2009, indicating a qualitative change for exports from the South American giant, which is increasingly dependent on sales of commodities and food.

CULTURE-INDIA: Globalised Ice Cream Please, Big Scoop

"Passport Please." That's what everyone thought they'd ask if you queued up at that exclusive new ice cream shop in one of those smart new malls of fashionable south Delhi.

TRADE: “Development More Important than Quick Conclusion of Doha”

Governments expressed the will at the seventh ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to finish the Doha Round of trade negotiations as soon as possible. But the Africa Group still deems development to be a more important priority than a speedy conclusion.

CLIMATE CHANGE: The Danish Example

Whether a new internationally binding treaty to reduce greenhouse gases and forestall climate change will be signed next month remains to be seen. What is clear though, is that if there is a place in the world that deserves to be the stage where this treaty ought to be signed, it is the Danish capital of Copenhagen.

BRAZIL: Green Beans to Go, Roast Coffee Grounded

For over a century and a half, Brazil has led the world in green coffee bean production and exports, without ever achieving similar success with processed beans. Some of the internal and external hurdles reflect the dilemma of reliance on agricultural commodities for export revenue.

Q&A: “One Can’t Work 18 Hours a Day and Still be Poor”

Given the billions of dollars and euros that the U.S. and EU spend on trade-distorting support measures and the intractable lobby groups demanding these subsidies, these rich states’ promises to reduce such amounts will come to nought. It makes no sense for poor African states to allow these goods to flood their markets.

AGRICULTURE-KENYA: Finally, a Windfall for Tea Farmers

Despite the sweltering sun and with a heavy load on her back Mary Muthoni strides to the tea buying centre with joy and pride painted on her face. "This is a different year," she smiles, hurriedly greeting other women farmers at the centre. For them, the story is the same: blessings in times of calamity.

TRADE-SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Rice Tariffs Snarl ASEAN Single Market

Rice, the staple dish across South-east Asia, has emerged as an apt symbol of the region’s commitment – or lack of it – to unveiling a free trade area for its 10 members when the New Year dawns.

Q&A: Small Sugar Farmers Not so Sweet on End of Sugar Protocol

The Sugar Protocol enabling developing world sugar farmers to produce for the European market over the past 34 years ended on Sep 30. Among these, the small island state of Mauritius built two major industries -- tourism and textile and clothing – on the back of its sugar sales.

DRC: Electricity Lines Overhead But Never Seen a Light Bulb

"We produce electricity but we manage darkness. We have big energy sources of electricity but only 20 percent of the population has access to electricity because most of the energy is sold to foreign countries."

RIGHTS-CHILE: Mapuche Activist’s Death Heats Up Conflict

The lack of opportunities for dialogue and participation and the struggle for control over land and natural resources in Chile are hurdles to a solution to the Mapuche Indians' century-long conflict, which claimed a new victim this week: a 24-year-old activist shot by the police while taking part in an occupation of land claimed as indigenous territory.