TRADE-AFRICA: Conflicting Views Over EPAs in French Government

As it prepares to assume the presidency of the European Union in July one of the main issues on France’s agenda will be the economic partnership agreements (EPAs). But with less than three months to go, France’s official position concerning EPAs is still surprisingly unclear.

HEALTH-DR CONGO: Water Everywhere, But Is It Safe To Drink?

The rain falls in battering sheets, rolling eastward along the Congo River through Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is midday, but the sky turns black and soon the potholed streets of this decrepit yet vibrant metropolis are filled with pond-sized puddles, many of them larger than the cars that traverse them.

TRADE: UNCTAD Hears Gender Inequality Becoming Worse – and Better

The only way that the poor, particularly women, will benefit from all the efforts that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has put into improving global trade is to ensure that power inequalities are redressed.

TRADE-MALAWI: ”If EPAs Are So Good, Why Force Us to Sign?”

While the European Union (EU) has wanted a conclusion to the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) as soon as possible, the Malawian government has been staving off a deal.

DEVELOPMENT: Views Clash at UNCTAD Over What’s Best for Africa

‘‘Africa is not a basket case. The continent is just suffering from the effects of events that it has no hand in and cannot control.’’

PARAGUAY: An Injection of Hope

"This is an injection of hope," said Ricardo Cáceres, a resident of Asunción, celebrating the victory of former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo, who was elected president of Paraguay in elections that put an end to six decades of rule by the conservative Colorado Party.

DEVELOPMENT: Food for Thought on Earth Day

As Earth Day celebrations kicked off around the world last weekend, the event has evolved from teach-ins on park lawns into a multi-day media extravaganza replete with corporate sponsorship.

EUROPE: Trade Policy Backs Western Firms

The European Union is using trade policy to ensure that western firms enjoy considerable leverage over the economies of poor countries, a new report has alleged.

AGRICULTURE: Brazil Shares Technology with Africa

The people of Brazil have reason to believe that they are making a real contribution to reducing hunger and environmental threats in the world by developing agricultural technology that has begun to be shared with poorer countries.

AFRICA: Millions of Children Falling Through the Cracks

A significant proportion of the world's 2.2 billion children, many of whom are victims of violence, sexual abuse, labour exploitation and preventable diseases, are from the crisis-plagued African continent.

TRADE: Spain Extending Its Reach Into Africa

Spain has expanded its presence in Africa by recently signing trade agreements with Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The agreement with Egypt includes regular bilateral summits similar to Spain’s annual meetings with Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Both agreements will facilitate the entry of more Spanish companies into Africa.

TRADE: Rising Food Prices Could Affect WTO Talks

The rising food and fuel prices, with related social destabilisation, may necessitate a ‘‘course correction’’ in the liberalisation talks on industrial goods and agriculture, the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of nations told World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General Pascal Lamy at the end of last week.

TRADE: Lamy Pushes Ahead With Services Liberalisation

World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General Pascal Lamy announced at the end of last week that there will be a limited ministerial ‘‘signalling’’ conference on services trade chaired by himself.

TRADE: UNCTAD Meeting to Address Growth in Emerging Powers

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting currently underway in Accra, Ghana, takes place amid rising global fears that global financial turmoil and economic slowdown in the developed countries would affect economic growth in the developing world.

ASIA: Sliding Back Into Poverty as Rice Prices Spiral

Food prices are continuing to skyrocket throughout Asia, causing many governments to intervene to stabilise domestic rice prices for fear of acute shortages in the future and social unrest.

Q&A: "Between Implementation and Planning, There Is a Disconnect"

Accounting for about a third of the gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture clearly plays a significant role on the continent. But, figures only tell part of the story. A review of Africa produced under the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) notes that agriculture is also "woven into the fabric of most societies and cultures in the region."

CLIMATE CHANGE-US: Governors Unite to Cut Emissions

U.S. state governors say they are fed up with the George W. Bush administration's foot-dragging on climate change and will go ahead - and around - the White House to reduce greenhouse gases.

Q&A: "As a Woman Politician in Kenya, You Need to Think Out of the Box"

A coalition cabinet for Kenya was sworn in Thursday amidst mingled relief and exasperation on the part of those living in the East African nation: relief at the possibility of Kenya now being able to rebuild in earnest after post-election violence, and exasperation at the price tag attached to this hope.

ELECTIONS-PARAGUAY: Change – Catchword and Reality?

Sunday’s elections will mark a watershed in the history of Paraguay, where the "bishop of the poor" is front-runner in the polls and the ruling party is at risk of losing its hold on power for the first time in six decades.

NORTH KOREA: Facing a Famine

North Korea’s desperate need to feed its citizens has prompted a United Nations agency to warn of a ‘’humanitarian crisis’’ looming up in the months ahead.

TRADE-AFRICA: EU Embarks on EPA Charm Offensive

After attracting a steady flow of criticism for its handling of trade talks with Africa, the European Commission has gone on something of a charm offensive lately.