CLIMATE CHANGE: U.S. Backs Clean Energy – In Asia

The United States and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are joining forces to coax Asian nations to switch to cleaner forms of energy, in hopes of averting a predicted spike in carbon emissions by the world's fastest-growing region.

ENERGY-SRI LANKA: Solar Power Gets A Boost

There may be nothing new in a recent World Bank credit facility to provide electricity through renewable power to thousands of rural homes. But for the growing solar power sector here, it is a giant step in taking the industry forward.

CHINA: Food First, Not Fuel

A customary Chinese greeting from the years of rations and shortages - "have you eaten yet" - is being jokingly resurrected here as the public watches the prices of key staples, particularly pork, soaring by the day.

ECONOMY-IRAN: Fear of Sanctions Drives Petrol Rationing Plans

As Iran reluctantly begins implementing Thursday a plan to reduce consumption of mostly imported petrol by cutting massive consumer subsidies, it is with an eye to possible tightening of international sanctions for the country's controversial nuclear programme.

AFRICA: G8 Has Yet to Deliver on Aid Promises – World Bank

The industrialised nations of the Group of Eight are failing on the promises made in their previous summits to help Africa's economic development and to push for poverty alleviation for those struggling to survive on less than a dollar per day, say World Bank experts and development activists.

G8-BRAZIL: Guest Brings Biofuel Arguments to Summit

As a guest at the G8 summit this week in Germany, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will present arguments to convince the leaders of the world's eight richest countries of the importance of biofuels in the fight against global warming.

CUBA: Sugarcane – Source of Renewable Energy, But Not Ethanol

Like other Latin American countries, Cuba is focusing on the development of renewable energy sources. But unlike Brazil, a leader in biofuels, this Caribbean island nation has ruled out the production of ethanol fuel based on sugarcane, because of President Fidel Castro's opposition to using food crops to produce biofuel on a large scale.

DEVELOPMENT: G8 Makes Room at Table for Emerging Five

The five strongest developing countries - Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa - will have a place at the Group of Eight summit of the richest countries Jun. 6-8 in Heiligendamm, Germany, both as partners and as competitors of the industrialised world.

G8-AFRICA: Farm Subsidies a Taboo Subject?

In the preparations for this year's summit of the Group of Eight most industrialised countries, to take place Jun. 6-8 in the Baltic seaside resort of Heiligendamm, Germany, aid for Africa has topped the agenda. But the farm subsidy factor is likely to be avoided in the debate.

TRADE: U.S., China Reach Deal, Major Issues Remain

The United States and China agreed Wednesday at the close of high-level meetings that China will take steps to open its financial and other services markets - moves that still fall short of the many sweeping measures hawkish U.S. lawmakers have been calling for to narrow the U.S. trade deficit with the Asian nation.

TRADE: Rich Sideline Poor Countries’ Concerns in WTO Talks

As fresh attempts are made to clinch an agreement in the stalled Doha trade negotiations, industrialised countries have launched a concerted drive to set aside core concerns of the developing countries, say trade ministers and diplomats.

ARGENTINA: Privatised Railways – a Timebomb

A riot by commuters enraged over delays, who destroyed part of the busiest train station in Buenos Aires, has drawn attention to the profound crisis afflicting Argentina's privatised railways, which have severe shortcomings despite the huge subsidies they receive from the state.

BIODIVERSITY: Farming Will Make or Break the Food Chain

As the world population swells to nine billion by 2050, global biodiversity will be under extreme pressure unless new ways to grow food are developed, experts say.

CHINA: Headed for Trade Wars With US

Intensifying trade tensions between China and the United States are becoming increasingly politically charged, officials and businessmen here say, raising fears that the two countries may be heading towards a trade war.

CLIMATE CHANGE: EU Emissions to Rise, Despite Claims

One month after the European Union's leaders promised robust action against climate change, green campaigners have accused key EU bodies of implementing policies that will lead to increased emissions of greenhouse gases.

DEVELOPMENT: Biofuels vs Food Crops?

While South Africa is planning on increasing biofuels production some experts warn the move may hurt subsistence farmers and cause more hunger in impoverished areas of the country.

TRADE-KENYA: Farmers Ask Germany to Intervene in EPAs

Fears are high among Kenyan farmers that a new trade regime following a forthcoming deal between developing countries and the European Union (EU) may drive them deeper into poverty.

TRADE-AFRICA: Green Investment to Get Boost from New EU Fund

After years of promising a way to help Africa tackle climate change, the European Union has joined with the World Bank to attract foreign direct investment to the continent and help save the planet at the same time.

DEVELOPMENT-U.S.: Nestle Bottling Operations Court Controversy

As Nestlé shareholders gathered Thursday in Switzerland for their annual meeting, growing numbers of voices question the company's claims on spring water around the world and its effects on local communities.

ENERGY-SOUTH AMERICA: Leaders Overcome Impasse on Ethanol

The controversy over whether to put the accent on fossil fuels or biofuels was overcome by the presidents in the first South American energy summit with the assertion that the answer depends on each country's specific circumstances, and that the different national policies are complementary to each other, not contradictory.

ENVIRONMENT-BRAZIL: Hybrid Electric Vehicles – Better Than Ethanol

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are the best way to achieve a drastic reduction in greenhouse gases produced by vehicle exhaust fumes, until hydrogen-powered models become viable. They are even more environmentally-friendly than the use of biofuels.