Trade : Services offers poor, in numbers and quality, says WTO official (PRIV)
(Chakravarthi Raghavan, Geneva)
'The situation is not very good", in the negotiations on market access in trade in services, and the "level of optimism" that was seen in September (at the last Special Session of the GATS Council where negotiations on services are taking place), a senior official of the WTO secretariat told the media Friday.

United Nations : South backs beleaguered UN chief (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The largest political group at the United Nations is expected to pledge its ''strong support'' to beleaguered UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose resignation is being demanded by right-wing newspapers and neo-conservative politicians in the United States.

Iraq : More US troops mean more trouble (PRIV)
(IPS, Washington)
The Pentagon's announcement this week that it is adding 12,000 more troops to the approximately 138,000 soldiers it already has in Iraq has put an abrupt end to the fleeting sense of triumph that followed November's ''victory'' by US marines who regained control of Fallujah, the main Sunni rebel stronghold.

United States : Soldiers seek asylum in Canada (PRIV)
(IPS, Montreal)
Canadian leaders, not the country's refugee system, should decide the fate of soldiers who have deserted the US military to apply for asylum in their northern neighbour, according to a support group.

Americas : Undocumented immigrants won't be home for Christmas (PRIV)
(IPS, Mexico City)
Every year, around two million Mexican and Central American immigrants living in the United States head back to their home countries for the holidays.

Europe : Turkey on a long and winding road (PRIV)
(IPS, Istanbul)
Turkey's controversial move towards European Union membership has drawn strong opposition within several member states, but a bigger obstacle now emerges by way of a tiny new member of the club - Cyprus.

Bolivia : Government up against the wall (PRIV)
(IPS, La Paz)
The Bolivian government is facing opposition from all sides, with Congress blocking its draft budget, and workers and community groups staging roadblocks, protests and strikes.