Trade : Agriculture talks continue, while Green Room meets on rules (PRIV)
(Martin Khor, Geneva)
The WTO's agriculture talks continued in the small-group Room E format today with outstanding market access issues, including the treatment of in-quota tariffs in the morning and tropical products expected to be dealt with in the afternoon.

Finance : World Bank initiative will undermine global climate action (PRIV)
(Celine Tan, Warwick)
The World Bank will be holding a key two-day meeting in Washington DC next week to move forward plans to establish its proposed portfolio of climate investment funds (CIFs) projected at in time for the G8 summit in Japan in July.

Finance : From the IMF and World Bank, visions of gloom (PRIV)
(IPS, Washington)
The United States will fall into recession this year, dragging down global economic performance for the next two years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday.

Development : Food shortages an emergency - FAO chief (PRIV)
(IPS, New Delhi)
Jacques Diouf, director-general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), on Wednesday described spiralling food prices as an "emergency" that demanded concerted global attention.

Development : Declining level of aid "dangerous" (PRIV)
(IPS, Brussels)
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has described declining levels of development assistance from rich to poor countries as "dangerous".