Trade : Last NAMA meeting held before issuing of new text (PRIV)
(Martin Khor, Geneva)
The final meeting of the NAMA negotiating group before the issuing of a new modalities draft was held at the WTO on Monday, with the Chair of the group stating that differences in positions were the same as before, and that the negotiations desperately need a meeting of senior officials "as we are not near to a close yet."

Finance : G24 Ministers on finance crisis, IMF reform and climate change (PRIV)
(Martin Khor, Geneva)
Ministers of the Group of 24, which represents many developing countries at the IMF and World Bank, issued a communique during the Spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank, which called on developed countries to help developing countries cope with the spillover effects of the credit crisis.

Development : Global hot spots of hunger set to explode (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
As food prices continue to escalate worldwide, some of the poorest nations in the developing world are in danger of social and political upheavals.

Development : Re-inventing agriculture (PRIV)
(IPS, Johannesburg)
The results of a painstaking examination of global agriculture are being formally presented Tuesday with the release of the final report for the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD).

Europe : Scientists ask EU to drop biofuel targets (PRIV)
(IPS, Brussels)
Scientists tasked with advising the European Union's policy-makers have called for a target on promoting the greater use of biofuels to be dropped.

Italy : New government asked to deliver on development (PRIV)
(IPS, Rome)
Civil society groups are asking the new Italian leadership to prioritise official development aid. Italy's credibility is at stake, they say.