Trade : UNCTAD XII kicks off, with calls for action on food crisis (PRIV)
(Martin Khor, Accra)
UNCTAD XII has kicked off with a opening ceremony on Sunday afternoon and a high-level segment on Monday morning, both of which featured the political leaders of Ghana, Brazil and the Secretary General of the UN.

UNCTAD : Civil society calls for action on food and finance crises (PRIV)
(Riaz K Tayob, Accra)
Civil society groups have called for UNCTAD to take strong action to address the food, finance and economic justice crises. The groups have held a three-day Civil Society Forum (ending Saturday) preceding UNCTAD XII.

Agriculture : Another meet on 30 April, Chair warns of delay in revising text (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The Chair of the agriculture negotiations at the WTO said Friday that he would call another meeting on 30 April, in response to requests from members working on sensitive products, and tropical and preference products for more time to finish their work. But he cautioned that this would delay his next revision of the draft modalities text, previously envisaged for end April.

Africa : EU embarks on EPA charm offensive (PRIV)
(IPS, Brussels)
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.

Economy : Governments must act to replace oil, poll finds (PRIV)
(IPS, Washington)
Global public opinion believes that the world is running out of oil and that governments should be doing more to replace it as humanity's main source of energy, according to a major international survey released here Sunday by WorldPublicOpinion.org.

United States : Governors unite to cut emissions (PRIV)
(IPS, New Haven)
US state governors say that 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.

Paraguay : Historic elections end six decades of rule (PRIV)
(IPS, Asuncion)
Former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo was elected president in a landslide victory Sunday in Paraguay, putting an end to 61 years of rule by the Colorado Party.