Trade : Breakthrough in GSTP talks, agreement on broad modalities (PRIV)
(Martin Khor, Accra)
Countries participating in the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) have agreed on a line-by-line 20 to 40 percent cut on tariffs, with the coverage to be at least 70% of their dutiable tariff lines.

Trade : African Ministers and CSOs in scathing attack on EPAs (PRIV)
(Riaz K Tayob, Accra)
Economic Partnership Agreements came under heavy attack from two African ministers who criticised the EPAs while many African NGOs called for their governments to reject and pull out of these free trade agreements with the European Union.

Latin America : From optimism to concern (PRIV)
(IPS, Santiago)
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) called on countries in the region Tuesday to take urgent measures to deal with the rising cost of food, which threatens to tip an additional 15 million people into extreme poverty.

Development : Food for thought on Earth Day (PRIV)
(IPS, San Diego)
As Earth Day celebrations kicked off around the world last weekend, the event has evolved from teach-ins on park lawns into a multi-day media extravaganza replete with corporate sponsorship.

Middle East : Carter's trip raises tenuous hopes (PRIV)
(IPS, Washington)
Last week, the Washington Post published an opinion editorial written by Mahmoud Zahar, in which the Hamas foreign minister lauded "the welcome tonic" of former US President Jimmy Carter to bring the militant Islamist group to the negotiating table.

United States : Vets' lawsuit opens door on suicides, poor care (PRIV)
(IPS, San Francisco)
The United States government does such a bad job of caring for wounded war veterans, advocates told a federal judge here Monday, that 18 veterans commit suicide every week.