Agriculture : February talks "very productive and constructive", says Chair (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
A two-week negotiating session on agriculture, held from 1-12 February, was "very productive and constructive", according to the chair of the negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ambassador David Walker of New Zealand.

Climate : Chinese PM reaffirms primacy of UN for climate negotiations (PRIV)
(Chee Yoke Ling, Beijing)
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has reaffirmed his country's stand that international climate change negotiations should take place under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol.

United States : Telecom lobby tests pledge of transparency (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
Despite President Barack Obama's pledge in his State of the Union address last month to "require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client with my administration or Congress," the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) says the Obama administration has been "fighting hard to stop the release of the names of these representatives."

Yemen : Clinton hails ceasefire, but aid concerns remain (PRIV)
(IPS, Washington)
The ceasefire announced late last week between Yemen's government and Houthi rebels in the northern part of the country is being greeted here as an important initial step toward stabilising the Arab world's poorest country and reversing advances by al Qaeda's affiliate there.

Uruguay : Making the secret shame of illiteracy a thing of the past (PRIV)
(IPS, Montevideo)
"Excuse me, I forgot my glasses, could you tell me what that sign says?" This was one of the ruses commonly used by Juan Gomez, who was too embarrassed to admit that at the age of 77, he had never learned to read or write.