Trade : Canada's John Gero expected to chair General Council (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
Ambassador John Gero of Canada is expected to chair the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) this year, according to trade diplomats.

Asia : "Poverty still has a woman's face" (PRIV)
(IPS, Manila)
Women and poverty still share an uncomfortable spot on the development matrix of countries across Asia-Pacific that are struggling to end deprivation, according to the newly launched third joint report of the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Europe : Fear of Mediterranean contagion grows (PRIV)
(IPS, Berlin)
The deep economic, fiscal, and trade crises of several Mediterranean countries in the euro zone is threatening monetary stability in Europe with the possibility of contagion spreading to developing countries, say studies.

Argentina : Agro-fuels rev their engines (PRIV)
(IPS, Buenos Aires)
In a measure that was delayed by supply problems, this year Argentina is beginning to require that gasoline be mixed with ethanol and diesel fuel with bio-diesel, at a proportion of five percent, to possibly reach 20 percent by 2015.

Cote d'Ivoire : Policy changes revive poultry industry (PRIV)
(IPS, Abatta)
Ivorian poultry producers are enjoying strong growth thanks to the imposition of a tax on imports of poultry products from the European Union and South America.

Europe : Fight female mutilation harder, activists urge EU (PRIV)
(IPS, Vienna)
With hundreds of thousands of girls and women believed to be at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Europe, rights groups have mounted a campaign to get EU leaders to stop what they see as a barbaric and dangerous procedure.