WHO : Concerns remain on new "compromised medical products" mechanism (PRIV)
(Heba Wanis, Geneva)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) will establish an intergovernmental mechanism on compromised medical products though concerns remain over the role of the private sector and the modalities of the mechanism.

Development : Uniting against extreme poverty (PRIV)
(IPS, Paris)
When Louisamene Joseph Alionat unexpectedly began singing in a packed hall at the United Nations cultural agency here this week, it was an attempt to give encouragement to her peers engaged in the uphill battle of trying to end extreme poverty.

Portugal : Going underground in hard times (PRIV)
(IPS, Lisbon)
The underground economy in Portugal is booming thanks to the steep increases in taxation and prices demanded by a "troika" of international creditors to address the country's economic crisis.

Iceland : Recovering dubiously from the crash (PRIV)
(IPS, Reykjavik)
Three years ago, thousands of Icelanders were standing outside Iceland's parliament building chanting "incompetent government" in an attempt to bring down the conservative government that had been seen as responsible for the collapse of the country's banking system.

Guatemala : Rios Montt to stand trial for genocide (PRIV)
(IPS, Guatemala City)
After a hearing that lasted more than 11 hours, a Guatemalan court ordered the trial of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt (1982-1983), who could face up to 30 years in prison if he is convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Iraq : The ancient whither in new Iraq (PRIV)
(IPS, Basra)
"I'd say there are around 5,000 of us in the country, but if you ask me next week we may well be under 3,000. After twenty centuries of history in Mesopotamia, we Mandaeans, are about to vanish." Anxiety about the future of his people is more than evident in the figures given by Saad Atiah Majid, chairman of Basra's Mandaean Council.