Trade : Continued "McKinseyization" of WTO Secretariat (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The much-vaunted reforms of the World Trade Organization's Secretariat as proposed by McKinsey & Company continue to be shrouded in secrecy. Apparently based on the recommendations made by the private management consultancy, plans are afoot to create two controversial divisions, namely, the "Planning & Strategy Unit" and the "Regional & Country Support Unit" to service the needs of the director-general whenever she visits any country, said people familiar with the development.

UN : Hundreds of millions of children sentenced to ignorance (PRIV)
(IPS, Madrid)
More than two-thirds of 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand a simple text.

Latin America : Cubans dream of once again drinking their daily cup of coffee (PRIV)
(IPS, Havana)
While the Cuban government's plans to increase production begin to bear fruit, Mireya Barrios confesses that she seeks every possible way to enjoy a cup of coffee every day, in the face of high prices and scarcity.