WTO : US proposals on dispute settlement reform could hurt smaller countries (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The United States, in a somewhat "hegemonic" manner, led members in creating rules for resolving global trad e disputes at the World Trade Organization 35 years ago, including the Appell ate Body as the final adjudicator based on the principle of negative consensus.

Finance : Africa, now squeezed to the bones (PRIV)
(IPS, Madrid)
As many as 45 African countries - out of t he continent's 54 nations -, all of them grouped in what is known as Sub-Sahar an Africa, have now been further squeezed to their bones, as funding shrinks t o the lowest ever levels, and as a portion of the so-called aid goes back to the pockets of rich donor countries.

Cuba : Biogas and biomethane will fuel development in municipality (PRIV)
(IPS, Marti)
The first five biomethane-fuelled buses i n the Cuban municipality of Marti will not only be a milestone in the country but will also represent a solution to the serious problem of transportation, while r educing emissions of greenhouse gases and bolstering local development.