News stories by Gustavo Capdevila, page 5

The first step towards a massive global health prevention mechanism, under which billions of people around the world could be vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza virus – while a handful of transnational pharmaceutical corporations raked in the profits – was taken Tuesday parallel to the World Health Assembly.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Margaret Chang issued a warning about the danger posed by the H1N1 flu epidemic, while health ministers from several countries recommended avoiding excesses when it came to remarks about a potential pandemic.

The new U.S. administration’s first appearance on the WTO scene demonstrated 'a willingness to engage in dialogue, and greater openness,' but in substance 'it did not show major differences with the past,' said one negotiator, commenting on U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk’s visit to this Swiss city.

The United Nations racism conference regained its momentum Tuesday with the approval of the final declaration, leaving behind the unpleasantness of the first day, when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a divisive opening speech.

The United Nations racism conference, trapped from its rocky start between the caution of Western countries and the inflamed speech of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could still avoid failure, say independent experts.

The United Nations anti-racism conference will begin next Monday in a climate of uncertainty, despite last-minute diplomatic negotiations that managed to iron out differences that separated at least two blocs: Western and Muslim states.

Former Costa Rican president Rodrigo Carazo (1978-1982) said that at times of global recession, economies like that of his country, dependent on what he called 'dessert' exports - like bananas or coffee - would be hit the hardest because they are among the first products people stop buying when money gets tight.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticised Russia and Georgia Tuesday for using cluster bombs during their week-long conflict in August, in a statement apparently also directed at a coalition made up of Brazil, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea and the United State, which want to continue producing and exporting the lethal weapons.

United States diplomats are back in force at the U.N., after having distanced themselves from the world body for several years. This week they contributed to successful mediation between Georgia and Russia, although they did not help resolve a stalemate on gay rights.

The United Nations Human Rights Council report on the status of human rights in Cuba reflected solid support for Havana from an ample majority of countries, but also took note of objections raised by a smaller number of governments.