Trade : US threatens to hold "WTO reforms" hostage over panel requests (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The United States threatened at the World Trade Organization on Monday that it would hold the proposed "WTO reforms" a hostage to the invocation of dispute settlement panel proceedings by seven members against Washington's steel and aluminum tariffs imposed under the U S Section 232 security provisions.

Trade : US blocks seven panel requests over steel and aluminium duties (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
Requests for panel establishment by seven W TO members over the additional duties imposed by the United States under Secti on 232 of its trade law (on grounds of national security) on imports of certai n steel and aluminium products were blocked by the US at a meeting of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on Monday.

Latin America : Brazilians decide on a shift to the right at any cost (PRIV)
(IPS, Rio de Janeiro)
Voters in Brazil ignored threat s to democracy and opted for radical political change, with a shift to the extre me right, with ties to the military, as is always the case in this South American cou ntry.

Canada : Takes lead role funding reproductive health, women's rights (PRIV)
(IPS, Ottawa)
Canada, which has been described as one of the world's most progressive countries, has legitimized gay rights, vocifer ously advocated gender empowerment, offered strong support for abortion rights - and recently became the world's first major economy to legalize recreational marijuana.