This is the first time since the creation of World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 that a member of BRICS will be leading the organization. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff welcomed the development and stated, “For Brazil it is clear that, given his commitment and experience, he would be able to lead the organization toward a path of a fairer and more dynamic global economic order.” Azevedo has represented Brazil at the WTO since 2008. He will succeed the current French head of the body, Pascal Lamy from September this year. He defeated the rival candidate, former Mexican Trade Minister Herminio Blanco. Read more.

The Zimbabwe government has launched a food and nutrition security policy to address challenges brought by recurrent droughts experienced in the country. The food and nutrition security policy is also accompanied by an implementation plan, which highlights strategic objectives, key actions, outputs, outcomes and time frames. Speaking at the official launch of the document in Harare yesterday, Vice President Joice Mujuru, who is also the chairperson of the National Food and Nutrition task force, said the policy, whose origins date back to the 1993 drought, would guide the nation's response to the country's food and nutrition challenges in both good and bad seasons. Read more.
Source: The Herald

Collusion between political elites, civil servants and logging companies is systematically robbing people of their livelihoods, says a report (pdf) into corrupt forestry practices in Africa.

The extensive granting of "shadow permits" for small-scale logging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia, Ghana and Cameroon bypasses new laws and environmental safeguards, and is forcing communities to meet their timber needs illegally, says NGO Global Witness.

The report, Logging in the shadows, identifies a "hidden" pattern of abuse in which hundreds of permits intended to promote small businesses and meet local needs are being allocated to large, often foreign, logging companies. These "shadow permits" open the door to lucrative, large-scale logging operations, which bypass the oversight of the authorities, it says.

By Kofi Annan
Across Africa, oil, gas and minerals are being discovered more often than ever before. Nowhere is the global commodities boom being felt more acutely. Over the next decade, billions of dollars will flow into countries previously starved of financial capital. Used wisely, these natural resource revenues could lead to sustainable economic growth, new jobs and investments in health, education and infrastructure. But sadly, history teaches us that a more destructive path is likely — conflict, spiraling inequality, corruption and environmental disasters are far more common consequences of resource bonanzas. The cliché remains true: striking oil is as much a curse as a blessing. Read more.