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Was London's Sunday Times one of the papers to complain about the size of the UK delegation?

Well, they've got four reporters here, I learned tonight. Hope their coverage is good the day after tomorrow!

The comments are buzzing - marvellous (number of posts still beats number of comments, but you're catching up fast).

To come tonight or first thing tomorrow - a letter to the UK delegation from their younger counterparts, a few snippets about Norway, and an interview with the head of Friends of the Earth, England.

And tomorrow, we're off marching again (remember last time?)...

David King, UK chief scientist spoke today about the rich world's habit of cherry-picking developing country talent (see his comments on GMOs and famine here).

The US, he said, has a deliberate policy of making up its skills deficit by offering a green card to anyone taking a PHD in the States.

The Chinese and Indians are becoming more relaxed about this practice, as they try to poach scientists back once they have 20 years' experience. Other developing countries, however, are less able to keep scientists, or to encourage them to return.

His remarks open up a deeper issue. We have see liberalisation in the movement of goods and capital, but not labour - which is where the third world is most competitive.

South African Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma complained bitterly about the West's use of selective quotas at the summit's opening press conference - and this issue is set to rise up the agenda as the population ages across the developed world.

Daily Summit is wondering whether it has underestimated Friends of the Earth's corporate accountability campaign (see here and here).

FoE has just told us that the South Africans remain enthusiastic and the G77 is "coming around" (though wording on "human rights, environment and labour standards" will be the price for G77 support).

The next target is the Europeans, where there are two points of resistance - the European Commission and the Germans. The Commission is taking instructions from Brussels, but it can be overruled by national ministers. Even the German delegation may be split - with the Economic Affairs Ministry thought to be the main sticking point.

So what are they promoting? Two paragraphs. The first envisages the "development" of international initiatives on corporate responsibility and accountability"; the second, a mechanism for formally reviewing public/private partnerships.

Daily Summit still thinks there's zero chance of the US and Japan budging, and we'll still be pretty surprised to see the EU come out in favour…

In the news Tony Blair travels tomorrow. Breakthrough on trade. Pressure is building to come up with agreements before leaders arrive. Though there are signs that agreement is not far away, talks may continue through the weekend. EU says ministers, not diplomats, should make key decisions. Bush is interested in Africa, honest. Tightening up legislation on biopiracy. Showdown expected with protestors tomorrow. FT says implementation is the key to success. The shortcomings of sustainability.

Thanks for the link to UK Environment, On the Third Hand, Runtime Later, Molly Zero, Wittgenstein, Peter Huesken, MLWebblog, No Logo, Kvue.com, Massive and Metafilter

"This building has become a dangerous zone - we are in arm twisting mode," according to Greenpeace, at an ongoing NGO press conference. "Japan is doing the United States's dirty laundry. Japanese officials are telling ministers from developing countries that it is willing to accept the target on sanitation, only if the condition on renewable energy is removed."

Daily Summit has been predicting that the US and Japan were holding out on water as a bargaining chip as the negotiations hit their final phase…and now it seems to be happening. The renewable energy target is now dead, in our opinion, as even the EU is losing its appetite for battle in this area.

The South African Trade Minister, Alec Irwin, an NGO hero earlier in the week because of his support for rules on corporate accountability, is now not so popular. He is supposed to be convening a meeting in a few hours which may kick the "precautionary principle" out of the summit text.

Overall NGO stance: this summit has been taken over by trade.

Africa is currently suffering a famine. America is prepared to help - but only by sending genetically-modified food stuffs to affected countries. It's an issue that raises passion on both sides.

"It's not just the US exporting these foods," Andrew Natsios, head of USAID, told us yesterday. "If you buy South African maize, you're eating biotech maize. France and Germany also plant biotech corn, though not in huge quantities. We export our biotech soy beans to Europe and they've been eating them for five years with no problems."

Zambia has refused to accept any GM food and, today, Daily Summit spoke to a Zambian smallholder, Robert Kenda Chimambo, who supports his 12 people on his farm at "just above subsistence level."

He was once richer, he says, but structural readjustment policies in 1991 led to falls in agricultural incomes and rises in prices for inputs. "I have to pay twice as much for fertiliser and seed." he says.

Mr Chimambo believes that these polices have caused the famine and is angry that Zambia should be asked to import GM food. "The Germans, British and French won't eat GM food - so why should we?" he says. "I would rather starve than eat GM food."

The Zambian government's scientific adviser justifies the decision to refuse GM food aid.

"The scientific community is divided on the issue," Dr Lewanika says, "so we used the precautionary principle. Besides, if we allow in GM food aid, then some people are sure to sell it for planting in the next season and then we will never be free from it."

The government is now trying to import non-GM food, with China winning African friends by offering to help. The crisis point will be reached early next year and Dr Lewanika is confident that disaster will be averted.

Daily Summit asked the UK's chief scientific adviser, David King, about the issue and he was critical of the US's "gung ho" approach.

"You have to respect people's views," he said, "though if someone is actually starving and you offer them GM food, I am sure 99.999% of people would accept."

The Economic Commission for Africa, however, will be releasing a pro-GM report later today. In advance of the publication, its director, Dr Patrick Asea, described Zambia's stance as "short sighted" and its use of the precautionary principle as a luxury.

"Biotechnology is the only way out of poverty for Africa, where 70% of people are farmers," he told us, "most of whom are still using incredibly basic farming methods. African farmers suffer extreme weather conditions and very poor soil. Household incomes will only go up when we have more sturdy varieties of the crops."

Dr Asea criticised the decline of donor investment in agriculture. "Crops that matter to Africans, such as yams, cassava and millet, are not receiving investment," he said. "We call them the orphan crops."

In the news  pessimism from the Scotsman. Canadian warns on GM crops. Britain running out of gas? Summit causes real estate bonanza. Poor/rich divide comes to a head in the energy debate. Two 'enemies' make peace. Fatigue hits journalists. The debate is set to sharpen when the leaders fly in next week. Blair is to push for alternative energy.

The British media is restless after Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, gave an interview to Geoffrey Lean of the Independent.

The British delegation had been adamant that Mr Prescott would have no contact with the press at the summit and journalists are complaining about a stitch-up. The UK has previously won much praise for its handling of the press, but relationships are more frosty this morning…

We're promised an all night session here as the EU ups the pressure to try and force an agreement.

Until now, discussion of contentious issue has mostly been carried out in small contact groups, where officials meet with other officals.

Now, the EU wants all the issues under dispute bundled together for discussion by ministers. However, it met considerable resistance when it pushed for this approach late last night, and a period of chaos seems to have ensued.

Most official delegates still seem confident of agreement, but the clock is ticking and the atmosphere in Sandton is noticeably more tense this morning.

The EU has a list of 14 areas where it wishes to see considerable movement. To the Daily Summit's untutored eye, it seems like a worryingly long list.

The areas are: the Rio Principles, good governance, human rights, world solidarity fund, sanitation, energy, sustainable development and consumption, natural resources, climate change, globalisation, the social dimensions of partnerships and global public goods.

One Daily Summit source suggested that, although there still seemed to be plentiful political will, the negotiating team are facing difficulties because of the sheer amount of work to be done - much of this work, of course, should have been done at the final preparatory meeting in Bali.

In the news there is the good US and the bad US. Pressure increases on famine striken countries to accept GM aid. Mining takes a front seat today. Emirates offer $1 million for environment pioneers. 20,000 police are to keep a check on tomorrow's demonstrations. The loss of seed banks is a serious threat to biodiversity. More on the dispute over business rules.

"Castro, Gaddafi, Mugabe and Blair -  there goes the neighbourhood!" a billboard for a South African radio station's coverage of the Summit.

For some reason this article from the London Times is still on your correspondent's mind...

Today's Earth Negotiations Bulletin reports that global targets on renewable energy may be junked in favour of a much looser framework of local and national targets.

Daily Summit has also heard this rumour. The EU has been a champion of a global target, with the US, Australia, Japan and the OPEC countries among many opponenets.

We also hear that the EU fears it is fighting a losing battle and may be prepared to give on this issue in for return for other concessions...

Always at the beginning of the week, we're getting lots of new visitors. So welcome and thanks for coming. If you like the site, do us a favour and pass word on to your friends - they've got a few days to get here before the summit's over. And do hit the comments link below each post, we're going through the pain barrier here (bad food, long days, little sleep!).

Here's a quick catch up from the past few days:

Daily Summit's been online for a month now. Last Friday, we reported greenwash, Zimbabwe and Lomborg. Saturday, we interviewed Naomi Klein and were fired on by the police. Sunday, we were at Nasrec, the People's Earth Summit - and listening to the UN give its opening press conference.

On Monday, we caught up with Tech Central Station, posted an eye-popping statistic on abortion, and introduced partnerships. Tuesday, it was agricultural subsidies, the restless media and Ronald Bailey. Wednesday, Ambassador Ashe, the US position, targets, views of development and plastic chairs. And yesterday, Jeff Sachs, leaked Friends of the Earth documents, an endless series of the US press office, and rude words about ecobabes.

On top of that, articles on blogging, population growth, and how the Besutho people of Lesotho and the hawkers of Joburg are coping with the challenges of development. We've interviewed Shahida Jamil, Michael Dorsey, Jane Goodall and Matt Thomas - and heard from the entrepreneurial Tladi John Ndlovu about what he wants...