Ukraine cannot join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2005, the country’s acting economic minister said Tuesday. Sergei Terekhin said, “We have pessimistic forecasts regarding Ukraine’s accession to the WTO this year.” [Novosti]

In a tough warning to anti-globalization protesters, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee vowed to bar known troublemakers from entering Hong Kong during the World Trade Organization’s meeting in December, sparking fears that authorities are compiling a blacklist of WTO opponents. [The Standard]