Trade : Renewed JSI efforts to extend e-com duties moratorium to services (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The facilitators of the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) group on electronic commerce have stepped up their efforts to "parachute" into the World Trade Organization an agreement on extending the current moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions to services.

COVID-19 : Time for cushioning most vulnerable in Southeast Asia (PRIV)
(IPS, Bangkok)
After decades of impressive growth, for the first time, Southeast Asia is experiencing a drop in measured human development.

UN : Food security threats - now a warning and later may be too late (PRIV)
(IPS, Rome)
Recent world reports confirm that the goals set by the international community to end poverty and hunger, and create a more balanced, sustainable and fair world by 2030, are currently in danger.

Myanmar : Protection bill falls short of addressing violence against women (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
A legislation that aims to protect women against violence in Myanmar, while long overdue, is raising concern among human rights advocates about its inadequate definition of rape, vague definition for "consent", and anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-gender rhetoric.