Trade: China hits back as US escalates sanctions threat amid Iran standoff (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Yerevan)
China on 16 April hit back against threats of illegal sanctions, including reversing decisions to allow oil to be sold by Iran and Russia - as proposed by the United States Treasury Secretary - in what appears to be a desperate attempt to force Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow to fall in line with Washington's "hegemonic" posture, media reports have suggested.

Haiti: UN allocates $140 million in urgent aid as humanitarian crisis worsens (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
The United Nations has allocated $140.5 million in emergency funding to support one million people in Haiti, where escalating gang violence, mass displacement and deepening food insecurity have pushed more than half the population into humanitarian need.

Rights: Online university throws a lifeline to Afghan women (PRIV)
(IPS, Kabul)
Ever since childhood, Khatera's (not her real name) dream was to study medicine at university and become a doctor.