Trade : Rules Chair accelerates fisheries talks to reach deal by 20 December (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Notwithstanding the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic as well as substantive differences in the revised draft text on fisheries subsidies, the chair of the Doha Rules negotiations has accelerated the negotiations on fisheries subsidies to reach an agreement by 20 December that may result in a skewed outcome contrary to the mandate outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14.6, trade envoys said.

Finance : World Bank urges governments to guarantee private profits (PRIV)
(IPS, Kuala Lumpur/Sydney)
Kuala Lumpur/Sydney, 24 Nov (IPS/Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Anis Chowdhury*) -- The World Bank has been leading other multilateral development banks (MDBs) and international financial institutions to press developing country governments to "de-risk" infrastructure and other private, especially foreign investments.

Opinion : How UN helped Benin become world's fastest place to start a business (PRIV)
(IPS, Geneva)
Until recently, Benin was best known for its cotton exports and its vibrant clothing designs. Since this year it is also the fastest place in the world to start a company.