United Nations : East Asian economies leading global trade recovery (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
Global trade recovered in the fourth quarter of 2020, reducing its overall decline for the year to about 9 per cent, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has said.

Africa : South Sudan needs to create a new, unique political system (PRIV)
(IPS, Bonn)
The threat of a full-blown civil war in South Sudan remains unless the country's leaders can broaden power sharing, warns a new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) released almost year into the country's formation of a government of national unity.

Myanmar : Faces increasing uncertainty as opposition to military coup grows (PRIV)
(IPS, Bangkok)
Myanmar is in a deep political crisis. Over the past week - reminiscent of the pro-democracy demonstrations of 1988 - Myanmar's citizens are openly and publicly challenging the country's powerful military, whose coup earlier this month now threatens to stifle the country's fledgling democracy.

Mideast : Is Turkey proof that religion and democracy cannot co-exist? (PRIV)
(IPS, New Delhi)
Over the years, Turkey has survived three coup d'etat in which its military forces took power, in 1960, 1971 and 1980.