Trade : Proponents fail to respond to challenge over legal status of JSIs (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The leading proponents of the informal Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) have apparently failed to answer to the legal status of the JSIs as challenged by India and South Africa, in that the proposed JSIs on e-commerce, domestic regulation in services, MSMEs and investment facilitation would violate the WTO's fundamental rules as laid out in the Marrakesh Agreement, said people familiar with the development.

Argentina : Takes two to tango (PRIV)
(Alexander Kozul-Wright and Bhumika Muchhala, Geneva/New York)
After successfully restructuring $65 billion of foreign debt with private creditors last summer, Argentina's attention has turned to talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which kicked off in November 2020.

Myanmar : Protestors plea for help as analysts fear full military might (PRIV)
(IPS, Bangkok)
Myanmar activists have called on the international community for help as security forces loyal to the military continue their draconian sweep against the civil disobedience campaign that has brought the country to a standstill since the Feb. 1 coup.