Trade : Descent into the "abyss of lawlessness" at the WTO? (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The World Trade Organization has put out on its official website "five best wishes for WTO members in 2022", in a blog written by one of its deputy director-generals, in what appears to be a dangerous attempt to "cross the Rubicon" in a member-driven, rules-based, inter-governmental organization.

United Nations : Global food prices fall slightly in December, says FAO (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The international prices of a basket of key agricultural food commodities fell slightly in December, mainly driven by significant falls in the international prices of vegetable oils and sugar, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has said.

United Nations : Plea to save Afghanistan from full-blown humanitarian crisis (PRIV)
(IPS, Geneva)
United Nations agencies have asked for a record USD 4.4 billion in aid for Afghanistan to avert a full-blown humanitarian crisis that could see hunger, distress, and death and a mass exodus of people from the country.

Latin America : Discriminatory sexual violence laws stigmatize victims of abuse (PRIV)
(IPS, Washington DC)
Across Latin America and the Caribbean there is a culture of impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence.