Trade : US opposed to investment facilitation discussions at G20 (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Attempts to finalize a non-binding outcome on investment facilitation at the meeting of G20 officials of the Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) in Berlin suffered a major setback after the United States vehemently opposed any discussion on investment at this juncture, trade envoys told SUNS.

Development : Economic recovery crucial to sustainable development (PRIV)
(Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Sydney/Kuala Lumpur)
Sydney/Kuala Lumpur, 11 Apr (IPS/Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram*) -- More than eight years after the global financial crisis exploded in late 2008, economic growth remains generally tepid, while ostensible recovery measures appear to have exacerbated income and other inequalities.

United Nations : Developing nations call for new trust fund on forest protection (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The Group of 77 is calling for the creation of a new and dedicated Trust Fund for the implementation of the UN's strategic plan on forests for the period 2017-2030.

United Nations : World must act now on Lake Chad Basin crisis - FAO DG (PRIV)
(IPS, Rome)
Food assistance is a priority and the only way to prevent the crisis from worsening in the Lake Chad Basin is to support food production, according to Jose Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Latin America : Fishing village fights iron mine in northern Chile (PRIV)
(IPS, La Higuera)
In Punta de Choros, a hidden cove on Chile's Pacific coast, some 900 fishers do not yet dare celebrate the decision by regional authorities to deny the Dominga port mining project a permit due to environmental reasons.