Trade : US-China trade deal could throw WTO into uncharted waters (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
As the world's two largest economies, the United States and China, zero in on a "trade agreement" that is likely to b e signed by end-March, a new normal is being established for resolving bilateral tra de disputes. This has the potential to throw the World Trade Organization into uncharted waters.

United Nations : The misconceptions of contraception (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
In light of rates of sexuall y transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies, governments are exploring ways to tackle taboos around condoms.

Brazil : Violence fuels mobilisation by women against government (PRIV)
(IPS, Rio de Janeiro)
Crime, a key issue in far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's election in Brazil, has a dimension that is gain ing in visibility and could turn against his government - gender violence.

Caribbean : Saving for a "rainy day" takes on new meaning (PRIV)
(IPS, Kingstown)
In the tiny eastern Caribbean na tion of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, proverbs relating to the weather are ver y common.

Health : Leprosy detection with a personal touch (PRIV)
(IPS, Manila)
Jennifer Quimno could put anyone at ease. So when she travels across the Philippines as part of peer to peer programme t hat helps identify new leprosy cases, people generally allow her to examine the m.

Opinion : Education key to gender equality in Asia & the Pacific (PRIV)
(IPS, Bangkok)
Equal rights have been demanded and promised for generations, but last year a shift occu rred in the women's movement.