Trade : US accused of abusing security exceptions in blocking telecom networks (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
China has accused the United States of abusing the national security exceptions by blocking "public telecommunications networks" from choosing the supporting technologies.

Opinion : Global economy still slowing, dangerously vulnerable (PRIV)
(IPS, Sydney/Kuala Lumpur)
Sydney/Kuala Lumpur, 18 Feb (IPS/Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram*) -- In an annual ritual early in the year, most major economic organizations have released forecasts for the global economy in 2020.

United Nations : As planet burns, one million species in danger of extinction (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
When UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the 193-member General Assembly last December, he focused on the smoldering climate crisis - pointing out that the last five years have been the hottest ever recorded.

Africa : Will Zimbabwe allow freedom of airwaves & freedom of speech too? (PRIV)
(IPS, Bulawayo)
Zimbabwe is making fresh commitments to open up its airwaves with government promising to issue licences to private television and community radio stations before the end of the year.