Trade : MC12 to begin as scheduled despite COVID-19, says Kazakhstan official (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The World Trade Organization's 12th ministerial conference (MC12), scheduled to begin in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan, on 8 June, remains unchanged as of now, despite the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to several countries, a Kazakhstan trade official told the SUNS.

Trade : Brazil proposes quantitative approach for reducing fisheries subsidies (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Brazil has proposed a quantitative approach for reducing and limiting maritime fisheries subsidies along with other basic prohibitions for addressing overcapacity and overfishing, trade envoys told the SUNS.

United Nations : Coronavirus claims its first UN casualty (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The deadly coronavirus COVID-19, which is spreading across China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Italy, the Philippines - along with new cases in Asia, Western Europe and the Middle East - has claimed one of its first casualties at the United Nations.

Eswatini : Climate-smart agriculture means more time for women farmers (PRIV)
(IPS, Ngwempisi)
Aside from the seven hours Mantfombi Msibi (63) would spend daily during the Eswatini farming season planting, applying herbicides and weeding her 1.2-hectare maize field, she would also spend E1 750 ($125) on tractor services.

Lebanon : What's needed for real changes for women in politics? (PRIV)
(IPS, Keserwan)
Women were at the forefront of Lebanon's 2019 "October Revolution".