Finance : OTC derivatives fell sharply in second half of 2019, says BIS (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The notional amounts of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives - which determine contractual payments - declined significantly in the second half of 2019, to reach $559 trillion at end-2019, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has reported.

UN : World's poor hit by double jeopardy - COVID-19 & a debt burden (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The world's poorer nations, reeling under an unrelenting attack on their fragile economies by the COVID-19 pandemic, have suffered an equally deadly body blow: being buried under heavy debt burdens.

Libya : Enforced disappearances, hate speech & attacks on civilians - ICC (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday highlighted crimes against humanity and grave mismanagement of the law in Libya during a release of their latest report on the North African nation.

Health : COVID-19 deaths before a vaccine? (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
How many COVID-19 deaths will occur before a vaccine becomes available worldwide? As with many seemingly simple questions about an uncertain future, the proper answer to that important query is: "it depends".