Trade: US again extends Appellate Body paralysis amid DSS reform talks (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The United States on 23 June blocked for the 98th time a request from 130 members at the World Trade Organization to expeditiously fill the vacancies at the Appellate Body to make it operational again - a development that seems to suggest that Washington could adopt intransigent positions on bringing about comprehensive reform of the WTO's dispute settlement system (DSS), said people familiar with the development.

Trade: Conflicting US-Iran narratives on nuclear deal and sanctions relief (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The United States and Iran on 23 June offered conflicting narratives on the role accorded to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding inspections of nuclear sites in Iran, as well as the use of unfrozen funds - estimated at tens of billions of dollars - that belonged to Tehran.

Climate: Progress on just transitions but real test lies at COP31 (PRIV)
(Hilary Kung, Kuala Lumpur)
The Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) was among the first agenda items concluded during the recently ended 64th sessions of the UNFCCC's Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) in Bonn, Germany.