Trade: US NO to Cotton-four, but China-India welcome proposal (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The United States on Friday struck a body blow to the four poorest countries (C-4) - Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad - in West Africa, rejecting their demand for a decision on substantial cuts in cotton subsidies by 70 per cent, at the upcoming World Trade Organization's eleventh ministerial meeting (MC11) in Buenos Aires, trade envoys told SUNS.

Climate: Conundrum over process for selection of GCF permanent trustee (PRIV)
(Indrajit Bose, New Delhi)
The Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) faced a conundrum over the selection process for the permanent trustee of the Fund at its most recent 18th meeting, held in Cairo, Egypt, from 30 September to 2 October.

Development: Women pivotal to addressing hunger, malnutrition and poverty (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The 16th of October marks World Food Day, a reminder to the international community of the criticality of treating food security as a 21st Century priority if sustainable development, peace and security and the realisation of human rights are to be achieved.

United Nations: Up to 100 million girls unprotected against child marriage (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
Over 20,000 girls are married before the age of 18 every day around the world as countries continue to lack legal protections, according to a new study.