Trade: Egypt calls for "special reform" after results of first round of DG race (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Washington DC)
Egypt has called for "special reform" of the procedures of the selection process for the appointment of the WTO director-general, after its candidate Mr Abdulhameed Mamdouh along with Mr Tudor Ulianovschi from Moldova and Mr Jesus Seade Kuri from Mexico were eliminated from the first round of the DG race.

Finance: Ministers meet to tackle COVID-induced debt & liquidity crisis (PRIV)
(Bhumika Muchhala, New York)
A unique virtual convention of Finance Ministers and high-level financial and economic policymakers on 8 September discussed the key macroeconomic challenges of sovereign debt, liquidity and financing to address the economic recession created by the current global pandemic.

UN: Syria's children remain at threat of rape and recruitment by army (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
Children in Syria are facing the brutal brunt of the ongoing civil war in the country, now further paralysed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and United States sanctions.

UN: Accessibility of vaccines & commitment to ceasefire - focuses for UNGA (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
Key focuses of the upcoming 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High Level Week will be the accessibility of vaccines and a renewed plea for a global ceasefire.