WTO: South fears two-tier system as reform facilitators face scrutiny (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Many countries are seemingly concerned that attempts to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO) could turn it into a two-tier body dominated by major sovereign nations, while relegating most developing and least-developed members to semi-sovereign status in pushing through the controversial reforms, according to people familiar with the development.

UN: El Nino may reach record intensity, with long-lasting global impacts (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the current El Nino could be unprecedented in strength, with sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific - the epicentre of El Nino - projected to reach 3.8 degrees C above average between November 2026 and January 2027, far above the 0.5 degrees C threshold used to declare an El Nino event.

UN: Afghanistan faces record hunger, mounting human rights abuses (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
In recent months, Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis has severely deteriorated, with the UN reporting record-high levels of acute malnutrition and hunger.