Trade: Tensions rise as DG's role in WTO reform talks questioned (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
With ten days left for the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, several members appeared concerned about the way in which the WTO Director-General, in her role as chair of the Doha Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC), was exercising functions normally associated with the General Council (GC) chair following the marathon GC meeting last week, said people familiar with the development.

Trade: WTO rejects MC14 relocation amid doubts over Yaounde's readiness (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
With less than ten days to go before the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, concerns are mounting about Yaounde's readiness to host the event, despite the Organisation's insistence that arrangements remain firmly on track.

CBD: Resource mobilization talks avoid "elephant in the room" (PRIV)
(Lim Li Ching, London)
Discussions on resource mobilization at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have long been contentious and subject to persistent North-South divides. Yet, at a recent subsidiary body meeting, the most difficult issues were not on the formal agenda.