WTO : Will DSS reform talks safeguard binding enforcement function? (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The facilitator overseeing the work on th e reform of the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement system (DSS) on 20 June presented a report on various aspects of the central issue concerning the "appeal/review" mechanism, which could replace the binding Appellate Body a nd thereby attenuate the "enforcement" function of the multilateral trade body , said people familiar with the development.

Climate : Impasse over mandate of the Mitigation Work Programme (PRIV)
(Radhika Chatterjee, New Delhi)
Countries were not able to find consensus on the way forward for the "Sharm-el-Sheikh mitigation ambition a nd implementation work programme" (commonly referred to as the Mitigation Work Programme [MWP]) at the recently concluded UNFCCC's 60th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB60) held in Bonn, Germany, from 3-13 June.

UN : Afghanistan beset by massive poverty, deepening humanitarian crisis (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
Humanitarian needs in Afghanistan remain alarmingly high, with more than 50 per cent of the population - some 23.7 m illion people - requiring humanitarian assistance this year, the third highest num ber of people in need in the world, according to the UN Office for the Coordinatio n of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).