Trade : DG race being advanced, in alleged violation of WTO rules (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The chair of the World Trade Organization 's General Council, Ambassador Petter Olberg of Norway, apparently moved rathe r quickly to consider the incumbent Director-General's communication that he received on 16 September seeking "reappointment" for a further term of offi ce, which has never been done by any previous General Council chair since 2002, said people familiar with the development.

Trade : WTO dispute settlement reform discussions need more transparency (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The ongoing discussions on reforming the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement system appear to be increasin gly propelled by the Secretariat/co-convenors instead of member-driven negotiat ions on several elements of the crucial appeal/review mechanism, said people fam iliar with the development.

UN : Humanitarian crisis unfolds as devastating floods sweep Nigeria (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has warned of a "crisis within a crisis" in Nigeria, as heavy rains have ravaged 30 of the country's 36 states.