Trade : WTO to end 2024 on a bleak note, amid DG appointment controversy (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The chair of the World Trade Organization 's General Council (GC), Ambassador Petter Olberg of Norway, on 16 October seemingly remained silent on the controversial issue of starting the select ion process for the appointment of the next Director-General based on his perce ption of "convergence" and not "consensus", despite several concerns raised by th e United States, said people familiar with the development.

UN : Two billion women & girls worldwide lack access to social protection (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
A staggering two billion women and girls worldwide are without access to any form of social protection, according to UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

UN : Concerns mount over continued displacement crisis in Sudan (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
The United Nations Office for the Coordinat ion of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed deep concern over people continuing to be displaced by conflict in several parts of Sudan.