WTO : GC chair proceeds with DG appointment process without "consensus" (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
After remaining silent on the appointment process for the next Director- General of the World Trade Organization (WTO ) at the General Council (GC) meeting last week, the GC chair, Ambassador Petter Olberg of Norway, said on 18 October that "the process for the selection of the Director- General is proceeding in full compliance with WTO rules", in resp onse to several questions posed by the SUNS.

Benefit-sharing : DSI draft decision ridden with gaps & uncertainties (PRIV)
(TWN, Cali)
Examination of the draft decision "Digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources" (CBD/COP/16/2) that will be conside red at the upcoming governing body meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Nagoya Protocol, uncovers a draft text unfit for deliveri ng fair and equitable benefit-sharing from the use of DSI.

US : Need for wider action to improve lives of persons with albinism & HPS (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
Wider action is needed to remedy glaring disparities affecting persons with albinism in access to services, includin g education, health and employment, in the United States mainland and Puerto Rico, according to a United Nations expert.