Trade : Australia initiates dispute over Chinese duties on barley (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
Australia has initiated a dispute at the World Trade Organization over anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed by China on imports of barley from Australia.

Trade : Rules Chair issues second revised draft text on fisheries subsidies (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The chair of the Doha Rules negotiations, Ambassador Santiago Wills from Colombia, on 18 December issued, under his own responsibility, the second revised draft consolidated text on fisheries subsidies, ostensibly to capture the "progress" that members have made so far in the fisheries subsidies negotiations.

UN : The night Arafat, facing death threats, slept in UN chief's office (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The United Nations, which is commemorating its 75th anniversary, continues to remain bogged down in one of the world's most politically and militarily volatile regions: the Middle East.

El Salvador : San Salvador steps up battle against landslides and floods (PRIV)
(IPS, San Salvador)
The San Salvador volcano is a gift of nature for the inhabitants of the capital who live at its foot, a gigantic green lung that gives them oxygen and fresh air. But it is also a curse.

Note to Readers : Holiday Notice (PRIV)
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In view of the year-end recess in most UN activities and to enable the staff to have some rest, SUNS will not be published during the holiday period. The next issue #9261 will appear on 12 January. We wish all our readers best wishes for the season and a Happy New Year.