United Nations : Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica appointed as UNCTAD SG (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The United Nations General Assembly on 11 June confirmed the nomination of Ms Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Trade : G7 leaders advance trade policies based on "us and them" framework (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized countries on 13 June advocated a hotchpotch of their "free and fair trade" priorities that includes creating a "modernized rule-book" to bring about a fundamental change in availing of special and differential treatment by developing countries and doing away with the consensus principle for arriving at decisions at the WTO.

Climate : South countries disappointed on lack of information on future finance (PRIV)
(Prerna Bomzan, Kathmandu)
Developing countries unanimously expressed their disappointment over the lack of predictability and clarity in the information provided on the financial support to be provided by developed countries post-2020, at a workshop held on 11 June, at the ongoing climate talks under the UNFCCC's subsidiary bodies (SBs).

Opinion : A staggering 160 million are victims of child labour (PRIV)
(IPS, Kathmandu)
Among the many daunting issues leaders of the G7 will have to discuss in their summit in idyllic Cornwall on June 11-13, child labour won't be on the official agenda.