Trade : WTO DG tasks DDGs to deliver on controversial, non-mandated issues (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The developing and least-developed countries seem concerned over the inclusion of non-mandated issues such as "labour issues", "industrial subsidies", "level-playing field issues", and the controversial Joint Statement Initiatives among others in the list of "deliverables" prepared by the WTO Director-General Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her new deputy director-generals to deliver in the run-up to MC12 to be held in Geneva in end-November, said people familiar with the development.

Labour : Number of migrant workers rises to 169 million, says ILO (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The number of international migrant workers totaled 169 million globally in 2019, an increase of 5 million migrant workers, or 3.0 per cent, since 2017, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has said.

UN : Major differences vex talks on assessment of new genetic technologies (PRIV)
(Lim Li Ching, London)
Discussions on the assessment of new genetic technologies, such as synthetic biology and organisms containing engineered gene drives, at the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) have brought to light major differences.