Trade : EU, Canada campaign against Asian nominee for Chair of Agri talks (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Ahead of the informal heads of delegations meeting on Friday (24 March), the European Union and Canada along with other developed countries have intensified their campaign to block the nominee of the Asian Group of developing countries, Ms Irene B. K. Young of Hong Kong-China, from becoming the chair of the Doha agriculture negotiating body on grounds of affiliation, according to trade envoys familiar with the development.

United Nations : Reform global IP rights, investor protection regimes (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called for the reform of both the global intellectual property (IP) rights and global investor protection regimes as one of the options aimed at making better global institutions by promoting global public goods.

Climate : Breaks all records - Hottest year, lowest ice, highest sea level (PRIV)
(IPS, Rome)
Climate has, once more, broken all records, with the year 2016 making history - highest- ever global temperature, exceptionally low sea ice, unabated sea level rise and ocean heat. And what is even worse - extreme and unusual trends continue in 2017.

Africa : Three times as many mobile phones as toilets (PRIV)
(IPS, Bulawayo)
Though key to good health and economic wellbeing, water and sanitation remain less of a development priority in Africa, where high costs and poor policy implementation constrain getting clean water and flush toilets to millions.

Environment : Water, the great enabler (PRIV)
(IPS, Stockholm)
I listened to a Haitian farmer share solutions with neighbouring water users on how best to allocate scarce water resources.