Trade : Dispute settlement system facing terminal existential crisis (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The chair for the World Trade Organizatio n Appellate Body (AB) Ujal Singh Bhatia on Friday cautioned members that the dispute settlement system is facing a terminal existential crisis following "the year-long impasse on the process for appointing the AB members," and "its reduced strength" is now threatening its "legitimacy".

Trade : Canada blocks US panel request over wine sales (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
A request for the establishment of a disput e panel by the United States to examine measures maintained by the Canadian province of British Columbia governing the sale of wine in grocery stores w as blocked by Canada at a meeting of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on Friday.

Rights : Countries are using domestic laws to criminalize health care (PRIV)
(IPS, Geneva)
Ambulance drivers attacked, nurs es detained, doctors tortured, pharmacists arrested, dentists facing more than a decade in prison - all for delivering healthcare to people considered enemi es of the state.