Trade : Dedicated process to begin addressing AB crisis (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Trade envoys from select countries on Wednesday gave their approval for initiating a dedicated process on a "non-negotiating framework" at the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council for addressing the current crisis caused by the United States at th e Appellate Body (AB), which has now been reduced to three members, trade envoys told SUNS.

Finance : Increased activity in global OTC derivatives market (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
Activity in the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets increased in the first half of 2018, with the notional amount of outstanding OTC derivatives contracts increasing from $532 trillion at end- 2017 to $595 trillion at end-June 2018, the Bank for International Settlements ( BIS) has reported.

United Nations : Gay & lesbian rights prove divisive at Parliamentarians' me et (PRIV)
(IPS, Ottawa)
When the International Parliamentarians' Conference (ICPI) on population and development concluded its two-day forum in the Canadian capital last week, more than 150 legislators from around th e world approved a seven-page Declaration reaffirming their opposition to som e of the culturally sensitive issues, including female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriages.

Health : Cholera threatens a comeback worldwide (PRIV)
(IPS, Texas)
Cholera outbreaks across history regularly killed a hundred thousand or more. It isn't well known today beca use it was essentially eliminated in the Western world.

South Korea : Looks at how to accelerate its transition to renewable energy (PRIV)
(IPS, Seoul)
While major countries have pledged to be powered entirely by renewable energies in order to stop greenhouse gas emis sions by 2050, there are a number of states that are investigating ways to implem ent this transition quickly in order to achieve their goals ahead of this deadline.