Trade : US spurns draft GC decision and makes AB dysfunctional (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The United States has spurned the revised draft General Council decision for "unblocking" the selection process for filling six vacancies at the Appellate Body (AB), thus ensuring that the highest adjudicating body for trade disputes remains dysfunctional from midnight on Tuesday, several trade envoys told the SUNS.

Trade : Walker presents report on AB impasse to WTO General Council (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The facilitator of the informal process to resolve the ongoing impasse over the appointment of Appellate Body (AB) members presented to the General Council on Monday (9 December) his report together with a draft decision on the functioning of the AB.

Climate : Key issues not resolved by SBs to be handled by Ministers (PRIV)
(TWN, Madrid)
As the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) concluded their work and held their final plenary meetings late night on 9 Dec that spilled over to early morning of 10 Dec, many key issues remain unresolved at the Madrid climate talks, which will now be handled by "pairs of ministers" and "senior members" of the Chilean COP 25 Presidency.