Trade : DG promotes further appeasement of the US on AB impasse (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The World Trade Organization's director-general Roberto Azevedo has indicated that more needs to be done to address the concerns raised by the United States about the functioning of the Appellate Body (AB), including considering new "concepts" and a "framework" to fill the gaps in the Walker process.

Climate : Difficult issues under Article 6 of Paris Agreement negotiations (PRIV)
(Prerna Bomzan, Madrid)
At the on-going climate talks in Madrid, negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (PA) continue to be embroiled in many difficult and contentious issues, making the path to reaching an outcome agreeable to all Parties a rather challenging task.

Climate : South questions lack of balance in treatment of issues at SBSTA (PRIV)
(TWN, Madrid)
The 51st Session of the UNFCCC's Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) closed at 2.20 am on 10 Dec following an intense exchange among Parties over the lack of balance in the treatment of issues, particularly of importance to developing countries.

Climate : Why Africa is seeking special considerations on climate finance (PRIV)
(IPS, Madrid)
As the 25th session of climate negotiations draw to an end this week, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) has been calling on the world to consider the continent as a special case in terms of implementation of the Paris Agreement and climate finance.