Trade : US files WTO appeal, after making AB dysfunctional (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The United States on Wednesday filed a formal appeal against a compliance panel ruling in a dispute raised by India over US countervailing measures on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from India, despite its recent actions in making the Appellate Body (AB) dysfunctional from 11 December 2019.

Climate : COP 25 was a mix of unresolved issues & some significant decisions (PRIV)
(Prerna Bomzan, Madrid)
The climate talks under the UNFCCC in Madrid that began on 2 Dec and ended on 15 Dec, have been hailed by many as the longest COP to date; and could only conclude with the adoption of several key decisions that were procedural in nature, for the further work to be continued next year, kicking the can down the road to COP 26.

Health : Taking Bangladesh to zero-leprosy, one new case at a time (PRIV)
(IPS, Dhaka)
Sandhya Mandal has never felt so vindicated. For the past four years, the 36- year-old community health worker from Meherpur has been traveling 50 km every day along dusty roads on an old motorbike, searching for leprosy patients who needed urgent treatment.