Monthly Archives: May 2016

By David Bosco Given its power, the World Trade Organization’s appellate body receives very little attention. Its seven members generally toil in obscurity even as they issue rulings on trade disputes with huge economic implications. But a U.S. campaign to unseat one appellate body member … Continue reading →

By David Bosco With the end of his term approaching, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon isn’t mincing words. He expressed frustration earlier this week that so few of the G7 countries sent their leaders to the first ever World Humanitarian Summit in … Continue reading →

By David Bosco Likely in deference to U.S. wishes, Canada declined the opportunity to be a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the new Beijing-led multilateral lender. But it sure sounds like Ottawa is angling for membership now. And Chinese officials … Continue reading →

China’s push to create the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) generated intense speculation that Beijing was challenging the existing multilateral architecture. With the AIIB’s first annual meeting just weeks away, what does the early evidence suggest about the course it will take? … Continue reading →

By David Bosco Turkish officials are exchanging words with senior UN human rights monitors about the situation in the southeast of the country. Yesterday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed alarm at the situation in the town of Cizre, in particular: … Continue reading →

With Ukraine’s new government in place, a team from the International Monetary Fund has arrived for talks on how to restart the country’s stalled loan program. An International Monetary Fund team arrived in Kiev on Tuesday after the formation of a new … Continue reading →

The discussions on reform of the United Nations Security Council are slogging on, with familiar battle lines in place. The central dispute remains between the Group of Four countries (G4) aspiring to permanent seats (Brazil, Germany, Japan, and India) and the … Continue reading →