Supachai Panitchpakdi, head of the World Trade Organisation, has been nominated by the United Nations secretary-general to take over the UN Conference on Trade and Development, a Geneva-based agency that is the UN's focal point for development issues.

If the nomination is endorsed by the general assembly, Mr Supachai, a former Thai deputy premier, will move to Unctad on September 1. He succeeds Brazilian Rubens Ricupero. Frances Williams, Geneva