Trade : India invokes MC9 decision for food security public stockholding (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
India has invoked, for the first time, the Bali Ministerial Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes at the World Trade Organization since it has breached the de minimis level for rice for the marketing year 2018-2019.

United Nations : World food prices fall due to effects of COVID-19 (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The international prices of a basket of key agricultural food commodities fell sharply in March, largely driven by demand-side contractions due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the drop in oil prices due mostly to expectations of an economic slowdown, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said.

Opinion : Stronger UN leadership needed to cope with coronavirus threat (PRIV)
(IPS, Sydney/Kuala Lumpur)
Sydney/Kuala Lumpur, 24 Mar (IPS/Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram*) -- The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is hard to predict as events are still unfolding, and estimates vary dramatically.

United Nations : Modern day slavery reaches a far corner of the world (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The deadly, fast-spreading coronavirus which upended three key UN conferences - on the empowerment of women, on nuclear disarmament and on indigenous rights - claimed another casualty last week when a commemorative meeting on the transatlantic slave trade was postponed.

Health : Coronavirus proves need for free healthcare for all - now (PRIV)
(IPS, Geneva)
The multi-layered crisis of the Coronavirus epidemic has been a dramatic shock to everyone.