Trade: Developing countries remain upbeat on TRIPS waiver negotiations (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The proponents of the TRIPS waiver on 17 June expressed optimism on the intense schedule of meetings being convened by the chair at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for text-based discussions on the revised textual proposal that was submitted by the 63 co-sponsors in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, said people familiar with the development.

UN: World food import bill set to reach new highs in 2021, says FAO (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The world food import bill is forecast to reach a record USD 1.715 trillion in 2021, a rise of 12 percent from the previous year, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

UN: COVID-19 lays bare weaknesses in social safety nets (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
People with disabilities were particularly hard hit by the social and economic impacts of efforts to control COVID-19.