Trade : Big Pharma to block TRIPS waiver at WTO, citing China & Russia (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Washington DC)
Big Pharma has apparently found a new bogey to block the temporary TRIPS waiver at the World Trade Organization in combating the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, amidst India being shaken by a double-mutated SARS-CoV-2 virus that is claiming around 2,500 lives and over 320,000 new cases a day.

UN : Military spending rises to a hefty $2.0 trillion despite pleas for cutbacks (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The United Nations - which is desperately seeking funds to help developing nations battling a staggering array of socio-economic problems, including extreme poverty, hunger, economic inequalities and environmental hazards - has continued to be one of the strongest advocates of disarmament.

Mali : One year later, no justice for victims of 2020 protests & coup (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
It has been about a year since anti-government demonstrations and a coup in Mali, which saw 18 people, including a 12-year-old boy being killed.

Opinion : Towards a more democratic & inclusive United Nations (PRIV)
(IPS, Berlin/Cologne/New York)
Berlin/Cologne/New York, 22 Apr (IPS/Andreas Bummel, Caroline Vernaillen and Mandeep Tiwana*) -- One of the most recently established international UN days is the day of multilateralism and diplomacy for peace.