Trade : Co-sponsors remain upbeat on progressing on TRIPS waiver at WTO (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The co-sponsors of the temporary TRIPS waiver on 14 July remained buoyant about the progress to be made on the waiver by the end of the month at the World Trade Organization, despite repeated hurdles being created by a few countries, including the European Union, said people familiar with the development.

Trade : WTO DG makes "outlandish" remarks on S&DT at US think-tank (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
The World Trade Organization Director-General Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has apparently made some "outlandish" remarks on special and differential treatment (S&DT) based on self-designation by developing countries, thus allegedly crossing the "red line" of her stated responsibilities under the WTO's Marrakesh Agreement, said people familiar with the development.

COVID-19 : Rich country hypocrisy exposed by vaccine inequities (PRIV)
(IPS, Sydney/Kuala Lumpur)
Sydney/Kuala Lumpur, 13 Jul (IPS/Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram*) -- "No one is protected from the global pandemic until everyone is" has become a popular mantra. But vaccine apartheid worldwide, due to rich countries' policies, has made COVID-19 a developing country pandemic, delaying its end and global economic recovery.

Papua New Guinea : Battles COVID-19 & health workers' vaccine scepticism (PRIV)
(IPS, Canberra)
Papua New Guinea (PNG), like many other Pacific Island countries, successfully held COVID-19 at bay last year, aided by early shutting of national borders.