Rich countries block moves to waive COVID vaccine patents
11/3/2021: Richer members of the World Trade Organization have blocked a push by over 80 developing countries to waive patent rights in an effort to boost production of COVID-19 vaccines for poor nations. Western nations argue that protecting intellectual property rights encourages research and innovation.
Source: EURACTIV
For more background, see this Third World Network analysis of the wavering position on the TRIPS waiver of the new WTO Director-General, Ms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
COVID vaccine patents are not the issue
8/5/2021: US President Biden's push to waive COVID-19 vaccine patents has led to mixed responses in Europe. Defenders of intellectual property rights argue that the vaccine shortage is more complex than populist claims made by many international aid organizations.
Source: DW
Myanmar: 1 year after coup, a bitter stalemate looms
31/1/2022: One year ago Myanmar's generals took power away from the county's democratically elected government. But the ruling junta faces heavy challenges and resistance to its rule will continue to come at a great human cost.
Source: DW
When will countries learn how to do fuel subsidy reforms?
28/1/2022: Developing countries are under pressure to increase social safety nets for the poor by eliminating fuel subsidies for the rich. Precedent suggests this is easier said than done.
Source: Inter Press Service
West accused of climate hypocrisy on funding fossil fuels
28/1/2022: Several countries and finance institutions have pledged to end funding of fossil fuel projects in low income countries. These same countries continue to develop fossil fuels at home. New research highlights this hypocrisy.
Source: The Guardian
Food insecurity soaring across 20 hunger hotspots
27/1/2022: UN food agencies are warning that food insecurity is soaring across 20 countries. In particular. Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen have areas where people are experiencing, or projected to experience, starvation and death.
Source: UN News
Myanmar: World must act now to prevent further atrocity
27/1/2022: Ahead of the anniversary of the 1 February 2021 military coup in Myanmar, Amnesty International is calling on the international community to prevent further access to weaponry used to commit widespread human rights abuses.
Source: Amnesty International
Beijing Olympics begin amid atrocity crimes
27/1/2022: 243 nongovernmental organizations from around the world have urged governments to join a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics. The games will open amid atrocity crimes and other grave human rights violations by the Chinese government.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Burkina Faso military claims to have taken power
24/1/2022: A group of soldiers in Burkina Faso has ousted President Roch Kabore, suspended the constitution, closed the borders and dissolved the parliament. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the military's move.
Source: DW
We can afford to reverse poverty and climate breakdown
24/1/2022: A former chief executive of Save the Children warns that the financial response to the pandemic has widened global inequality. Vulnerable populations in low income countries have been unprotected and economies trapped in a downward spiral.
Source: The Guardian