WTO delays IP waiver proposal for pandemic
A proposal for WTO to suspend IP protections of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments is set to expire this month, kicking the issue over to 2021.
John Heilprin
Award-winning U.N.-accredited journalist, with 30+ years on four continents, almost half of it for AP in Washington, New York and Geneva.
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Geneva
COVID-19 cases exceed 80 million worldwide
The world surpassed 80 million confirmed COVID-19 cases with 1.75 million deaths, as the coronavirus keeps accelerating and affects nearly every region.
U.K. and E.U. reach post-Brexit trade deal
Britain reached a tentative free-trade deal to lessen the chaos of its departure from the European Union, the world's biggest trading bloc.
Tug-of-war over pulled WHO Italy report
A suppressed WHO report on Italy's pandemic response says hospitals were "chaotic," dangers to elderly went unrecognized, and training was haphazard.
E.U. regulator approves first COVID-19 vaccine
A two-shot vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer gained official approval in the E.U., two days after Switzerland approved it through a normal procedure.
Swiss achieve first full-blown vaccine approval
Switzerland announced it has become the first government in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine using a standard process of regulatory approval.
COVAX vaccine rollout gets 2 billion doses
The COVAX Facility has secured almost 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine candidates for low-income and developing countries, organizations said.
ICJ steps into Guyana-Venezuela border dispute
ICJ ruled it has jurisdiction to settle a border dispute going back to colonial-era claims over a resources-rich jungle region between Guyana and Venezuela.
CAS imposes Russia ban for next 2 Olympics
The world's top sports court blocked Russia from fielding teams at the next two Olympics and any world championships.
U.S. currency dispute puts IMF role in spotlight
The IMF was thrust into a dispute over currency manipulation as the U.S. accused Vietnam and Switzerland of currency manipulation.
WTO subsidy talks to curb overfishing drag on
Diplomats failed to meet an end-of-year deadline for a deal on halting government subsidies that contribute to overfishing, WTO officials said.
Study projects pandemic adds 168K child deaths
Hunger from the pandemic will likely cause millions more children to suffer from severe malnutrition and add 168,000 child deaths, a new study said.
Five years on, Paris climate accord recharges
World leaders honored five years of the 2015 Paris Agreement at a virtual summit energized by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's vow to rejoin it.
Global coronavirus cases exceed 70 million
Confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 70 million with 1.58 million deaths as the pandemic raged out of control and nations pinned hopes on rolling out vaccines.
UNEP report points to catastrophic warming
Unmet promises to cut carbon emissions put the planet on track for temperatures to rise "in excess of 3 degrees Celsius this century," UNEP reported.
Big pharma sees wide use of vaccines by late 2021
Several CEOs of leading drugmakers expressed confidence the pandemic can be brought under control starting sometime in the second half of next year.