1. A new analysis by the Institute of Health Statistics and Assessment at the University of Washington found that COVID-19 caused about 6.9 million deaths worldwide, more than double the official figure, according to a report released by the Institute of Health Statistics and Assessment at the University of Washington on the 6th. Among them, COVID-19 killed more than 900000 people in the United States, more than any other country. The figure is also much higher than the less than 600000 people released by Johns Hopkins University in the United States. India and Mexico ranked second and third with actual deaths of more than 650000 and 610000, respectively. The number of COVID-19 deaths currently reported in these two countries is more than 200000.

2.Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: international food commodity prices rose for the 11th month in a row in April. Among them, the sugar price index rose 3.9% month-on-month in April, nearly 60% higher than the same period last year; the grain price index rose 1.2%, 26% higher than the same period last year; and the vegetable oil, meat and dairy product price index all rose to varying degrees. In addition, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s “Grain supply and demand Bulletin” lowered the forecast for world grain stocks to 805 million tons at the end of the season in 2021, and the ratio of global grain stocks to consumption is expected to be 28.3%, the lowest level in seven years. Grain stocks remain low.

3. Johnson Company of the United States 70 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine may be scrapped due to pollution. Of these, millions of doses of the vaccine have been delivered to the European Union, Canada and South Africa. In March, a factory in Baltimore in the United States accidentally contaminated the Johnson vaccine in production with the harmless virus used to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine, resulting in as many as 15 million doses of Johnson vaccine being scrapped because it did not meet the purity requirements.

4. The United States: in April, non-farm payrolls increased by 266000, with an estimated increase of 1 million, compared with a previous increase of 916000; the unemployment rate was 6.1%, estimated at 5.8%, and the previous value was 6%.

5.An Indian man in Hong Kong concealed his trip and caused a number of infections. The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection said that recently, 11 cases of community infection with mutant novel coronavirus were found in Hong Kong, of which at least 8 cases were linked to the Indian man. The Indian man returned to Hong Kong earlier from Dubai and was confirmed by his Filipino girlfriend shortly after his diagnosis on April 17. Both of them were suspected of concealing the report when they were investigated.

6. At present, more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed worldwide, but more than 80 per cent of these vaccines are available in high-income countries and only 0.3 per cent in low-income countries. Governments and vaccine manufacturers are encouraged to share technology and donate vaccines through the COVID-19 Vaccine implementation Plan.

7.EU leaders have agreed to suspend the intellectual property exemption of COVID-19 vaccine. They believe that the issue of intellectual property exemption of COVID-19 vaccine is not a top priority, and that EU countries are facing many more pressing problems. Europe needs to speed up vaccine production, increase vaccine production and ensure fair and reasonable vaccine distribution. Although the issue of intellectual property exemption of vaccines is important, it is not an issue to be discussed in the short and medium term, and it needs to be discussed in the long run.

8.European Commission President von Delaine: the European Commission has reached a new contract with Pfizer of the United States and the German Biotechnology Company to order up to 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by 2023. The European Union has provided more than 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to European people. Nearly 160 million Europeans have received the first shot, more than 25 per cent of the EU’s total population.

9.Of the 21 shipping routes in the world, the freight index of 16 shipping routes rose, while the freight index of only 5 shipping routes fell. Among the major ports along the “Maritime Silk Road”, the freight index of 12 ports rose. According to the industry, it will be difficult for container shipping prices to fall before September this year.

10.The European Commission has reached a new contract with Pfizer of the United States and the German biotech company to order up to 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine by 2023. The European Union has provided more than 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to European people. Nearly 160 million Europeans have received the first shot, more than 25% of the EU’s total population.

11.The CDC: 3.6 million people were born in the United States in 2020, down from 3.74 million in 2019, down 4% from the same period last year. This is the sixth consecutive year of decline in the number of births in the United States and the lowest number of births since 1979.

12.Korea Trade Association: China’s men’s cosmetics market has grown at an average annual rate of 7.7% in the past four years, and the market size is estimated to reach 16.7 billion yuan in 2020. Korean enterprises are advised to actively market to this consumer group.