
UN head warns of 'vaccinationalism' as global coronavirus deaths top 2 million
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday deplored the "heart-wrenching milestone" of the global death toll from Covid-19 topping two million, and lamented the fact that "solidarity is failing" in the world's response to the virus.
"Today we are seeing a vaccine vacuum," the UN head said. "Vaccines are reaching high income countries quickly, while the world's poorest have none at all."
Also Read: 114 people test positive for UK variant of coronavirus
"Science is succeeding - but solidarity is failing," he warned.
Without naming names, Guterres criticized the fact that "some countries are pursuing side deals, even procuring beyond need."
"Governments have a responsibility to protect their populations, but 'vaccinationalism' is self-defeating and will delay a global recovery," he added. "Covid-19 cannot be beaten one country at a time."
He said priority must be given to those who are "on the front line: humanitarian personnel and populations at high risk."
Click here for full Covid-19 coverage
At a press conference, the president of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, announced that he and Guterres would both be vaccinated very soon. The UN chief will be given the shot next week, and the President of the General Assembly on February 2.
That is because New York, where the UN headquarters are located, has a public health policy of giving shots to anyone over the age of 65, said Bozkir.

MyHeritage offers new AI tool to turn photos of the dead into ‘creepy’ videos
- The firm admitted that the results of the feature can be controversial, adding that it’s “hard to stay indifferent to this technology.”

Get any of 3 vaccines, Fauci urges Americans after FDA nod to J& J shot

UK says Myanmar killings are abhorrent, urges return to democracy

Which other countries have vaccinated senior citizens against Covid-19

Biden in no rush to lift Venezuela sanctions, seeks 'serious steps' by Maduro

Andrew Cuomo's scandals dim luster of man dubbed ‘America’s governor’
- On Saturday, a second former aide accused Cuomo of harassment, according to the New York Times. Charlotte Bennett, a former health policy adviser, said Cuomo had asked her questions about her sex life and made what she interpreted as sexual overtures.

3 cops injured in explosion in US' Kansas

UK says more than 20 million people have received Covid-19 shot

UN says 15 Europe-bound migrants have died at sea off Libya

Fauci worried that US coronavirus cases will stick at 70,000 a day

Brief history of CPAC that continues to maintain influence over US Conservatives

Myanmar’s deadliest day since military coup leaves at least 18 dead

Pope prays for liberation of 317 kidnapped Nigerian students

Indian-origin Nasa scientist controlling Perseverance rover from his London flat
- The mission control is at Nasa’s jet propulsion laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, where the Perseverance rover was built.

What is Bangladesh's controversial digital security law?
- Mushtaq Ahmed, 53, collapsed and died on Thursday 10 months after being arrested under Bangladesh's Digital Security Act (DSA) for comments on Facebook criticising the government's response to coronavirus.