The UN Security Council has been holding votes virtually due to the pandemic. AFP
The UN Security Council has been holding votes virtually due to the pandemic. AFP
The UN Security Council has been holding votes virtually due to the pandemic. AFP
The UN Security Council has been holding votes virtually due to the pandemic. AFP

The Americas

UN Security Council backs call for coronavirus truce after months of talks

Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for pause to armed conflict to allow aid deliveries

The National

July 01, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The UN Security Council on Wednesday finally backed UN chief Antonio Guterres' call from March 23 for a global truce amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The council adopted a resolution after months of negotiations to win a compromise between the US and China.

The resolution, drafted by France and Tunisia, calls for "all parties to armed conflicts" to immediately begin a ceasefire for at least 90 consecutive days to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Talks on the resolution were stymied by a standoff between China and the US over whether to urge support for the World Health Organisation.

The US did not want a reference to the global health body but China did.

Read more

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US President Donald Trump said in May that Washington would quit the UN agency over its handling of the pandemic, accusing it of being "China-centric" and promoting China's "disinformation", which the WHO denies.

The adopted Security Council resolution does not mention the WHO but refers to a UN General Assembly resolution that does.

"We have really seen the body at its worst," said Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group director for the UN. "This is a dysfunctional Security Council."

The US and China took veiled swipes at each other after the resolution was adopted.

The US said that while it supported the resolution, "it does not include crucial language to emphasise transparency and data-sharing as critical aspects in fighting this virus".

China's UN ambassador Zhang Jun admitted that the body "should have responded immediately" to Mr Guterres's call.

"We were very frustrated that some country politicised this process," Mr Zhang said.
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A student of the Makkasan Phitthaya government primary school wears a face shield as he leaves the school canteen in Bangkok,. AFP
A student of the Makkasan Phitthaya government primary school wears a face shield as he leaves the school canteen in Bangkok,. AFP
Teachers and students, wearing protective gear to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, pray before class at Samkhok School in Pathum Thani, outside Bangkok. AP Photo
Teachers and students, wearing protective gear to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, pray before class at Samkhok School in Pathum Thani, outside Bangkok. AP Photo
The lion statue in front of the 42nd Street New York Public Library adorns a protective mask. EPA
The lion statue in front of the 42nd Street New York Public Library adorns a protective mask. EPA
A Dallas police officer is tested for Covid-19 by SafeWork medical assistant Joanna Jackson at the Dallas Police Association office. AP Photo
A Dallas police officer is tested for Covid-19 by SafeWork medical assistant Joanna Jackson at the Dallas Police Association office. AP Photo
Ground staff wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus stand on the pitch ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United at the AMEX Stadium in Brighton, England. AP Photo
Ground staff wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus stand on the pitch ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United at the AMEX Stadium in Brighton, England. AP Photo
A mannequin in a wedding dress with matching protective mask in the wedding dress designer Pinar Bent's store in Istanbul. AFP
A mannequin in a wedding dress with matching protective mask in the wedding dress designer Pinar Bent's store in Istanbul. AFP
Members of the Brazilian Armed Forces medical team conduct a Covid-19 test from a member of the indigenous Ye'Kuena ethnic group. AFP
Members of the Brazilian Armed Forces medical team conduct a Covid-19 test from a member of the indigenous Ye'Kuena ethnic group. AFP
A man smokes a pipe while wearing a face mask in Nantes, western France. AFP
A man smokes a pipe while wearing a face mask in Nantes, western France. AFP
A health official (C) wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) takes a swab sample in Islamabad. AFP
A health official (C) wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) takes a swab sample in Islamabad. AFP
People wait in line to undergo coronavirus tests in Beijing. AFP
People wait in line to undergo coronavirus tests in Beijing. AFP
General view of the Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex temporary converted into COVID-19 coronavirus care centre, in New Delhi. AFP
General view of the Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex temporary converted into COVID-19 coronavirus care centre, in New Delhi. AFP
On Women's Day
While you're here
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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Kareem Shaheen on Canada
Key facilities
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  • Premier League-standard football pitch
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  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Pad Man

Dir: R Balki

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte

Three-and-a-half stars

Coronavirus