UNITED NATIONS:United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday decried countries - without naming any - who rejected facts about the coronavirus pandemic and ignored guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Guterres addressed a special session of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on COVID-19, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and spread globally, so far infecting nearly 65 million people and killing nearly 1.5 million.
Dozens of world leaders have submitted pre-recorded video statements for the two-day meeting.
"From the start, the World Health Organization provided factual information and scientific guidance that should have been the basis for a coordinated global response," Guterres said.
"Unfortunately, many of these recommendations were not followed. And in some situations, there was a rejection of facts and an ignoring of the guidance. And when countries go in their own direction, the virus goes in every direction," he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump cut funding to the WHO earlier this year and announced plans to quit the Geneva-based body over accusations it was a puppet of China, which the WHO denied. The U.S. withdrawal would have taken effect in July next year, but U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has said he will rescind the move.
"The pandemic underscores the importance of the World Health Organization, an institution that needs to be strengthened," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Long-simmering tensions between the United States and China hit boiling point over the pandemic at the United Nations, where months of bickering between the superpowers has spotlighted Beijing's bid for greater multilateral influence in a challenge to Washington's traditional global influence.
POINTING FINGERS
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar did not name any countries in their General Assembly statements, but both made veiled references.
"The world is braced for a second wave of infection - what lies ahead is a tenuous and uphill battle," said Wang. "Defeating the pandemic requires concerted efforts from all countries. The major ones in particular should play an exemplary role in promoting collaboration."
In a statement due to be broadcast, Azar cited a lack of "necessary information sharing," adding: "This dereliction of duty has been absolutely devastating for the entire globe." Washington has long asserted that a lack of transparency by Beijing worsened the global outbreak, which China denies.
"This is not a time to point fingers," U.N. General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said. "The United Nations must lead on this."
Guterres is pushing for a COVID-19 vaccine to be made available to all and for rich countries to help developing countries combat and recover from the pandemic.
"France proposes a donation mechanism so that a portion of the first doses of vaccines available are used to vaccinate priority groups in developing countries," French President Emmanuel Macron told the General Assembly.
In his statement for broadcast, Britain's Health Secretary Matthew Hancock urged countries to lift export controls and tariffs on vital items needed to combat the virus, such as gloves and thermometers, adding: "We will put this into action ourselves from the 1 January."
Reuters
Fri Dec 04 2020
![UN chief pans countries who ignored COVID-19 facts, WHO guidance UN chief pans countries who ignored COVID-19 facts, WHO guidance](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/71607049542_GUTERRES.jpg)
Guterres is pushing for a COVID-19 vaccine to be made available to all and for rich countries to help developing countries combat and recover from the pandemic. REUTERS file pic
![Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723708198_TBFAhmi.jpg)
Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi
Platform media sosial dikehendaki meletakkan notis 'Kecerdasan Buatan (AI)' dalam setiap kandungan AI yang dimuat naik.
![Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723702833_TBKhairulAming.jpg)
Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan
Khairul Aming meluahkan kebimbangan apabila pihak tidak bertanggungjawab menggunakan wajah dan suaranya untuk menjual barangan kepada golongan berusia.
MBSB Bank bekerjasama dengan INSKEN, MAIJ lancar program untuk komuniti asnaf
Program tersebut bertujuan untuk mentransformasikan kewangan sosial Islam dengan memperkasakan individu dalam komuniti asnaf melalui latihan intensif, sokongan kewangan dan bimbingan berterusan.
![Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723696968_SophiaAlbarakbah.jpg)
Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti
Aktres Sophia Albarakbah kini giat mengumpul bukti untuk mengheret pihak tidak bertanggungjawab termasuk pembuli siber ke muka pengadilan.
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Setiausaha Agung PBB kecam serangan udara Israel ke atas sekolah di Gaza Setiausaha Agung PBB kecam serangan udara Israel ke atas sekolah di Gaza](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/41711074264_TBAntonioGuterres.jpg)
Setiausaha Agung PBB kecam serangan udara Israel ke atas sekolah di Gaza
Guterres mengulangi rayuan bagi gencatan senjata segera dan pembebasan tanpa syarat semua tawanan.
![PBB desak siasatan penuh ke atas protes Bangladesh PBB desak siasatan penuh ke atas protes Bangladesh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71722960458_dhakaprotes.jpg)
PBB desak siasatan penuh ke atas protes Bangladesh
Guterres juga minta semua pihak bertenang, selepas episod kebangkitan rakyat yang diketuai kumpulan pelajar di Bangladesh.
![PBB desak tindakan terhadap cuaca panas melampau PBB desak tindakan terhadap cuaca panas melampau](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721819641_tbbahangterikmatah.jpg)
PBB desak tindakan terhadap cuaca panas melampau
Menurut Guterres, cuaca panas melampau sudah menjadi keadaan norma yang baharu.
![Ketua PBB seru tindakan lebih tegas banteras pemerdagangan kanak-kanak Ketua PBB seru tindakan lebih tegas banteras pemerdagangan kanak-kanak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-02/81676774017_TBhumantrafficking.jpg)
Ketua PBB seru tindakan lebih tegas banteras pemerdagangan kanak-kanak
Setiausaha Agung PBB, Antonio Guterres menyeru agar usaha dipergiatkan untuk melindungi kanak-kanak daripada pemerdagangan manusia.
![Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719354914_Destroyedbuildings.jpg)
Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB
Beliau berkata tahap pertempuran dan kemusnahan yang melampau di Gaza tidak dapat difahami dan tidak boleh dimaafkan.
![Tuntutan Filipina: Nota diplomatik kepada PBB tegaskan kedaulatan Malaysia - Mohamad Tuntutan Filipina: Nota diplomatik kepada PBB tegaskan kedaulatan Malaysia - Mohamad](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720338475_TokMatseremban.jpg)
Tuntutan Filipina: Nota diplomatik kepada PBB tegaskan kedaulatan Malaysia - Mohamad
Menteri Luar mengesahkan Malaysia telah menyerahkan nota diplomatik kepada PBB bagi menegaskan kedaulatan negara ini, susulan tuntutan Filipina terhadap Sabah.
![Ketua PBB seru hentikan kerosakan di bumi Ketua PBB seru hentikan kerosakan di bumi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/71701484177_UnitedNations.jpg)
Ketua PBB seru hentikan kerosakan di bumi
Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), Antonio Guterres pada Isnin menyeru tindakan segera bagi menghentikan kerosakan di Bumi dengan menyatakan hampir 40 peratus tanah di planet ini
![Setiausaha Agung PBB kecam peningkatan keganasan dan serangan ke atas orang awam di Myanmar Setiausaha Agung PBB kecam peningkatan keganasan dan serangan ke atas orang awam di Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71711255047_tbAntonioGuterres.jpg)
Setiausaha Agung PBB kecam peningkatan keganasan dan serangan ke atas orang awam di Myanmar
Antonio Guterres, "mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya" serangan terbaharu tentera Myanmar di Negeri Rakhine dan Wilayah Sagaing yang dilaporkan telah meragut banyak nyawa orang awam.
![Ketua PBB sambut baik pelan gencatan senjata Biden Ketua PBB sambut baik pelan gencatan senjata Biden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51707451921_AntonioGuterres.jpg)
Ketua PBB sambut baik pelan gencatan senjata Biden
Dalam catatannya di Platform X, Antonio Guterres berkata sudah tiba masanya untuk perang ini dihentikan.
![Serangan Israel di Rafah: Rakyat Palestin tidak ulangi Nakba 1948 Serangan Israel di Rafah: Rakyat Palestin tidak ulangi Nakba 1948](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/51716852209_tbGazaStrip.jpg)
Serangan Israel di Rafah: Rakyat Palestin tidak ulangi Nakba 1948
Pelajari daripada peristiwa Nakba 1948, jiwa rakyat Palestin hari ini dilihat masih kekal dengan semangat cintakan tanah air sungguhpun diserang oleh tentera Israel sejak Oktober lepas.