UN chief calls for action on Covid-19, climate

The United Nations chief warned Friday that the world is "moving in the wrong direction" and exhorted nations to take urgent action to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. Speaking ahead the UN General Assembly that kicks off in New York on Sep. 21, Guterres lamented that vaccine-manufacturing nations have been unable to ramp up production toward the goal of vaccinating some 70 percent of the world population by the first half of 2022.  Guterres dismissed calls to delay a major UN climate summit, known as COP26, due to take place in Scotland in November. Guterres urged the United States and China to do more to combat climate change. "We need a stronger engagement of the US, namely in financing for development, for climate-related development issues, mitigation, adaptation, and we need an additional effort from China in relation to emissions," Guterres said.