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UNITED NATIONS, Jul 20 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “encouraged” by the agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban to expedite peace talks, according yo his Deputy Spokesman Farhan Aziz Haq.

“The secretary-general is encouraged by the joint declaration issued in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, under which the two sides agreed to accelerate their high-level engagements in order to find a ‘timely and just solution’ to the conflict,” the spokesman said in response to a question.

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 18 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Sunday paid tributes to life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, the legendary South African leader and global advocate for “dignity, equality, justice and human rights.”

“Each year, on this day, Mandela’s birthday, we pay tribute to this extraordinary man who embodied the highest aspirations of the United Nations and the human family”, Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message commemorating ‘Nelson Mandela International Day’.

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 17 (APP): A far-reaching declaration released by the 2021 high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) on Friday reflects member states’ commitments to gather together in a global push to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and build back better through inclusive, green recovery plans.

NEW YORK, July 17. /TASS/: Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya will meet with US government officials, Congress members and foreign ambassadors in Washington next week, a source familiar with details of the upcoming visit told TASS.

"Tikhanovskaya will be in Washington next week. Among other events, she will meet with US Ambassador to Belarus Julie Fisher," the source said, without giving any further information about the schedule.

NEW YORK, July 16 (Reuters) - Libya's unity government Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said on Friday he was unaware of any understanding between Russia and Turkey on a withdrawal of their foreign fighters, but that such a move would be welcomed.

Speaking to Reuters in New York, Dbeibah also said he was committed to holding elections on Dec. 24, but warned that some lawmakers may be reluctant to give up power. Dbeibah, a businessman appointed interim prime minister in February, said he has not yet decided whether to run for office.

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 16 (APP): U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on all parties in conflict to observe the Olympic Truce for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which begin in Tokyo later this month.

In a video message released on Thursday, the UN chief said, “In a few days, athletes from around the world will come together in Japan for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They have had to overcome enormous obstacles to participate in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

United Nations, Jul 16 (AP-PTI) The UN humanitarian chief in Afghanistan appealed for 850 million Thursday to help the war-torn country cope with the impact of the Taliban offensive, protracted malnutrition for a third of the country, a severe drought, and the return of 627,000 Afghans this year, most of them deported from neighbouring Iran.

NEW YORK, Jul 15 (APP): Over India’s strong objections, a Non-Aligned Movement’s ministerial conference has commended the role of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and four other leaders for their full support to the Palestinians cause, according to conference sources.

(AP) --- COVID-19 deaths and cases are on the rise again globally in a dispiriting setback that is triggering another round of restrictions and dampening hopes for a return to normal life.

The World Health Organization reported Wednesday that deaths climbed last week after nine straight weeks of decline. It recorded more than 55,000 lives lost, a 3% increase from the week before.

Cases rose 10% last week to nearly 3 million, with the highest numbers recorded in Brazil, India, Indonesia and Britain, WHO said.

UNITED NATIONS, July 13 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday that 11 billion doses are needed to vaccinate 70 percent of the world to end the COVID-19 pandemic.