UN Chief Appeals for Global Solidarity to Overcome Covid-19

In his centerpiece address to the historic and unprecedented 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday appealed for global solidarity to overcome the Covid-19. 
Addressing the largely empty General Assembly Hall in New York, Guterres characterized the pandemic from the podium as “not only a wake-up call” but “a dress rehearsal” for challenges to come, UN News reported. 
“In an interconnected world, it is high time to recognize a simple truth: solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to grasp that fact, everyone loses.”
“And we must be guided by science and tethered to reality”, he stressed. “Populism and nationalism have failed. Those approaches to contain the virus have often made things manifestly worse.”   
Due to Covid-19, most world leaders will not attend the annual gathering at the UN headquarters, known as the General Debate.  Instead, many have pre-recorded their speeches on video.
“In a world turned upside down, this General Assembly Hall is among the strangest sights of all”, Guterres said at the outset. “The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our annual meeting beyond recognition. But it has made it more important than ever.”  
Guterres also used the occasion to repeat his call for a global ceasefire during the pandemic. The secretary-general had initially issued the appeal back in March, when he urged warring parties to “end the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world.”  
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was scheduled to virtually address the assembly later in the day. He was expected to highlight American hostile policies against Iran, which have hindered the country’s battle with the deadly contagion.