HAMILTON, Canada, Aug 26 (IPS) – Understanding the scale and intensity of the COVID-19 virus and its emerging variants, predicting the pandemic’s direction, and developing and refining associated management response options are challenges likely to confront public-health officials and national governments worldwide well into the future.

The Takeaway: UN General Assembly debate Day 5
Lavrov issues call for new Eurasian ‘security architecture’
Cuba warns against ‘law of the jungle’ as Foreign Minister denounces US pressure
Saudi Arabia warns Gulf security inseparable from global stability amid regional tensions
Countries far from conflict paying the price for wars not their own, India tells UN
Canada urges stronger partnerships as global order faces ‘rupture’