North America

UNITED NATIONS, April 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Some 67 million children partially or fully missed routine vaccines globally between 2019 and 2021 because of lockdowns and health care disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Nations said.

“More than a decade of hard-earned gains in routine childhood immunization have been eroded,” read a new report from the UN’s children’s agency, UNICEF, adding that getting back on track “will be challenging.”

UNITED NATIONS, April 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN secretary-general is convening an international meeting on Afghanistan on May 1-2 in Doha, where envoys will seek a “durable way forward” for the war-ravaged nation, his spokesman said.

Antonio Guterres will host the closed-door gathering featuring special envoys on Afghanistan from various countries who aim to “clarify expectations” on concerns including the Taliban’s restrictions on women, according to spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

UNITED NATIONS, April 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres continues efforts towards ensuring an end to the hostilities in Sudan, his Spokesperson said on Wednesday, amid reports of a new ceasefire between warring military factions and refugees fleeing the country across the border into Chad. 

The UN chief spoke earlier in the day to President William Ruto of Kenya and with the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki. 

WASHINGTON/SHANGHAI, April 21 (Reuters) - China's aviation regulator has published a report that Boeing (BA.N) views as a key step for the U.S. planemaker to resume deliveries of its 737 MAX to Chinese airlines more than four years after they were halted following two deadly crashes.

Boeing has more than 130 completed MAX jets in inventory for Chinese customers worth more than $15 billion at list prices, although airlines typically receive substantial discounts.

April 21 (Reuters) - Current and former Republican Party operatives who have spent years trying to banish Donald Trump from American political life say the former president's 2024 campaign has begun to gain so much steam that they fear he is by far the favorite to become the party's presidential nominee again.

UNITED NATIONS, April 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for accelerated climate action through global cooperation.

"We need global acceleration through cooperation. And that means rising above disagreements, differences and tensions. Geopolitical divisions must not torpedo the world's climate fight for 1.5 degrees," he told the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in a video message.

LOS ANGELES, April 20 (Xinhua) -- SpaceX said on Thursday it triggered termination command after its giant Starship rocket lost control during an inaugural test flight.

The rocket, the most powerful ever built, got off the launch pad at 8:33 a.m. Central Time Thursday from SpaceX's Starbase in Boca Chica, U.S. state of Texas. It exploded minutes after liftoff.

The vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the test flight, lost altitude, and began to tumble, said SpaceX. The flight termination system was commanded on both the booster and the spacecraft.

WASHINGTON, April 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly will announce his decision to run for reelection as soon as next week.

Multiple U.S. media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Bloomberg, reported the news on Thursday.

Biden's aides told the outlets that they were not aware that a final decision on timing had been made but that Biden, a Democrat, had been considering Tuesday, April 25.

The upcoming announcement is expected to be in the form of a video released to supporters, according to The Associated Press.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for talks at the White House next month as the U.S. looks to continue to tighten relations with the Pacific nation.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the two leaders’ meeting on May 1 is expected to focus on deepening economic cooperation, climate change, human rights, efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region and more.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — After almost 4 1/2 years of trying, Mexico’s president said Thursday he has finally sold the unwanted presidential jet — to the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the government of Tajikistan paid the equivalent of about $92 million for the Boeing 787 jet.

López Obrador refused to use the jet after taking office on Dec. 1, 2018, saying it was too luxurious. The austerity-loving president usually takes commercial flights.