MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need to join endeavors globally in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.  The world has not yet recovered from the difficulties and restrictions caused by Covid-19, and effective results could only be achieved through cooperation, Putin said on Friday at a meeting on the sidelines of the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"If sources of Covid-19 infections remain somewhere in the world, then they can again trigger a spread globally. We need to prioritise humanitarian issues and the fight for the health and lives of people," Putin said. Putin believes that economic benefits should not be a priority at this point. The President's remarks come as Russia currently accounts for the world's sixth largest coronavirus caseload and the seventh highest death toll.

As of Saturday, Russia's infection tally and total fatalities stood at 5,049,210 and 120,974, respectively.

Covid Round Up: Nations with a death toll of over 100,000 are India (340,702), Mexico (228,362), the UK (128,086), Italy (126,415), Russia (120,974) and France (110,078).  The other worst countries with over 3 million cases are Brazil (16,841,408), France (5,762,637), Turkey (5,276,468), Russia (5,049,210), the UK (4,521,919), Italy (4,227,719), Argentina (3,915,397), Germany (3,704,685), Spain (3,697,981) and Colombia (3,518,046), the CSSE figures showed.

Turkey discovers more natural gas in Black Sea: President Recep Erdogan

Federal judge overturns California’s 30-year-old ban on assault weapons

World Bank to hike financial aid for Lebanon's most vulnerable families