Iranica Desk

Whether we are dazzled by the gleaming tile domes of Isfahan – an old city in central Iran – or the gem-like pages of the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp – one of the most famous illustrated manuscripts of the Shahnameh – or the lush silk brocades of Safavid robes, the 16th and 17th centuries stand out as one of the most brilliant periods in the history of Persian art.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its forecast for global economic growth by nearly a full percentage point, warning that inflation was now a "clear and present danger" for many countries.

The global death toll from COVID-19 topped 5 million on Monday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones with first-rate health care systems.

Persistent supply chain disruptions and pricing pressures are constraining the global economy's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday as it cut growth outlooks for the United States and other major industrial powers.

Arts & Culture Desk

Coronavirus-related deaths worldwide crossed three million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, as the latest global resurgence of COVID-19 infections is challenging vaccination efforts across the globe.

Iranica Desk

Global carbon dioxide emissions dropped by 5.8% in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic slowed economic activity, but they rebounded at the end of the year and are on course to rise further, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released on Tuesday the ninth annual Global Food Security Index (GFSI) sponsored by Corteva, which measures the underlying drivers of food security in 113 countries, based on the factors of affordability, availability, quality and safety, and natural resources and resilience.

By Axel van Trotsenburg*

Efforts by governments around the world to forge a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic are so far failing even to reach the levels of green spending seen in the stimulus that followed the 2008 financial crisis, new analysis has shown.

Food is piling up in all the wrong places, thanks to carriers hauling empty shipping containers.

The United Nations warned that the devastating socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt for years to come unless smart investments in economic, societal and climate resilience ensure a robust and sustainable recovery of the global economy.

Helping the most vulnerable people to cope with the climate crisis can boost the global economy during the COVID crisis and governments should make this a priority, the head of the International Monetary Fund has said.