On February 12, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted the significant impact of the U.S. foreign aid freeze, stressing its detrimental effects on efforts to combat HIV, polio, and other health threats worldwide.
On Wednesday, February 12, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the U.S. pause on foreign aid is severely impacting global health programs, including those addressing polio, HIV, and other health threats. Tedros urged the U.S. government to reconsider its decision until long-term solutions are found.
Speaking in a virtual press conference from Geneva, Tedros expressed concern about actions being taken by the U.S., noting that the suspension of foreign aid was already disrupting crucial health programs. In particular, the halt of funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has led to an immediate cessation of HIV treatment, testing, and prevention in 50 countries.
While a waiver allowed some services to resume, prevention efforts for at-risk groups were excluded. Tedros also pointed out the negative impact on polio eradication efforts and the response to mpox, especially in Myanmar, where nearly 60,000 people were left without access to life-saving services.
In addition to the aid freeze, President Trump’s move to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO is further hindering collaboration, particularly in the fight against outbreaks and influenza. WHO officials have noted limited access to information on the spread of avian influenza in the U.S. and human cases, with reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ceasing around January 24.
Tedros also mentioned the ongoing funding gap faced by the WHO, despite recent reforms to its funding model, and hinted at exploring other ideas to address the shortfall.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that critical funding shortages in Afghanistan could force the closure of up to 80% of its supported essential health care services across the country.
The World Health Organization WHO has announced a road map for cuts and tightening as it navigates a different reality in the absence of US funding.
Geneva, February 24, 2025 – A new analysis by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cancer agency, forecasts a significant rise in both breast cancer diagnoses and deaths worldwide by 2050.
The WHO will resume mass polio vaccinations in Gaza on 22 February, aiming to immunise over 591,000 children under 10 after the virus was detected in wastewater. The campaign, delayed since November due to conflict, comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions and rising health risks.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei declared that he would follow the United States in withdrawing from the World Health Organization due to “profound differences in health management, especially due to the pandemic, which led us to the longest confinement in the history of humanity.”
South Korean police will deploy 14,000 officers in Seoul on the day of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment ruling, anticipating protests and security threats. The Constitutional Court is set to deliver its verdict soon, with heightened measures in place.
China and Kazakhstan have agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including trade, security, and Belt and Road projects. At a high-level meeting in Beijing, officials emphasised stronger political ties, economic collaboration, and cultural exchanges to advance their strategic partnership.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to discuss the progress made by U.S. President Donald Trump in ceasefire talks with Russia, with both leaders emphasising the importance of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Fresh hostilities erupted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Wednesday, with reported air strikes causing infrastructure damage and evacuations despite a recently agreed partial ceasefire.
The inside of a Herculaneum delicate & ancient scroll, unseen for nearly 2,000 years, has been revealed using Artificial Intelligence.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan process, we cannot forget the years of occupation, and we will not forget them, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Global Baku Forum.
President Donald Trump has vowed to respond to the European Union's counter-tariffs, escalating tensions over the U.S. steel and aluminum duties that have sparked a trade dispute between the two economic powers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
AstraZeneca is acquiring Belgium-based EsoBiotec for $1 billion to expand its cell therapy capabilities, with the deal set to close in the second quarter.
Over a million displaced people in Myanmar are set to be affected by the World Food Programme’s cuts to food aid worldwide.
Measles cases in the European region surged to a 25-year high in 2024, more than doubling from the previous year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF reported on Thursday, urging immediate action to restore vaccination levels that declined after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cases in Europe are expected to rise in the coming months, the ECDC warned, citing seasonal trends and low vaccination rates. With over 32,000 cases reported in the past year—mostly in Romania—health officials stress the urgent need for higher immunization to prevent further outbreaks.
Pope Francis had a restful night, the Holy See Press Office said on Wednesday, two days after the Pope's doctors said his prognosis was no longer guarded even if he requires more time in the hospital.
South Korean police will deploy 14,000 officers in Seoul on the day of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment ruling, anticipating protests and security threats. The Constitutional Court is set to deliver its verdict soon, with heightened measures in place.
China and Kazakhstan have agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including trade, security, and Belt and Road projects. At a high-level meeting in Beijing, officials emphasised stronger political ties, economic collaboration, and cultural exchanges to advance their strategic partnership.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to discuss the progress made by U.S. President Donald Trump in ceasefire talks with Russia, with both leaders emphasising the importance of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Fresh hostilities erupted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Wednesday, with reported air strikes causing infrastructure damage and evacuations despite a recently agreed partial ceasefire.
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