WHO officials, donors, and diplomats will meet in Geneva from Monday facing a major challenge: how to manage global health crises amid a significant funding shortfall caused by the U.S. decision to withdraw.
The annual World Health Organization assembly usually highlights the agency’s work combating disease outbreaks, approving vaccines, and supporting health systems worldwide. However, this year’s focus is on downsizing following the U.S. announcement to leave the WHO, which has created a $600 million funding gap.
The U.S. had contributed about 18% of the WHO’s budget, and its planned exit by January 2026 is prompting the agency to prioritize essential tasks such as vaccine approval and outbreak response, while cutting less critical programs and offices in wealthier countries. Staff reductions and budget cuts are already underway.
As the U.S. steps back, China is expected to become the largest state contributor, increasing its share from just over 15% to 20%. This shift is sparking calls for a broader reevaluation of the WHO’s structure and spending.
Alongside funding challenges, the assembly will address a historic agreement on pandemic preparedness and continue efforts to secure more donor contributions.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Sunday to launch long-term EU–U.S. trade talks, with both sides having already exchanged negotiating papers to tackle their tariff differences.
The U.S. says any deal with Iran must ban uranium enrichment. Tehran says enrichment will not stop. Both sides appear far from an agreement.
On Sunday, Russian authorities detained a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged oil tanker after it departed Estonia’s Sillamäe port and entered Russian territorial waters, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.
Max Verstappen claimed a fourth consecutive Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix victory at Imola, sweeping past Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and holding off a late charge from Lando Norris. The win—his fifth of the season—extended his Imola dominance as Norris and Charles Leclerc completed the podium.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Sunday he refused an unnamed Western European government’s request to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of its presidential run-off, affirming that Telegram will not block political channels or curb users’ freedoms.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Sunday to launch long-term EU–U.S. trade talks, with both sides having already exchanged negotiating papers to tackle their tariff differences.
The U.S. says any deal with Iran must ban uranium enrichment. Tehran says enrichment will not stop. Both sides appear far from an agreement.
On Sunday, Russian authorities detained a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged oil tanker after it departed Estonia’s Sillamäe port and entered Russian territorial waters, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.
Max Verstappen claimed a fourth consecutive Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix victory at Imola, sweeping past Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and holding off a late charge from Lando Norris. The win—his fifth of the season—extended his Imola dominance as Norris and Charles Leclerc completed the podium.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Sunday he refused an unnamed Western European government’s request to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of its presidential run-off, affirming that Telegram will not block political channels or curb users’ freedoms.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid, but with specific conditions limiting its use to certain groups.
A confirmed case of bird flu on a commercial farm in Brazil has prompted China to suspend poultry imports, while other countries introduce regional restrictions.
Japanese children continue to struggle with mental health issues, ranking 32nd out of 43 developed and emerging countries, according to a new UNICEF report, despite notable improvements in education and strong physical health indicators.
President Donald Trump signed a new executive order aimed at aligning U.S. drug prices with those of other countries by removing private-sector middlemen from the system. While the move caused a drop in stocks, it promises significant changes for the pharmaceutical industry.
Scientists have developed an AI tool called FaceAge that analyzes selfies to estimate biological age, predict cancer survival rates, and assist in healthcare decisions. The tool has demonstrated remarkable accuracy, outperforming clinicians in some cases, and could revolutionize health diagnostics.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Sunday to launch long-term EU–U.S. trade talks, with both sides having already exchanged negotiating papers to tackle their tariff differences.
The U.S. says any deal with Iran must ban uranium enrichment. Tehran says enrichment will not stop. Both sides appear far from an agreement.
On Sunday, Russian authorities detained a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged oil tanker after it departed Estonia’s Sillamäe port and entered Russian territorial waters, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.
Max Verstappen claimed a fourth consecutive Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix victory at Imola, sweeping past Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and holding off a late charge from Lando Norris. The win—his fifth of the season—extended his Imola dominance as Norris and Charles Leclerc completed the podium.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Sunday he refused an unnamed Western European government’s request to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of its presidential run-off, affirming that Telegram will not block political channels or curb users’ freedoms.
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