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.
Hungary has temporarily relocated its embassy from Tehran to Baku, citing rising security risks, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in a video statement posted on social media.
China’s exports of rare earth magnets dropped sharply in May, plunging 52.9% from April to just 1,238 metric tons, their lowest monthly level since February 2020. The drop comes amid tightened export controls and growing customs scrutiny.
Severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in southern China has forced the evacuation of about 70,000 people, local media reported on Wednesday.
Former UFC lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have landed in Baku ahead of Azerbaijan’s first-ever UFC tournament.
Kazakhstan will establish regional water risk management headquarters to address growing water challenges during the vegetation season, the government announced following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
Hungary has temporarily relocated its embassy from Tehran to Baku, citing rising security risks, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in a video statement posted on social media.
The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping new sanctions targeting Iran’s defence supply chain and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, intensifying efforts to block the flow of sensitive military technology and illicit oil revenues fueling regional instability.
China’s exports of rare earth magnets dropped sharply in May, plunging 52.9% from April to just 1,238 metric tons, their lowest monthly level since February 2020. The drop comes amid tightened export controls and growing customs scrutiny.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in southern China has forced the evacuation of about 70,000 people, local media reported on Wednesday.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
China has successfully mastered the technology to produce Yttrium-90, a critical medical isotope used in radiation therapy for liver cancer, within a commercial nuclear reactor.
German biotech firm BioNTech (22UAy.DE), has agreed to acquire domestic peer CureVac, for about $1.25 billion worth of BioNTech shares, it said on Thursday, to boost its work on new mRNA-based cancer treatments.
Revolutionizing Heart Care: How Artificial Intelligence Powered Digital Twins Are Shaping the Future of Medicine
Researchers at the University of Miami have discovered 230 new giant viruses in global ocean waters, shedding light on their hidden role in marine ecosystems and their potential impact on public health.
Mayo Clinic researchers have validated a blood test's high precision for diagnosing patients with cognitive impairment.This non-invasive, cost-effective breakthrough, detailed in Alzheimer's & Dementia, offers much-needed hope for earlier intervention and better management.
Hungary has temporarily relocated its embassy from Tehran to Baku, citing rising security risks, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced in a video statement posted on social media.
The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping new sanctions targeting Iran’s defence supply chain and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement, intensifying efforts to block the flow of sensitive military technology and illicit oil revenues fueling regional instability.
China’s exports of rare earth magnets dropped sharply in May, plunging 52.9% from April to just 1,238 metric tons, their lowest monthly level since February 2020. The drop comes amid tightened export controls and growing customs scrutiny.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in southern China has forced the evacuation of about 70,000 people, local media reported on Wednesday.
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