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.
Medals were awarded in eight disciplines on Sunday as the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics continued in Italy....
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar delivered a state of the nation speech in Budapest on Sunday, saying the parliamentary elections in April wer...
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said the United States could evaluate its own interests separately from those of Isr...
United States prepares for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long military operations against Iran, two U.S. officials told Reuters as the images of...
Medals were awarded in eight disciplines on Sunday as the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics continued in Italy.
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar delivered a state of the nation speech in Budapest on Sunday, saying the parliamentary elections in April were an opportunity for his country to take a new direction.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said the United States could evaluate its own interests separately from those of Israel in ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
United States prepares for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long military operations against Iran, two U.S. officials told Reuters as the images of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group sailing and flying in formation were released on Sunday.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said China has the power to bring an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, arguing that Beijing is enabling Moscow’s military campaign.
American figure skating star Ilia Malinin endured a dramatic collapse in the men’s free skate on Friday night, falling twice and tumbling out of medal contention at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov surged to a surprise gold medal.
Thousands of fans packed River Plate’s Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Friday for the first of three sold-out concerts by Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny, as part of his “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” World Tour.
New Zealand declared a state of emergency in Otorohanga on Saturday (14 February) after torrential rain caused severe flooding, power outages and evacuations.
Austria’s Janine Flock won the gold medal in the women’s skeleton event at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday.
Measles cases across Europe and Central Asia fell sharply in 2025 compared to the previous year but health officials have warned that the risk of fresh outbreaks remains unless vaccination gaps are urgently addressed.
A Florida university has become a new hotspot in a widening U.S. measles outbreak, with health officials confirming multiple infections and hospitalisations.
The World Health Organization has added the Nipah virus to its list of the world’s top 10 priority diseases, alongside COVID-19 and the Zika virus, warning that its epidemic potential highlights the global risk posed by fast-spreading outbreaks.
Belgian authorities are examining suspected cases of infants falling ill after consuming recalled Nestle baby formula, amid warnings that confirmed infections may be underestimated due to limited testing requirements.
Two Nipah infections involving health workers in India have triggered heightened screening across Southeast Asia as authorities move to prevent the high fatality virus from spreading beyond the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment