Zelenskyy warns of heavy fighting near Pokrovsk, plans drone ramp-up
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Ukrainian forces are engaged in intense battles near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a critical logist...
China announced a $500 million contribution to the WHO over five years, stepping in as the UN agency faces a funding shortfall after the U.S. cut support.
China will provide an additional $500 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) over the next five years, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong announced at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. The pledge comes as the UN health agency grapples with a budget crisis following the expected withdrawal of U.S. funding under the Trump administration.
"The world is now facing the impacts of unilateralism and power politics bringing major challenges to global health security," Liu said. "Multilateralism is a sure pass to addressing difficulties."
China’s commitment is expected to elevate it to the position of the WHO’s top state donor, replacing the United States, which has historically been the largest single contributor.
In response to its financial difficulties, the WHO has proposed a 21% reduction in its 2026–2027 budget, lowering it to $4.2 billion. The World Health Assembly is set to approve a new funding model that includes a 20% increase in mandatory membership fees from countries.
It remains unclear whether China's $500 million pledge includes its increased assessed contribution or is in addition to it. Nonetheless, the announcement was welcomed as a stabilizing gesture at a time when the WHO is seeking to preserve core programs in global health.
The WHO has emphasized the importance of predictable, long-term funding to maintain readiness for health emergencies and support health systems worldwide. China's new commitment is expected to play a critical role in filling the gap left by reduced U.S. contributions.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday praised Pakistan's role in promoting regional stability and discussed deeper cooperation on counterterrorism, trade, and critical minerals during a meeting in Washington with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that Ukrainian forces are engaged in intense battles near the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a critical logistics center where Russian forces have been steadily advancing and claiming new territory almost daily.
President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday, combining diplomacy with business as his family prepares to open a new golf course on 13 August in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire.
Cambodia has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with Thailand as border clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbors escalated for a second consecutive day, AFP reports.
Trump rejected Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment