Russia says it did not plan to hit any targets in Poland
Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday that its drones had carried out a major attack on military facilities in western Ukraine but that it had n...
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.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday that its drones had carried out a major attack on military facilities in western Ukraine but that it had not planned to hit any targets in Poland.
On Wednesday, Poland shot down drones in its airspace, aided by military aircraft from NATO allies. This marked the first instance of a NATO member firing shots during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The European Commission says it will propose sanctioning "extremist Israeli ministers" and a partial suspension of the European Union's association agreement with Israel, targeting trade-related matters. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement on Wednesday.
Singapore plans to acquire four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, a statement from the country's defence ministry said on Wednesday.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russian drones had violated Polish airspace on Wednesday (10 September) calling the attack "reckless".
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