21st September 2020

Why Thai protesters are challenging the monarchy

Since a longstanding taboo on criticising Thailand's monarchy was broken by protesters in early August, their rallies in Bangkok have got increasingly bold in criticising King Maha Vajiralongkorn and demanding…

Diplomatique.Expert, ThailandProtests, Thailand

21st September 2020

World leaders to mark United Nations at 75 as pandemic challenges organization

World leaders will come together, virtually, on Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, as the deadly coronavirus pandemic challenges the effectiveness and solidarity of the 193-member…

CD eNews, United NationsUnited Nations

20th September 2020

WHO endorses protocol for testing African herbal medicines as potential treatment for coronavirus

The World Health Organization has endorsed a protocol for testing African herbal medicines as potential treatments for the coronavirus and other epidemics. Covid-19 has raised the issue of using traditional…

Africa, Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Africa, Coronavirus, WHO

18th September 2020

Covid-19 situation in Europe is alarming – WHO

While worldwide coronavirus have exceeded the 30 million mark, according to official data, it is the Old Continent which is causing the biggest headaches to the World Health Organisaton. “The…

Coronavirus, Europe, WHOEurope, Health, WHO

17th September 2020

Global economic recovery may take 5 years, World Bank chief economist says

The global economic recovery from the crisis originated by the coronavirus pandemic may take as much as five years, the World Bank's chief economist Carmen Reinhart said on Thursday. "There…

Business, Coronavirus, World BankCarmen Reinhart, Coronavirus, world Bank

17th September 2020

WHO appeals to keep health workers and patients safe

WHO appeals to keep health workers and patients safe The World Health Organization (WHO) called on governments and health care leaders to address persistent threats to the health and safety…

Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, WHO

17th September 2020

WHO’s Ryan: Need consistent messaging, must not turn COVID-19 into “political football”

The World Health Organization's top emergency expert, asked on Thursday about contradictory remarks by President Donald Trump and U.S. health officials, said that it was important for all countries to…

CD eNews, Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, WHO

17th September 2020

WHO warns hospitalisations of 15-49-year-olds infected with Covid-19 increasing

The average age of people infected with Covid-19 is coming down, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) expert, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove. She has told a social media webcast…

CD eNews, Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, WHO

16th September 2020

World Tourism Organization says international travel could take four years to recover

International tourist arrivals plunged 65% in the first half of 2020 compared to last year, data from the World Tourism Organization showed, translating into an estimated $460 billion loss in…

Coronavirus, United NationsCoronavirus, WTO

16th September 2020

Half the world’s schoolchildren still unable to attend classrooms

Around 872 million school children – or half of the world’s student population – are still unable to attend schools in person because of the pandemic. Henrietta Fore, executive director…

Coronavirus, United Nationschildren, Coronavirus, Education, Unicef

16th September 2020

U.N. chief to push pandemic ceasefire at world leaders meeting, but fears opportunities lost

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will use his annual address to world leaders next week to push for a global ceasefire until the end of 2020 so countries can fight the…

United NationsAntonio Guterres, United Nations

16th September 2020

World still at the beginning of the pandemic, WHO expert warns

The world is still at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, a World Health Organization special envoy on Covid-19 has said. Dr David Nabarro described the situation as “grotesque” during…

CD eNews, Coronavirus, UK, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, David Nabarro, UK, WHO

16th September 2020

U.N. chief to appoint special envoy to broker peace in Libya

The U.N. Security Council asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a special envoy to broker peace in Libya, although Russia and China abstained from voting on the resolution that also…

CD eNews, Libya, United NationsLibya, United Nations

15th September 2020

Elbow bumps should be avoided too – WHO

No hugs, kisses, shaking of hands was the order of the day to avoid contagion as the coronavirus pandemic brought a new normal in our daily lives. In saluting each…

Coronavirus, News, WHOWHO

14th September 2020

OPEC turns 60

In 1973, Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries brought the U.S. economy to its knees. Now, the cartel created 60 years ago is more likely to do…

Business, Diplomatique.Expert, OPECOPEC

14th September 2020

U.N. human rights chief says reports of Belarus violence are alarming

The United Nations human rights chief said on Monday her office was receiving "alarming reports" of the ongoing violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in Belarus. "Reports continue to indicate unnecessary…

Belarus, United NationsBelarus, United Nations

14th September 2020

Ex-WHO head says just $5 per person a year could prevent future pandemic

Spending $5 per person annually on global health security over the next five years could prevent a future “catastrophic” pandemic, according to a former head of the World Health Organization…

Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO

14th September 2020

Coronavirus pandemic preparedness panel slams collective failure to head warnings

A collective failure by political leaders to heed warnings and prepare for an infectious disease pandemic has transformed “a world at risk” to a “world in disorder”, according to a…

Coronavirus, United NationsCoronavirus, United Nations

14th September 2020

WHO head urges rich nations to join vaccine scheme by Friday deadline

Countries should join the World Health Organization's (WHO) COVAX vaccine facility by a Friday deadline to help ensure that immunizations are fairly and efficiently distributed, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom…

Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, vaccine, WHO

14th September 2020

WHO Europe warns of tougher months ahead with more deaths

The World Health Organization expects Europe to see a rise in the daily number of Covid-19 deaths in October and November, the head of the body’s European branch has told…

CD eNews, Coronavirus, Europe, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, Europe, WHO

14th September 2020

WHO reports record daily rise in new coronavirus infections

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded a record one-day rise in the number of new coronavirus infections, with 307,930 reported over 24 hours. The agency said that deaths rose…

CD eNews, Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, WHO

12th September 2020

Supporters who helped Trump win presidency lagging in motivation this year

With less than two months to go until the U.S. election, President Donald Trump is having trouble energizing his core supporters, especially white voters without college degrees who were key…

Diplomatique.Expert, Election Watch, USADonald Trump, Election Watch, Joe Biden, USA

12th September 2020

EU seeks urgent debate on Belarus at U.N. rights body

The European Union is requesting an urgent debate on Belarus at the top U.N. rights body next week, describing a “deterioration” in the situation there, a letter written by the…

Comuniq.EU, European Union, United NationsBelarus, European Union, UN

11th September 2020

WHO says $700 million raised so far for COVID-19 vaccines initiative for poor

International donors have raised $700 million - less than half the target - to purchase future coronavirus vaccines for poor countries in a global initiative to ensure eventual vaccines do…

Coronavirus, WHOCoronavirus, vaccine, WHO

11th September 2020

UNICEF chief urges firms to fight COVID-19 with public sector partners

Firms should look toward public-private partnerships in the fight against COVID-19, the head of United Nations' children's agency told business leaders. The pandemic could provide a rare opportunity for companies…

Coronavirus, UNICEFCoronavirus, Unicef

11th September 2020

AstraZeneca vaccine trial pause a “wake-up call”, says WHO

AstraZeneca's pause of an experimental vaccine for the coronavirus after the illness of a participant is a "wake-up call" but should not discourage researchers, the World Health Organization's (WHO) chief…

CD eNews, Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)AstraZeneca, Coronavirus, vaccine, WHO

10th September 2020

Palestinians win Saudi support but no Arab condemnation of UAE-Israel deal

Palestinian leaders won renewed Saudi support for Palestinian statehood at a Wednesday meeting, but did not persuade the Arab League to condemn last month’s normalisation deal between Israel and the…

Arab LeagueArab League, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, UAE

9th September 2020

U.N. warns Coronavirus pandemic threatens lives of millions of children

Disruptions to health services due to the pandemic are putting millions of additional lives at risk worldwide, the United Nations said Wednesday, warning that Covid-19 could reverse decades of progress…

Coronavirus, United NationsCoronavirus, Unicef

9th September 2020

Asia summits underway amid U.S.-China friction

Southeast Asian foreign ministers kicked off a series of regional summits on Wednesday expected to seek collaboration to fight global threats, and to try to de-escalate a tit-for-tat rivalry as…

ASEAN, Vietnamasean, Asia

9th September 2020

UPDATED: WHO says vaccine safety top priority, as AstraZeneca pauses study

Safety of a prospective vaccine for COVID-19 comes "first and foremost", the World Health Organization's chief scientist said on Wednesday, as a trial of a candidate from AstraZeneca was paused,…

CD eNews, Coronavirus, WHOAstraZeneca, Coronavirus, vaccine, WHO

9th September 2020

G7 foreign ministers condemn Navalny’s ‘confirmed poisoning’

The Group of Seven foreign ministers condemned the “confirmed poisoning” of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in the strongest terms, according to a statement released by the U.S. State Department. “We,…

G7, RussiaAlexei Navalny, G7, Russia

7th September 2020

IEA sees oil market stuck between no major slowdown but stalled recovery

The global economy is likely not headed for any major slowdown due to COVID-19 but piled-up storage and uncertainty over China's oil demand cloud oil markets' recovery, an official with…

Business, International Energy Agency (IEA)IEA, Oil

7th September 2020

Brexit back in crisis as UK threatens to undermine divorce pact

. Brexit trade talks plunged into fresh crisis on Monday after Britain warned the European Union that it could undercut the divorce deal it signed unless the bloc agrees to…

Brexit, Diplomatique.ExpertBREXIT, European Union

7th September 2020

Bartolo discusses Libya, Eastern Mediterranean in meeting with Arab League

Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo repeated calls for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict during a meeting with the Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Malta…

Arab League, DiplomacyArab League, Evarist Bartolo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

4th September 2020

UPDATED: WHO warns widespread COVID vaccinations not expected until mid-2021

The World Health Organization does not expect widespread vaccinations against COVID-19 until the middle of next year, a spokeswoman said on Friday, stressing the importance of rigorous checks on their…

Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, vaccine, WHO

3rd September 2020

World food price index rises for 3rd month running in August -FAO

World food prices rose for a third month running in August, led by coarse grains, vegetable oils and sugar, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday. The Food and…

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)fao, Food and Drink

3rd September 2020

U.S. blacklists ICC prosecutor over Afghanistan war crimes probe

The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, over her investigation into whether American forces committed war crimes…

International Criminal Court (ICC), USAAfghanistan, Fatou Bensouda, ICC, USA

3rd September 2020

On This Day…

301 - San Marino, one of the smallest nations in the world and the world's oldest republic still in existence, founded by Saint Marinus  1783 - Treaty of Paris signed…

Diplomatique.Expert, HistoryOnThisDay

3rd September 2020

U.S. will not pay what it owes WHO this year

The United States said on Wednesday that it will not pay some $80 million it currently owes to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) and will instead redirect the money…

Coronavirus, USA, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, USA, WHO

2nd September 2020

Europe can live with COVID-19 with local lockdowns – WHO regional director

Europe can live with COVID-19 without a vaccine by managing outbreaks with localised lockdowns, the World Health Organization's director for the region said on Tuesday, adding he did not expect…

Coronavirus, Europe, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, Europe, WHO

31st August 2020

COVID-19 can wipe out health care progress in short order: WHO

More than 90% of countries have seen ordinary health services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with major gains in medical care attained over decades vulnerable to being wiped out in a short period, a World Health Organization survey showed. The Geneva-based body has…

CD Covid-19, CD eNews, WHOCovid-19, WHO

29th August 2020

After port blast, rudderless Lebanon drifts towards the rocks

Three weeks after the catastrophic explosion at Beirut port, Lebanon is drifting towards even more trouble as its politicians fail to agree a new government that can arrest a financial…

Diplomatique.Expert, LebanonLebanon

28th August 2020

New reckoning for WHO vaccine plan as governments go it alone

The World Health Organization will next week receive a raft of pledges of support for its plan for COVID-19 vaccines for all. But the agency has already had to scale…

Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, WHO

28th August 2020

What’s next after Japan PM Abe resigned? Potential successors?

The abrupt news that Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe resign over a worsening health condition, set off a flurry of attention on Friday over the path ahead for the…

Diplomatique.Expert, JapanJapan, Shinzo Abe

28th August 2020

Wearing masks not enough, says WHO

A top scientist at the WHO has expressed concern over some people not maintaining physical distancing, warning that masks alone cannot protect against the spread of coronavirus. The technical head…

Coronavirus, WHOCoronavirus, WHO

27th August 2020

NATO chief says Lukashenko must respect fundamental rights

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday to respect fundamental rights and said it would be unjustified to use the defence alliance as an excuse…

Belarus, NATOBelarus, NATO

26th August 2020

Three years on, Rohingya refugees remain in Bangladesh camps

August 25 marked the third anniversary of attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgents that triggered military retaliation and led to the exodus from Buddhist-majority Myanmar over following days and weeks of…

Bangladesh, Diplomatique.Expert, MigrationBangladesh, Migration, Rohingya

26th August 2020

U.N. agency says young people fuelling recent spike of coronavirus in Americas

Young people are driving the spread of the coronavirus in the Americas, the head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said, noting that both deaths and caseloads have doubled…

United NationsCoronavirus, United Nations

25th August 2020

172 countries and multiple candidate vaccines engaged in COVID-19 vaccine Global Access Facility

172 economies are now engaged in discussions to potentially participate in COVAX, a global initiative aimed at working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries worldwide equitable access to safe and…

Coronavirus, WHOcoronavirus; vaccine

24th August 2020

WHO says 172 countries engaging with global COVID-19 vaccine plan

Some 172 countries are engaging with the WHO-led COVAX plan designed to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organization said on Monday, but more funding is urgently…

Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, vaccine, WHO

23rd August 2020

Who is Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny?

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is in Germany from Siberia for treatment. He is in a coma after drinking what his supporters suspect was poisoned tea; they accuse the authorities…

Diplomatique.Expert, RussiaAlexei Navalny, Russia

23rd August 2020

WHO says children aged 12 and over should wear masks like adults

The World Health Organization (WHO) said children aged 12 and over should wear masks to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic under the same conditions as adults, while children between six…

CD eNews, Coronavirus, World Health Organization (WHO)Coronavirus, WHO

21st August 2020

In convention speech, Biden emerges from shadow and into ‘the light’

Joe Biden finally got his moment. After a 2020 presidential campaign dominated by President Donald Trump's words and actions, Biden on Thursday rose to the level of a true adversary…

Diplomatique.Expert, Election Watch, USADemocratic Party, Joe Biden, USA

20th August 2020

Germany, France want more funding, power for WHO as part of sweeping reforms

Germany and France want to give more money and power to the World Health Organisation after the COVID-19 pandemic underscored long-standing financial and legal weaknesses at the U.N. agency, an…

CD eNews, France, Germany, World Health Organization (WHO)France, Germany, WHO

20th August 2020

UN joins global condemnation of military takeover in Mali

The United Nations has joined global condemnation of the military takeover in Mali, which saw President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta forced to resign. The UN's Security Council echoed similar calls by…

CD eNews, Mali, United NationsMali, United Nations