United Nations

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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A look at the WHO’s struggle for a global COVID-19 vaccine plan

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday urged countries to join a global pact aimed at ensuring less wealthy countries have access to COVID-19 vaccines, warning about the risks from…

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WHO calls for end of vaccine nationalism

Countries putting their own interests ahead of others in trying to ensure supplies of a possible coronavirus vaccine are making the pandemic worse, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus…

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Asymptomatic people in 20s, 30s and 40s driving spread of Coronavirus – WHO

The spread of the coronavirus is being increasingly driven by people aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s and many are not aware that they have been infected, the World…

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Libya sovereign fund to ask UN for freedom to invest billions

Libya's sovereign wealth fund head plans to ask the United Nations to allow it to invest billions of dollars sitting idle in its accounts, after missing out on some $4.1…

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WHO downplays infection risk in frozen food imports

Two cities in China have found traces of the new coronavirus in cargoes of imported frozen food, local authorities said, although the World Health Organization downplayed the risk of the…

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WHO seeking $76 million for Lebanon after Beirut blast, concerned about coronavirus

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it had appealed for $76 million in aid for Lebanon after last week's massive explosion in Beirut destroyed or damaged hospitals, clinics and medical…

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Second protester dies in Belarus as UN sounds alarm

A protester has died in Belarus in police custody, the second death since clashes with police erupted on Sunday over a disputed presidential election. Officials say the cause of death…

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WHO lacks info to evaluate Russian COVID-19 vaccine

The World Health Organization has not received enough information on the Russian COVID-19 vaccine to evaluate it, the assistant director of its regional branch, the Pan American Health Organization, Jarbas…

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Coronavirus cases pass 20m but WHO sees “green shoots of hope”

Worldwide Covid-19 infections have passed 20 million, just a few days before the fifth month since the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic. Recalling this grim milestone, the WHO…

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Global food prices rise in July – UN

Global food prices continued rising for the second consecutive month in July, led by vegetable oils and dairy products, according to the benchmark United Nations report. The Food and Agriculture…

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Huge shortfall in funds to fight coronavirus, WHO says

There is a huge gap between funds needed to fight the coronavirus and funds committed worldwide, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday. But he said he…

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Countries urged to target human smugglers after migrants die at sea

Two UN agencies are calling for greater action to dismantle smuggling and trafficking networks following the deaths of 27 migrants off the coast of Mauritania, northwest Africa. The International Organization…

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France and. Germany quit WHO reforms talks as tensions with US rise

France and Germany have quit talks on reforming the World Health Organization in frustration at attempts by the United States to lead the negotiations, despite its decision to leave the…

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WHO chief says no country will be safe until we are all safe

Economic recovery around the world could come faster if any COVID-19 vaccine is made available to all as a public good, World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said…

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WHO says there may never be a ‘silver bullet’ for COVID-19

The World Health Organization warned on Monday that, despite strong hopes for a vaccine, there might never be a "silver bullet" for COVID-19, and the road to normality would be…

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Trump likely to address U.N. in person in September

U.S. President Donald Trump hopes to address the U.N. General Assembly in person in September, his U.N. envoy said, while all other world leaders will send videos instead of traveling…

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WHO reports record daily increase in global coronavirus cases, up over 292,000

The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases on Friday, with the total rising by 292,527. The biggest increases were from the United States, Brazil, India…

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WHO warns impact of coronavirus will be felt for decades to come

The global coronavirus outbreak is the sort of disaster whose effects will last far into the future, World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday. “The pandemic…

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There is no “zero risk” in easing travel restrictions, WHO says

There is no "zero risk" strategy for countries easing international travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and essential travel for emergencies should remain the priority, the World Health Organization (WHO)…

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WHO urges countries to gradually lift international travel

Countries should gradually lift international travel measures based on a thorough risk assessment and must prioritise essential travel for emergencies, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The WHO recommended that…

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WHO warns partying youngsters not to ‘let down guard’ on COVID-19

Young people letting down their guard to enjoy the summer holidays are partly driving a spike in new COVID-19 cases in some countries, the World Health Organization said. A fresh…

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WHO says COVID-19 pandemic is ‘one big wave’, not seasonal

The World Health Organization on Tuesday warned against complacency about new coronavirus transmission in the northern hemisphere summer, saying that this virus did not behave like influenza that tended to follow seasonal trends. "People…

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