International News
Global Health Shake-Up As US Officially Pulls Out of WHO
The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organisation (WHO), marking a major shift in global health governance and ending decades of collaboration with the UN-backed health body.
The White House announced the decision on Thursday, citing dissatisfaction with WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, failure to implement critical reforms, and concerns over political influence from member states.
In a joint statement, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State said the organisation mishandled the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, which emerged from Wuhan, China, and failed to act independently and decisively as the virus spread across the globe.
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US Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the country would maintain only limited engagement with WHO as part of the withdrawal process.
The move follows a January 20, 2025 announcement by President Donald Trump, who initiated the process to exit the organisation.
Over the past year, the United States halted funding to WHO, withdrew its personnel, and redirected health-related initiatives to direct partnerships with other countries and international bodies.
The White House also criticised WHO for delaying the declaration of COVID-19 as a global public health emergency and later a pandemic, arguing that the delay cost the world valuable time to contain the virus.
US officials further accused the organisation of praising China’s response to the outbreak despite allegations of early underreporting, suppression of information, and delays in confirming human-to-human transmission.
WHO was also faulted for downplaying asymptomatic transmission and failing to promptly acknowledge the airborne nature of the virus.
Concerns were also raised over WHO’s report on the origins of COVID-19, which ruled out the possibility of a laboratory-related incident.
The US argued that China’s refusal to release early genetic data and provide full transparency regarding laboratory activities in Wuhan undermined the credibility of the findings.
Meanwhile, WHO disclosed that the United States owes membership dues for 2024 and 2025, estimated at about $260 million.
The organisation said the matter would be discussed at its executive board meeting in February, noting that it lacks the authority to prevent the US withdrawal.
Reacting to the development, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, expressed regret over the decision, describing the US exit as a loss to both the organisation and global health cooperation.
He urged Washington to reconsider, stressing the importance of solidarity in tackling global health emergencies.
Despite the withdrawal, the White House said the United States would continue to play a leading role in global health through partnerships with other nations, non-governmental organisations, private sector players, and faith-based groups, with a focus on emergency response, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
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According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.
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