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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Argentina Finalizes WHO Exit As Milei, RFK Jr. Promote 'New Era' Of Global Health
Argentina has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization, deepening a growing rift between Western populists and the U.N.'s leading global health agency. The ratification of Argentina's withdrawal was confirmed Monday during the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s visit to Buenos Aires. This action follows a February announcement by President Javier Milei, echoing the re-election campaign promises of President Donald J. Trump, who reentered the White House in January and immediately reinstated plans to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO. 'The WHO's prescriptions do not work because they are not based on science but on political interests and bureaucratic structures,' Milei's government said in a statement on May 26, as reported by The Guardian. Kennedy now says that both governments aim to construct a new international health architecture, grounded in what they call 'gold-standard science' and national sovereignty. In a joint statement released on May 27 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Argentina's Ministry of Health, Kennedy and his Argentine counterpart, Mario Lugones, said the WHO had 'failed to provide critical access to information' and accused it of allowing political agendas to compromise scientific judgment. 'Our shared commitment is to cost-effective, evidence-based public health interventions,' the statement read, adding that the WHO's structure is 'increasingly reliant on voluntary contributions and vulnerable to the influence of non-scientific agendas.' Argentina's move and Kennedy's rhetoric mirror former President Trump's first break with the WHO in April 2020. At that time, Trump suspended funding and accused the agency of 'severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus,' particularly its early reluctance to support travel bans from China, Politico reported. The United States was the WHO's largest donor at the time, reportedly providing over $400 million annually. The funding halt was met with fierce backlash from some in the medical community and Democratic lawmakers. Then-AMA President Patrice Harris warned the decision would undercut global efforts to combat the pandemic, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it an 'act of true senselessness.' Though President Joe Biden restored WHO membership after taking office in 2021, Trump's second administration reversed that decision within hours of inauguration in January 2025. An executive order posted to the White House website on January 20 stated the WHO 'continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States' and 'fails to demonstrate independence from inappropriate political influence.' The order also called for the reassignment of U.S. personnel working with the WHO and pledged a review of all agreements related to the WHO's proposed Pandemic Accord and International Health Regulations. Kennedy, who addressed the WHO's World Health Assembly via video last week, urged more countries to exit the agency, alleging undue influence from China, gender ideology, and the pharmaceutical industry, per The Guardian. Skepticism of the WHO has been growing in the United States since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the organization supported school closures in places like Iran, despite the relative lack of risk COVID posed to children. In his May 20 video post, Kennedy said the WHO has become 'mired in bureaucratic bloat, entrenched paradigms, conflicts of interest, and international power politics,' and that its failures during COVID should serve as a wake-up call. Public support for WHO reform or withdrawal has found new allies, including activists like Diane Cotter, who thanked Kennedy in a reply on X, writing: 'We saw this firsthand when leading PFAS scientists discovered WHO was influenced by the cancer club… I await our turn at bat to expose the firefighter serial killer.' Cotter has campaigned against PFAS chemicals in firefighting gear, a cause Kennedy has previously supported. Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Houston-based ENT who made headlines for opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, responded to Kennedy's May 20 post with a series of clapping hand emojis. Argentina's health minister, Lugones, echoed Kennedy's call for a fresh start, saying the two nations would 'strengthen transparency and trust in the health system' through bilateral cooperation. Both nations now aim to rally others behind their cause. '[We]… invite all nations committed to scientific integrity, transparency, and the defense of human dignity to join us in shaping a new era of global health cooperation,' their joint statement declared.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Palestinians to raise flag at WHO for the first time after vote
The Palestinian delegation won the right to fly their flag at the World Health Organization after a symbolic victory in a vote on Monday that its envoy hopes will lead to greater recognition within the United Nations and beyond. The proposal, brought by China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others, at the global agency's annual assembly in Geneva passed with 95 in favour and four against – Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany – and 27 abstentions. It follows a successful Palestinian bid for membership of the UN General Assembly last year and comes amid signs that France could recognise a Palestinian state. In apparent reference to the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Lebanon's delegate Rana el Khoury said the vote's outcome provided 'a small ray of hope for the brave Palestinian people whose suffering has reached unbearable levels'. Israel's ambassador Daniel Meron argued against the WHO resolution which he said eroded the principles of the UN and the rules-based order and called for a vote. 'It sends a dangerous message that political symbolism can override legal standards, that emotion can replace process and that partisan interests can bend the rules of international legitimacy,' he said. Its main ally, the United States, which plans to exit the WHO, did not participate. Even though almost 150 countries have recognised a Palestinian state, most major Western and other powers have not, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. France and Japan voted in favour of the proposal while Britain abstained. 'It is symbolic and one act but a sign that we are part of an international community to help on health needs,' the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, told Reuters. 'I hope we will soon have full membership of the WHO and all UN forums.' Palestinians seek statehood in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. They have official observer state status at the WHO, which is currently undergoing a transformation as it looks ahead to life without its biggest donor the United States. Last week, the Palestinians won the right to receive notifications under the WHO's International Health Regulations – a set of global rules for monitoring outbreaks.
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Palestinians to raise flag at WHO for the first time after vote
GENEVA: The Palestinian delegation won the right to fly their flag at the World Health Organisation after a symbolic victory in a vote on Monday that its envoy hopes will lead to greater recognition within the United Nations and beyond. The proposal, brought by China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others, at the global agency's annual assembly in Geneva passed with 95 in favour and four against - Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany - and 27 abstentions. It follows a successful Palestinian bid for membership of the U.N. General Assembly last year and comes amid signs that France could recognise a Palestinian state. In apparent reference to the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Lebanon's delegate Rana el Khoury said the vote's outcome provided 'a small ray of hope for the brave Palestinian people whose suffering has reached unbearable levels'. Israel argued against the WHO resolution and called for a vote. Its main ally, the United States, which plans to exit the WHO, did not participate. Pakistan Foreign Office opposes any attempt aimed at displacing Palestinians Even though almost 150 countries have recognised a Palestinian state, most major Western and other powers have not, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. France and Japan voted in favour of the proposal while Britain abstained. 'It is symbolic and one act but a sign that we are part of an international community to help on health needs,' the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, told Reuters. 'I hope we will soon have full membership of the WHO and all U.N. forums.' Palestinians seek statehood in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. They have official observer state status at the WHO, which is currently undergoing a transformation as it looks ahead to life without its biggest donor the United States. Last week, the Palestinians won the right to receive notifications under the WHO's International Health Regulations - a set of global rules for monitoring outbreaks.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Palestinians to raise flag at WHO for the first time after vote
By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -The Palestinian delegation won the right to fly their flag at the World Health Organization after a symbolic victory in a vote on Monday that its envoy hopes will lead to greater recognition within the United Nations and beyond. The proposal, brought by China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others, at the global agency's annual assembly in Geneva passed with 95 in favour and four against - Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany - and 27 abstentions. It follows a successful Palestinian bid for membership of the U.N. General Assembly last year and comes amid signs that France could recognise a Palestinian state. In apparent reference to the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Lebanon's delegate Rana el Khoury said the vote's outcome provided "a small ray of hope for the brave Palestinian people whose suffering has reached unbearable levels". Israel argued against the WHO resolution and called for a vote. Its main ally, the United States, which plans to exit the WHO, did not participate. Even though almost 150 countries have recognised a Palestinian state, most major Western and other powers have not, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. France and Japan voted in favour of the proposal while Britain abstained. "It is symbolic and one act but a sign that we are part of an international community to help on health needs," the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, told Reuters. "I hope we will soon have full membership of the WHO and all U.N. forums." Palestinians seek statehood in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. They have official observer state status at the WHO, which is currently undergoing a transformation as it looks ahead to life without its biggest donor the United States. Last week, the Palestinians won the right to receive notifications under the WHO's International Health Regulations - a set of global rules for monitoring outbreaks.
GMA Network
26-05-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
Palestinians to raise flag at WHO for the first time after vote
Lebanon's delegate Rana el Khoury said the vote's outcome provided "a small ray of hope for the brave Palestinian people whose suffering has reached unbearable levels." Kena Betancur/ AFP/ File photo GENEVA — The Palestinian delegation won the right to fly their flag at the World Health Organization after a symbolic victory in a vote on Monday that its envoy hopes will lead to greater recognition within the United Nations and beyond. The proposal, brought by China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others, at the global agency's annual assembly in Geneva passed with 95 in favor and four against—Israel, Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany—and 27 abstentions. It follows a successful Palestinian bid for membership of the UN General Assembly last year and comes amid signs that France could recognize a Palestinian state. In apparent reference to the devastating Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Lebanon's delegate Rana el Khoury said the vote's outcome provided "a small ray of hope for the brave Palestinian people whose suffering has reached unbearable levels." Israel argued against the WHO resolution and called for a vote. Its main ally, the United States, which plans to exit the WHO, did not participate. Even though almost 150 countries have recognized a Palestinian state, most major Western and other powers have not, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. France and Japan voted in favor of the proposal while Britain abstained. "It is symbolic and one act but a sign that we are part of an international community to help on health needs," the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, told Reuters. "I hope we will soon have full membership of the WHO and all UN forums." Palestinians seek statehood in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. They have official observer state status at the WHO, which is currently undergoing a transformation as it looks ahead to life without its biggest donor the United States. Last week, the Palestinians won the right to receive notifications under the WHO's International Health Regulations, a set of global rules for monitoring outbreaks. — Reuters
