May 2026
WHO chief visits Ebola outbreak epicenter in eastern Congo as cases outpace response (LINK) — 30 May 2026
WHO chief hails 5 Ebola recoveries as a new treatment center opens in eastern Congo (LINK restricted) — 31 May 2026
Ebola recoveries bring signs of hope in DRC as suspected cases emerge outside Africa — (LINK)
UN Human Rights: Ten Key Steps for Regulations to Protect Children Online (LINK) — 29 May 2026
— The guidelines cover platform design, "maximum protection of childen's data [..] as a default setting", due diligence by companies, "guardrails around age verification systems", giving children a voice in governance, transparency, accountability and evidence collection.
WHO urges governments to protect young people from addiction to tobacco and nicotine products (LINK) — 29 May 2026
Ebola outbreak could become 'deadliest on record,' International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned amid reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent an "urgent request" to recruit staff to screen travelers at U.S. airports (LINK) — 27 May 2026
Many countries tighten travel rules as Ebola risk rises (LINK) — 27 May 2026
Uganda closes its border with Congo as cases of Ebola surge (LINK) — ground.news: media reports (LINK) — 27 May 2026
CNN: DRC is no stranger to Ebola outbreaks. Why isn't there a vaccine or treatment to help now? (LINK) — 26 May 2026
— The fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is already the third-largest on record and the 17th outbreak the country has dealt with since the virus was discovered there in 1976. A vaccine was developed during the West Africa outbreak of the different Zaire strain and trialled successfully there in 2015. Called Ervebo,
UN: Security Council: Founding principles of the UN facing 'profound strain', Guterres warns (LINK) — 26 May 2026
UN chief warns of dangerous erosion of respect for international law — (LINK)
Russia slams US for not granting visa to diplomat for meeting (LINK) — 26 May 2026
"Azerbaijan turned urban diplomacy into a global political platform" (LINK) — 25 May 2026: World Urban Forum news coverage — (LINK)
— More than 57,000 participants from 176 countries attended the forum, making it the largest session in the history of the World Urban Forum. The final Baku Call to Action even refers to participation exceeding 58,000 people. What was formally a forum dedicated to urban development evolved into something much broader: a discussion about post-conflict reconstruction, sustainable development, international cooperation, environmental responsibility, and the role of cities in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of the twenty-first century.
Suspected Ebola cases in DR Congo pass 900 as health workers face attacks and shortages (LINK) — 24 May 2026
— Guardian: There have been arson attacks on Ebola treatment centres in the country's east — two centres in two towns were hit last week, exposing the anger in a region beset by violence linked to armed rebel groups, the displacement of a large number of people, the failure of local government and international aid cuts that experts say have stripped health facilities in vulnerable communities. The World Health Organization has said the outbreak now poses a "very high" risk for the Democratic Republic of Congo, but that the risk of the disease spreading globally remains low.
WHO: 79th World Health Assembly — Daily update: 23 May 2026: adopted more than 20 decisions and 13 resolutions on health issues including stroke, liver disease, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic imaging, emergency care, haemophilia, precision medicine and radiation (LINK) — 23 May 2026
WHO: The World Health Assembly adopts updated Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2026–2036) "marking a major milestone in the global response to antimicrobial resistance" (LINK) — 23 May 2026
WHO: Ebola outbreak now third largest recorded and "spreading rapidly": cases nearing 750, deaths reported at 177 (LINK) — 22 May 2026
WHO: almost 50% of preventable cancers linked to two lifestyle habits (LINK) — 22 May 2026
— Science Alert: According to a recent analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than a third of all cancer cases globally are preventable. Lung, stomach, and cervical cancers make up nearly half of those cases. The analysis found that in 2022, there were nearly 19 million new cases of cancer. Roughly 38 percent of those diagnoses were related to 30 changeable risk factors. The analysis found that in 2022, there were nearly 19 million new cases of cancer. Roughly 38 percent of those diagnoses were related to 30 changeable risk factors. Air pollution also plays a role. According to the researchers' estimates, smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol account for almost half (around 48 percent) of all cases of preventable cancer.
Palestinian ambassador drops bid for vice president role at the U.N. General Assembly after U.S. pressure: Lebanon's ambassador is taking his place (LINK) — 21 May 2026
World has 6 months to avert major food crisis, says FAO as Hormuz struggle drags on (LINK) — 20 May 2026
UN backs historic climate crisis ruling by 141-8, despite US attempts to stop resolution backing a world court opinion that countries have a legal obligation to address climate change (LINK) — 20 May 2026
— US, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia — some of the highest oil-producing nations and major greenhouse gas emitters — opposed the measure.
US planning to threaten to revoke visas of Palestinian delegation if its envoy seeks vice presidency of the General Assembly (LINK) — 21 May 2026
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention temporarily bans travel to the U.S. for people without American passports who have been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan or Uganda in the past three weeks: A flight bound for Detroit was diverted to Canada over Ebola fears after a passenger from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) "incorrectly" boarded the plane (LINK) — 20 May 2026
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said Wednesday that 51 Ebola cases had been confirmed in DRC's northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, "although we know the scale of the epidemic is much larger." He said Uganda has also reported two confirmed cases in the capital, Kampala. "Beyond the confirmed cases, there are almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths," he said. "We expect those numbers to keep increasing." There is a low risk of the outbreak spreading globally, he added, but a high risk of it spreading nationally and regionally in DRC and Uganda.
Vaccine to tackle Ebola outbreak will take six to nine months, says WHO, as the number of suspected cases rose to 600 (LINK) — 20 May 2026
WHO chief "deeply concerned about the scale and speed" of Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda that has resulted in a spike in deaths — to at least 130 — and more than 500 suspected cases (LINK) — 19 May 2026
— The outbreak is complicated by the rare strain of the disease, known as Bundibugyo, that standard field tests often miss and for which there are no vaccines or therapeutics. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned of emerging cases in urban areas, including reports of cases in Uganda's capital, Kampala, and Goma, a crossroads city in Congo that borders Rwanda. The Intercept: Experts say Trump administration policies — like dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and withdrawing from WHO — have further undermined global health security and negatively impacted the response to the outbreak.
GOOGLE: Partnering with UNICEF to support innovation in education across the globe: initiative will support education innovation for millions of students across Brazil, India, Pakistan and Kenya (LINK) — 19 May 2026
— "By responsibly integrating AI powered tools to help accelerate progress and reimagine learning, we are pairing Google's technology with UNICEF's deep expertise in building education systems to ensure every student has the tools they need to succeed. Over the next three years, UNICEF will work with local communities to build localized, scalable solutions that meet the needs of learners — from training teachers to use Gemini and NotebookLM for personalized instruction, to using ReadAlong to support learners foundational reading fluency and comprehension through guided practice."
WHO honours four global health leaders for lifetime contributions to public health: Dr Tore Godal, Dr Merceline Dahl-Regis, Dr Mike Ryan, and Dr Heba Elsewedy (LINK) — 19 May 2026
WHO: World Health Assembly (WHA79) opens in Geneva, Switzerland, with the election of Dr Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam of the Dominican Republic as the President (LINK) — 18 May 2026
UN Habitat: From favelas to informal settlements, new UN report points to housing solutions that work (LINK) — 19 May 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushes for 'leaner' UN in call with Guterres (LINK) — 19 May 2026
— Rubio advanced President Donald Trump's vision for a "back-to-basics" United Nations that is "leaner and more accountable," including supporting a candidate proposed by Washington to lead the UN World Food Programme. Rubio stated that new leadership would bring "greater transparency and results-oriented management" while preserving the United States' "historic commitment to global food security." Rubio also discussed halting Iran's "unlawful mining and tolling of the Strait of Hormuz", claiming a draft UN Security Council resolution has "overwhelming support". The two leaders additionally reviewed coordinated US responses to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
UN: Housing crisis takes centre stage at World Urban Forum in Baku (LINK) — 18 May 2026
World Health Assembly rejects Taiwan-related proposal (Taiwan's participation as an observer) for tenth consecutive year (LINK) — 18 May 2026
New York Post: Billions have been wasted on UN's climate change lies (LINK) — 18 May 2026
WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergency (LINK) — 17 May 2026
— However, it said the outbreak in DR Congo's eastern Ituri province, which has seen around 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths reported, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency. The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the health agency said, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines. The global health agency added the virus has spread beyond DR Congo, with two confirmed cases reported in neighbouring Uganda.
China throws major roadblock at US' Iran Resolution; Trump team left stunned at UN (LINK) — 16 May 2026
— Beijing openly opposed a U.S.-backed resolution demanding Iran halt attacks and mining operations in the waterway. Chinese UN Ambassador Fu Cong said the "timing and content" of the proposal were inappropriate and warned that passing it would not help ease tensions. Reports suggest both China and Russia could veto the resolution if it reaches a vote at the UN Security Council.
Declare climate crisis a global public health emergency, experts on the independent pan-European commission on climate and health, which was convened by the WHO, tell the organization (LINK) — 16 May 2026
Politico: Geneva is paying the price of Trump's retreat from the UN (LINK) — 15 May 2026
Passblue: US pledges $1.8 billion to humanitarians (LINK) — US briefing — (LINK) 14 May 2026
Recycled food-contact materials such as plastics need regulatory harmonization, FAO report says: calls for updating existing regulatory frameworks to ensure safe production and application of recycled food-contact materials. More research also needed on contaminants, exposure scenarios and traceability (LINK) — 13 May 2026
Advancing universal health coverage through Traditional Medicine: 79th World Health Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland, 18–23 May 2026 (LINK) — 13 May 2026
The Hill: The World Health Assembly, the main decision making body of the World Health Organization, is meeting this year in Geneva starting next Monday. This meeting may represent the last chance for the U.S. to reverse course and remain a member of the WHO (LINK) — 13 May 2026
'Work not over,' says WHO after hantavirus evacuation: extensive testing, contact tracing, and quarantine procedures are still needed to contain the outbreak (LINK) — 12 May 2026
Trump administration rejects UN migration declaration, says 'mass migration was never safe' (LINK) — 11 May 2026
Hantavirus crisis: WHO recommendations (LINK) — 11 May 2026
"Trump's cuts are pushing the UN out of Geneva. That may be a win" (LINK) — 11 May 2026
WHO head seeks to reassure residents of Spanish island where hantavirus-stricken ship is headed (LINK) — 9 May 2026
UNCTAD: non-tariff measures such as technical regulations, health and safety requirements, and administrative procedures, impose higher export costs than tariffs for 88% of countries. "Developing countries and least developed countries face the highest costs. Least developed countries lose about 10% of their exports to G20 markets because they cannot meet NTM requirements, Improving transparency can reduce NTM-related trade costs by around 19%" (LINK) — 7 May 2026
— Nevertheless, tariffs increased sharply in 2025. They rose by 10% for developed countries, 16% for developing countries and 18% for least developed countries.
WHO Director-General's opening remarks at media briefing on hantavirus situation: 8 cases, 3 deaths: "WHO assesses the public health risk as low" (LINK) — 7 May 2026
Reuters: Once the city of peace, Geneva sees the United Nations' presence fade: since 2025, over 3,000 Geneva-based jobs at the U.N. and international organisations have been cut or are transferring to cheaper locations, including about a fifth of U.N. posts (LINK) — 7 May 2026
UN mourns CNN founder Ted Turner, a 'tireless champion for our common humanity' (LINK) — 6 May 2026
CNN founder Ted Turner, a pioneer of cable TV news, dies at 87: founded the United Nations Foundation (LINK) — 6 May 2026
— On June 1, 1980, CNN — the first 24-hour news channel — went live and has been on the air ever since. Just over a month before his 80th birthday in 2018, Turner revealed that he had Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder. In early 2025, Turner was hospitalized with a mild case of pneumonia before recovering at a rehabilitation facility. Turner is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
World's top humanitarian groups sound alarm over 'worsening' attacks on medical care in war zones (LINK) — 4 May 2026
— The Red Cross, the WHO, and Médecins Sans Frontières denounce "failure of political will" to stop attacks on healthcare worldwide.
UN: 8000 bodies remain buried in Gaza as debris removal stalls — unnamed official (LINK) — ground.news: 17 media reports (LINK) — 3 May 2026
UN Human Rights Chief: Cambodia should quash sentences against Kem Sokha and other arbitrary detainees (LINK) — 1 May 2026
— "Volker Türk is deeply concerned by the upholding of the conviction of Cambodian former opposition leader Kem Sokha and the convictions of 33 other opposition activists, human rights defenders and social media users. The Phnom Penh appeals court yesterday upheld the conviction and 27-year sentence against Kem Sokha, the former leader of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, for treason, espionage and conspiracy — in connection with a speech he gave over a decade ago in Australia, in 2013, and four years before his arrest on these charges. In a separate case, on Wednesday the Phnom Penh first instance court imposed on 33 others sentences ranging from 18 months suspended to two years in prison. They faced charges of 'incitement to cause social chaos' over public comments they made in 2024 about the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area project, an issue of major public interest."
WHO Member States agree to extend negotiations on pathogen access and benefit sharing annex, a key part of the WHO (LINK) Pandemic Agreement — 1 May 2026