Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, during the opening of the 78th World Health Assembly at the United Nations in Geneva, 19 May 2025. (Keystone/Magali Girardin)

💰After US cuts funding, WHO chief defends $2.1bn budget request by comparing it with cost of war. Tedros urged states to support the "extremely modest" budget, which has already been revised down by 22 per cent to contend with the US quitting the UN health agency, noting it is "the equivalent of global military expenditure every eight hours" or "the price of one stealth bomber".

⛔World Health Organization countries don't invite Taiwan to annual assembly. Member states sided with China in rejecting a proposal to bring in the independently governed island as an observer.

🗳️New WHO regional director nominated by African member states. Mohamed Yakub Janabi of Tanzania has been elected to lead the UN health agency's regional office and replace fellow Tanzanian Faustine Ndugulile, who suddenly passed away in November. The WHO's executive board is expected to approve the nomination next week after the assembly concludes in Geneva.

🇷🇼Rwanda makes bid to rival international Geneva amid relocation talks. In a letter to the UN secretary general António Guterres, the Rwandan prime minister touted his country's credentials as a new hub for multilateral institutions.

📜The 'far-fetched plan' that could've allowed Geneva to host the UN headquarters. In the wake of the Second World War, Geneva was among the cities considered to host UN headquarters. To avoid violating Swiss neutrality, experts came up with a geographical arrangement that involved creating a separate enclave around Palais des Nations and an international road to connect it to the airport.

🏫Board members resign over labour agreement at Geneva international school. Four members of Ecolint's governing board, including the chair and the vice-chair, have stepped down due to tensions surrounding the collective labour agreement.