https://www.scmp.com/rss/524518/feed The latest news and top stories on Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a distinguished public health official and diplomat. As the first African Director-General of the World Health Organization since 2017, he leads global health initiatives, including responses to major epidemics like COVID-19 and mpox. Previously, he served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Health (2005-2012), where he spearheaded significant health system reforms, reducing child and maternal mortality and combating infectious diseases. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A strike on a healthcare facility in Sudan has killed 64 people and wounded 89 more, the World Health Organization reported on Saturday. The deceased included 13 children, WHO Director-General ‌Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media. The UN’s humanitarian office in Sudan had earlier said it was “appalled by the attack on a hospital in East Darfur yesterday, reportedly killing dozens, including children, and injuring more”. Sudanese rights group the Emergency Lawyers, who document... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3347452/64-killed-including-13-children-attack-sudan-hospital-who-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3347452/64-killed-including-13-children-attack-sudan-hospital-who-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 23:03:27 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A UN agency and a charity established by former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying have agreed to strengthen collaboration on public health projects, following talks in Switzerland. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, met GX Foundation chairman Leung and CEO Emily Chan Ying-yang in Geneva, the charity said in a social media post on Tuesday. “Both parties held in-depth discussions [on Monday] on the various medical and public health projects GX is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339703/who-ex-hong-kong-leader-cy-leungs-charity-pledge-boost-health-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339703/who-ex-hong-kong-leader-cy-leungs-charity-pledge-boost-health-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:24:36 +0000 Victoria Bela,Holly Chik Victoria Bela,Holly Chik The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that its position on Taiwan remained unchanged, after Japan’s finance minister claimed that the health body’s chief executive intended to strengthen ties with the island. On December 6, Japan’s Minister of Finance Satsuki Katayama stated in a social media post in Japanese that, during a visit to Tokyo, the WHO director general had “explicitly [stated] his intention to strengthen ties” with Taiwan. The post followed a forum in Tokyo on universal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336104/who-responds-agency-chiefs-alleged-pledge-strengthen-ties-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3336104/who-responds-agency-chiefs-alleged-pledge-strengthen-ties-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:17:54 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that 114 people, including 63 children, were killed in “senseless” strikes on a hospital and kindergarten in Sudan’s South Kordofan state last week. The strikes “hit a kindergarten and, at least three times, the nearby Kalogi Rural Hospital, killing 114 people, including 63 children, and injuring 35 people,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media, citing the UN health agency’s Attacks on Health Care monitoring... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3335638/63-children-among-114-killed-senseless-strikes-sudan-hospital-kindergarten-who-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3335638/63-children-among-114-killed-senseless-strikes-sudan-hospital-kindergarten-who-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:59:38 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Sudanese fleeing a paramilitary force that seized a city in the country’s Darfur region trickled into a nearby refugee camp on Thursday after walking for miles, telling aid workers that roads were littered with bodies. Aid groups feared for the fate of thousands more trying to escape, with hundreds reportedly killed in the turmoil. The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sudan amid international alarm over the bloodshed. UN officials have warned of a rampage by the paramilitary... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3331030/fate-thousands-feared-sudans-darfur-after-reported-rampage-paramilitaries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/3331030/fate-thousands-feared-sudans-darfur-after-reported-rampage-paramilitaries?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:11:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations each day for 10 hours in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors in the enclave, where images of hungry Palestinians have alarmed the world. Military activity will stop from 10am to 8pm until further notice in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City. The military also announced designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will be in place between 6am and 11pm starting on Sunday. Dozens of Gazans have died of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319719/israel-resumes-airdrop-aid-gaza-after-mass-starvation-warning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319719/israel-resumes-airdrop-aid-gaza-after-mass-starvation-warning?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 20:16:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Hamas did not want a ceasefire deal in Gaza, after Israel and the United States quit indirect negotiations with the Palestinian militant group. “It was too bad. Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die,” Trump said. In Qatar, mediators had been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas delegations for more than two weeks in a bid to secure a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages after nearly two years of fighting. Israeli... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319652/gaza-war-netanyahu-says-israel-us-consider-alternative-options-after-ceasefire-talks-collapse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319652/gaza-war-netanyahu-says-israel-us-consider-alternative-options-after-ceasefire-talks-collapse?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:14:22 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israel has hit back at growing international criticism that it was behind chronic food shortages in Gaza, instead accusing Hamas of deliberately creating a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. More than 100 aid and human rights groups said earlier Wednesday that “mass starvation” was spreading in the Gaza Strip, while France warned of a growing “risk of famine” caused by “the blockade imposed by Israel”. The head of the World Health Organization also weighed in, saying that a “large... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319361/mass-starvation-gaza-israel-blames-hamas-global-outcry-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319361/mass-starvation-gaza-israel-blames-hamas-global-outcry-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 02:42:00 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The head of Gaza’s largest hospital on Tuesday said 21 children have died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory in the past three days, while Israel pressed a devastating assault. Gaza’s population of more than 2 million people is facing severe shortages of food and other essentials, with residents frequently killed as they try to collect humanitarian aid at a handful of distribution points. “Twenty-one children have died due to malnutrition and starvation in various... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319194/gaza-horror-show-sees-21-children-die-starvation-and-malnutrition-amid-israel-offensive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319194/gaza-horror-show-sees-21-children-die-starvation-and-malnutrition-amid-israel-offensive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:00:40 +0000 Reuters Reuters The World Health Organization said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Monday, compromising its operations in Gaza. The United Nations agency said the WHO staff residence was attacked three times, with air strikes causing a fire and extensive damage, and endangering staff and their families, including children. Early on Tuesday, Israeli tank shelling killed at least 12 Palestinians and wounded dozens others in the Shati tent... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319071/who-says-israeli-military-attacked-staff-residence-and-warehouse-gaza?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319071/who-says-israeli-military-attacked-staff-residence-and-warehouse-gaza?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 23:59:45 +0000