Measles deaths globally spiked by more than 40% last year and cases rose after vaccination levels dramatically dropped during the pandemic, leading health agencies said Thursday. The highly infectious disease triggered epidemics in 37 countries last year, versus 22 countries in 2021. It sickened 9 million children and killed 136,00, mostly in poorer countries, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report.
A low portion of funds was used to address air pollution in Africa. Read more here. A latest study stated that only 0. 01% of funds of Africa was spent to combat and mitigate dangerous air quality.
Germany has welcomed a show of support from China for the G20 debt restructuring framework for poorer countries in a joint statement after their financial dialogue in Frankfurt over the weekend. "We welcome the fact that the Chinese side is also committed to this in our Joint Statement, because solutions are inconceivable without China as such an important player in world politics," German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Sunday, after his meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Neither provided further details on the rules for the restructuring plans and the joint statement did not give specifics.
The World Bank's latest report highlights that rapid aging in wealthy and middle-income countries will make their economies increasingly dependent on migration from poorer countries. As a result, policymakers need to better manage this process, matching migrants' skills with the needs of destination countries, protecting refugees, and reducing the need for distressed movements.