The World Health Organization’s (WHO) top official in Europe on Tuesday called on governments and health authorities to “closely examine” why there is low demand and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, as an “Omicron tidal wave” slams countries in the east of the region.

Progress in the overall survival rate for children with cancer is uneven across Europe, with a significant proportion of the thousands diagnosed with cancer each year, still dying, the UN health agency WHO alerted on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI and KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (IPS) - A recent Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) study shows the largest farms cultivate a high and increasing share of agricultural land in much of the world.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 14 (IPS) - With its accelerated growth agriculture has emerged as a key sector of Brazil's economy, but it is failing on its own to spread prosperity and reduce poverty and inequality, with industry in decline.

NEW YORK, Feb 14 (IPS) - Conflict, forced displacement, climate change and COVID-19 are disrupting the education of millions of crisis-affected children and adolescents around the world.

During a COVID-19 global action meeting on Monday, the UN health chief described the progress underway at the World Health Organization (WHO) mRNA vaccine technology transfer Hub in South Africa, noting that the “historic initiative comes at a critical time” in the global fight against the virus.

Amid increasing tension over Ukraine between Russia and Western countries of the NATO alliance, the UN Secretary-General declared on Monday that “there is no alternative to diplomacy.”

The UN together with humanitarian partners on Monday, launched the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Mali, seeking $686 million from donors to help 5.3 million of the most vulnerable people in the country.

ROME, Feb 14 (IPS) - The ocean covers more than 70 percent of our planet. There is no question it is critical for our health and well-being. It provides half the earth’s oxygen supply and every organism in existence depends on it to survive.

Bulawayo, ZIMBABWE, Feb 14 (IPS) - When years ago warnings were sounded that future wars would be fought not over oil but water, the predictions were dismissed as alarmist.