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October 13, 2025 Healthcare

One in six laboratory-confirmed cases of common bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 was characterized by resistance to antibiotic treatment. From 2018 to 2023, more than 40 percent of monitored pathogen-antibiotic combinations demonstrated increased resistance, with an annual increase of 5-15 percent. These are the findings of a report published today by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Data collected by the WHO Global Monitoring System on Antimicrobial Resistance and Use (GLASS) from more than 100 countries shows that rising resistance to essential antibiotics is a growing threat to public health.

The new edition of the Global Antibiotic Resistance Report presents, for the first time, estimates for 22 antibiotics used to treat urinary tract, gastrointestinal, and bloodstream infections, as well as gonorrhea. The report includes data on eight common bacterial pathogens: Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, nontyphoidal Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The risk varies by region.

According to WHO estimates, antibiotic resistance is highest in the Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean regions, where one-third of documented infections were resistant. In the WHO African Region, resistance was observed in one-fifth of cases. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance is more common and increasing in countries where healthcare facilities lack sufficient capacity to detect and treat bacterial infections.

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He said antibiotics must be used responsibly, ensuring that everyone has access to essential medications, high-quality diagnostics, and vaccines.

Gram-negative bacteria are the biggest threat

The report notes the growing global threat of drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Among these, drug-resistant strains of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, most commonly identified in bloodstream infections, are particularly prominent. They cause a range of severe bacterial infections, often leading to sepsis, organ failure, and death. Currently, more than 40 percent of E. coli strains and more than 55 percent of K. pneumoniae strains demonstrate resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, the first-line drugs used to treat these infections. Moreover, in the African region, the proportion of such strains exceeds 70 percent.

A number of other life-saving antibiotics, including carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, are losing effectiveness against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Salmonella, and Acinetobacter. Carbapenem resistance was once rare, but it is now becoming increasingly common, limiting treatment options.

Gaps in surveillance

From 2016 to 2023, the proportion of countries participating in the WHO monitoring system quadrupled, from 25 to 104. However, 48 percent of them did not submit data in 2023, and approximately half lack reliable data collection systems. Furthermore, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance infrastructure is lacking in countries with the highest risk of it.

INpolitical declaration on the problem of UPP, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024, sets targets to combat resistance by strengthening health systems and coordinating action across the human, veterinary and environmental sectors.

The WHO calls on all countries to provide high-quality data on AMR and antimicrobial use by 2030. Countries should more broadly implement coordinated measures at all levels of the healthcare system, taking into account local resistance trends when selecting treatment protocols and purchasing medications.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

October 13, 2025 Climate and environment

On the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, celebrated on 13 October, the UN Secretary-General called on the global community to urgently reconsider its approach to financing resilience in the face of the growing climate crisis.

According to the UN chief, the number and scale of natural disasters are rapidly increasing, devastating lives, destroying livelihoods, and undermining years of development efforts. "The magnitude of the damage to the global economy is staggering and, including indirect costs, is estimated at two trillion dollars per year," António Guterres noted.

Despite alarming statistics, the amount of funding allocated to disaster risk reduction remains critically low. Only two percent of international development assistance and less than one percent of government budgets go toward disaster prevention.

“This is not just a funding shortfall – it is a serious miscalculation,” the Secretary-General emphasized, adding that every dollar invested in resilient infrastructure in developing countries saves four dollars when natural disasters strike.

This year's theme for the International Day emphasizes the need to increase investment in resilience. Guterres called on governments and donors to increase funding, and on the public and private sectors to consider risks in their decision-making. "Building resilience to shocks must be at the very core of development efforts," he said.

Concluding his message, the Secretary-General called on the global community to respond to growing threats with increased funding and to work together to build a safer and more just future for all.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

October 13, 2025 Peace and security

The UN Secretary-General on Monday welcomed the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza. Humanitarian agencies say vital supplies are now arriving in large quantities in the devastated sector.

Release of hostages

Antonio Guterres expressed "deep relief" over the release of the hostages taken two years ago during the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas and other armed groups in Israel on October 7, 2023. The UN chief recalled that these people had endured "enormous suffering."

Gaza Peace Summit

The Secretary-General arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend the Gaza Peace Summit, which is being attended by a number of world leaders. The international meeting was convened after Israeli troops partially withdrew from Gaza in accordance with agreement between Israel and Hamas, reached through the mediation of the United States, Qatar and Turkey.

In a social media post, X Guterres reiterated his call for the return of the bodies of the dead hostages and called on "all parties to seize this moment and implement the terms of the ceasefire agreement to end the nightmare in Gaza."

190 thousand tons of humanitarian cargo

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported significant progress in the delivery of humanitarian aid.

"The mobilization of humanitarian activities in Gaza continues vigorously," the agency noted, explaining that Israel has approved the import of 190,000 tons of food, medicine, shelter, and other goods—20,000 more than previously agreed upon.

For the first time since March, liquefied gas for cooking was allowed into the Strip. In addition, "new tents for displaced families, frozen meat, fresh fruit, flour, and medicine" were delivered to Gaza.

According to UN officials, humanitarian workers and their partners can now move more freely in "a number of areas" after months of strict restrictions by Israeli authorities. This allows them to pre-position medical supplies and other essential items where they are most needed, as well as check roads for explosive hazards and provide assistance to families living in flood-prone areas ahead of the winter season.

"This is just the beginning. Over the first 60 days of the ceasefire, the UN and our partners will scale up operations to deliver life-saving aid and provide essential services to virtually every person in Gaza," OCHA added.

The humanitarian response plan presented by UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher includes:

Food assistance for 2.1 million people, including food distribution, support for bakeries, livelihood restoration for fishermen and farmers, and cash payments to 200,000 families; nutrition programs for children, adolescents, and pregnant or lactating women; rehabilitation of the health system, provision of medicines, expansion of emergency and maternity care, as well as mental health and rehabilitation services; water supply and sanitation projects for 1.4 million people; sheltering the most vulnerable families with tents and tarps; and resumption of education programs for 700,000 children.

Consequences of the war

Two years of violence and incessant bombing have left thousands of families homeless. The UN notes the population's enormous physical and psychological needs.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) emphasized that "a million children in Gaza require psychosocial support." The war has undermined their sense of security and well-being, with many experiencing "severe stress symptoms" such as withdrawal, nightmares, and incontinence.

To help children cope with trauma, UNICEF runs self-help programs: specialists teach them to use stress management techniques and to imagine a "safety button" that they can "push" when fear becomes unbearable.

"When I was scared, I would put my hand on the button and breathe deeply. It brought me great relief," said 15-year-old Anas, a participant in the program.

According to UNICEF, by 2025, eight out of ten children who completed the course had reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.