Fifth candidate enters race to lead WHO as nominations close

The World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters is seen in Geneva — Denis Balibouse (Fixes typographical error in headline)GENEVA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - A fifth candidate has entered the race to lead the World Health Organization, the agency's website showed as the deadline for nominees closed overnight.• Candidates from five countries have submitted applications to replace Ethiopia's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as Director-General of the WHO• They are: Qatar's Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Saudi Arabia's Hanan Balkhy, Belgium's HansKluge, Spain's Maria Neira and Indonesia's Budi Gunadi Sadikin• Al-Kuwari is a former health minister; Balkhy is a physician who heads the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean office; Kluge is a physician and WHO's regional director for Europe; Neira is a physician and epidemiologist and former WHO director; Budi is Indonesia's health minister• A candidates' forum will take place in November and WHO's Executive Board will shortlist up to three of the candidates in January 2027• Tedros has led the global health agency since 2017 during the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics like Ebola and an mpox outbreak• During his tenure, then top donor Washingtonordered an exit in 2025, with President Donald Trump accusing it of mishandling COVID - a claim the WHO denies (Reporting by Emma Farge, editing by Kirsti Knolle) This one's on us. The story doesn't end here. Our correspondents are already on the next chapter. Read everything they file, from $2/week. See Offers