--- title: "UN General Assembly meeting on pandemic preparedness led by Khalilur Rahman" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/health/un-general-assembly-meeting-on-pandemic-preparedness-led-by-khalilur-rahman" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/un-general-assembly-meeting-on-pandemic-preparedness-led-by-khalilur-rahman" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/health/un-general-assembly-meeting-on-pandemic-preparedness-led-by-khalilur-rahman.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/un-general-assembly-meeting-on-pandemic-preparedness-led-by-khalilur-rahman" category: "Health" area: "Africa" published: "2026-09-26T03:45:33.983Z" source_reported: "2026-09-26T00:07:22.000Z" updated: "2026-09-26T03:45:33.983Z" trust_score: 72 critic_score: 85 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-26T06:00:18.198722+00:00" --- # UN General Assembly meeting on pandemic preparedness led by Khalilur Rahman *The high‑level session highlighted WHO’s ten new initiatives, the $10 trillion economic toll of COVID‑19 and a broader agenda covering wars, disasters and artificial intelligence.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 72 of 100, higher is better. Multiple named officials and an official WHO speech provide corroborated facts, raising trust to 72. - Craft 85 of 100, higher is better. Provides context, specific figures and next steps, earning a solid 85 for craft. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Headline matches content without exaggeration, resulting in low hype. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The UN General Assembly held a high‑level meeting on pandemic preparedness six years after COVID‑19 began, convened by Assembly President Khalilur Rahman. - WHO Director‑General Tedros said the world was not ready for the next pandemic in a 2017 Columbia University speech. - WHO announced ten initiatives such as the Pandemic Fund and a Berlin hub to strengthen global health security. - The meeting’s agenda also covered wars, natural disasters, geopolitical polarization and artificial intelligence. The United Nations General Assembly gathered its leaders on 25 September 2026 for a high‑level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Assembly President Khalilur Rahman opened the session and set an agenda that included not only health security but also wars, natural disasters, geopolitical polarization and artificial intelligence. In his opening remarks, WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recalled a 2017 speech at Columbia University where he said the world was not ready for the next pandemic. He noted that COVID‑19 caused more than 20 million excess deaths and wiped over US$10 trillion from the global economy. Tedros outlined ten WHO initiatives aimed at strengthening global health security. The list includes a Pandemic Fund partnered with the World Bank, a WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin, the Access to COVID‑19 Tools Accelerator, COVAX, an interim Medical Countermeasures Network, an mRNA technology transfer programme in South Africa, a Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative in South Korea, the WHO BioHub in Switzerland and a Global Health Emergency Corps. Member states also adopted amendments to the International Health Regulations and a WHO Pandemic Agreement, both intended to reinforce legal frameworks for future health emergencies. > "No one is safe until everyone is safe." > > — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director‑General **$10 trillion** — Economic loss from COVID‑19 (Estimated impact on the global economy according to WHO statements) ## What the coverage left out None of the left‑rated reports mention the WHO Director‑General’s 2017 speech or the ten WHO initiatives, including the Pandemic Fund and the Berlin hub. Likewise, the right‑rated digest does not refer to those WHO initiatives or the $10 trillion economic impact. ## Who covered it Shares of the 24 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 46% (11) - Centre: 50% (12) - Right: 4% (1) 0 of 24 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-26T06:00:18.198722+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 11 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-26T06:30:15.867Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - All ten left‑rated digests reported that the UN meeting sought to keep the risk of another worldwide disease emergency on the global agenda. They highlighted the six‑year gap since COVID‑19, noted that wars, natural disasters, geopolitical polarization and artificial intelligence now dominate the discussion, and described the meeting as facing a "speed bump" in building momentum for pandemic preparedness. ### Centre - The twelve centre‑rated reports, including the full AllAfrica article, carried the full set of WHO statements. They emphasized Tedros’ 2017 warning, the $10 trillion economic toll, the more than 20 million excess deaths, and detailed the ten WHO initiatives such as the Pandemic Fund and the Berlin hub. They also mentioned the broader agenda items, wars, natural disasters, geopolitical polarization and artificial intelligence, and quoted the Assembly President Khalilur Rahman’s role in convening the meeting. ### Right - The single right‑rated digest focused on the UN’s attempt to build momentum for pandemic preparedness while encountering a "speed bump". It noted the six‑year interval since COVID‑19, the presence of Assembly President Khalilur Rahman, and the inclusion of wars, natural disasters, geopolitical polarization and artificial intelligence on the agenda. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 8 - veryHigh: 15 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/health-news/11169304/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/09/25/un-pandemic-preparedness) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_43370f67-94ea-594d-9718-f28decf0be32.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/news/nation/un-general-assembly-pandemic-preparedness-covid19-s83066) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/new-york-covid-zoom-world-health-organization-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus-b3056716.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/un-general-assembly-pandemic-preparedness-covid19-e28de94e1da5ce5bbb633f8b82e8faf7) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/new-york-covid-zoom-world-health-organization-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus-b3056716.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [Rutland Herald](https://rutlandherald.com/ap/national/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_2fc87979-6a64-5c8a-9bbc-cd03788550d3.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [Madison Courier](https://madisoncourier.com/ap/news/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_a07a3a4d-aa78-5a06-99e3-eb903d5270e2.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [Henry Herald](https://henryherald.com/news/world_nation/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_828aba57-b633-5020-a08e-d9420ffcce32.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [Bozeman Daily Chronicle](https://bozemandailychronicle.com/wire/news/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_d1ccdd67-aa4d-50fd-b470-6fcc6bf242f4.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [The Sun Chronicle](https://thesunchronicle.com/news/nation_world/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_a8c161aa-9685-51f0-b237-d8d20c12d9b6.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [coasttv.com](https://coasttv.com/news/international/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_b1e3f106-949b-56de-8db1-b11618b2b079.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/Health/wireStory/build-momentum-pandemic-preparedness-hits-speed-bump-136769702) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [WPLG](https://local10.com/news/world/2026/09/25/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/world/2026/09/25/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [WSLS](https://wsls.com/news/world/2026/09/25/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/life/health-wellness/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_5de0b42d-5309-50de-b4c7-59ac6d0c92b2.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [The Record](https://therecord.com/life/health-wellness/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_d8e011f2-a1a6-57b3-817c-e18e6c23ee96.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/life/health-wellness/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_6aab005d-53c9-54d3-9920-a54351aac54d.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/life/health-wellness/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump/article_2ee6193c-bb3a-50ad-bf43-17c80a47944d.html) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump - [allAfrica](https://allafrica.com/stories/202609250480.html) — Africa: WHO Director-General's remarks at the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/2026/09/25/un-tries-to-build-momentum-on-pandemic-preparedness-but-hits-a-speed-bump) — UN tries to build momentum on pandemic preparedness, but hits a speed bump ## Questions **What did the WHO Director‑General say about pandemic readiness?** Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recalled a 2017 Columbia University speech where he said the world was not ready for the next pandemic. He repeated the warning at the UN meeting, stressing that preparedness remains insufficient. **How many initiatives did WHO announce to strengthen health security?** WHO listed ten initiatives, including a Pandemic Fund with the World Bank, a Berlin hub for pandemic intelligence, the Access to COVID‑19 Tools Accelerator, COVAX, an interim Medical Countermeasures Network, an mRNA technology transfer programme in South Africa, a Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative in South Korea, the WHO BioHub in Switzerland and a Global Health Emergency Corps. **What other topics were on the UN meeting agenda?** The agenda covered wars, natural disasters, geopolitical polarization and artificial intelligence alongside pandemic preparedness, reflecting a broader set of global challenges that now compete for attention at the high‑level session. **Which side of coverage mentioned the economic cost of COVID‑19?** Only the centre‑rated reports, including the AllAfrica full article, cited the estimate that COVID‑19 wiped over US$10 trillion from the global economy; left and right digests did not include that figure. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/health/un-general-assembly-meeting-on-pandemic-preparedness-led-by-khalilur-rahman. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "UN General Assembly meeting on pandemic preparedness led by Khalilur Rahman", https://mediabias.news/health/un-general-assembly-meeting-on-pandemic-preparedness-led-by-khalilur-rahman