These global stories were very, very, very popular in 2024
Our blog published hundreds of stories in 2024. These are the 11 that captured the most pageviews. If you look at the headlines, you'll understand why.
Global Health
Global wishes for 2024: Pay for family leave. Empower Black men. Respect rural voices
We asked leaders in global health and development to share their wishes for the new year. Here's what they hope will happen in the year ahead. And readers, we'd like to hear from you.
Climate change, fossil fuels hurting people's health, says new global report
The latest Lancet Countdown, an annual analysis from the prestigious medical journal, underscores the vast and growing costs of fossil fuel burning on health.
![Ambassador-at-Large John Nkengasong, who will lead the State Department's Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, speaks to the press about the new agency. He told NPR that the pandemic "taught us three key lessons. We are collectively more connected than we thought. We are more vulnerable than we thought. And we have [vast] inequities" when it comes to disease threats.](https://wfdd-live.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/card/s3/images/story/A-new-US-agency-is-a-response-to-the-fact-that-nobody-was-ready-for-the-pandemic-1191883838-1691105472.jpg?h=92236464&itok=wcqi12gS)
A new U.S. agency is a response to the fact that nobody was ready for the pandemic
The Bureau of Global Health, Security and Diplomacy, housed in the State Department, will plan for the next pandemic. We interviewed its director, virologist and global health leader John Nkengasong.
8 bold agenda items for the World Health Organization as it turns 75
Pay more attention to teens, ethics, the planet, long COVID and more. NPR asks public health leaders what this U.N.-created agency should add to its docket in this anniversary year.
In memoriam: Female trailblazers who leapt over barriers to fight for their sisters
They were pioneers in their fields, working to improve the health and lives of other women and paving the way for other female scientists.
WHO releases list of threatening fungi. The most dangerous might surprise you
Invasive, deadly fungi are on the rise. In its first-ever Fungal Priority Pathogen List, the World Health Organization says these are the most important.
Nearly 8 million kids lost a parent or primary caregiver to the pandemic
A new study finds numbers far higher than previously thought. India has the greatest number of kids affected. The U.S. has 250,000 kids in this category but lags behind in aid for bereaved families.
Whatever happened to the African-born pizza chef who won over biased Italians?
Ibrahim Songne overcame local prejudice to gain success in Italy with his pizza joint and a spot on a list of top 50 global pizza joints. He's now made a special pizza in honor of ... Goats and Soda!
Whatever happened to the Botswana scientist who identified omicron — then caught it?
Sikhulile Moyo led the team that first identified omicron — and was dismayed by the world's reaction — blaming and blacklisting African nations. He's now a bit more optimistic.