17 h. ago In South Africa, a needle exchange program for drug users feels the effects of Trump's aid cuts

A secluded corner near South Africa’s capital is home to dozens of people with drug addiction

Politics

34 h. ago Millions of Afghans lose access to healthcare services as USAID cuts shut clinics

Fears of surge in malnutrition, measles, malaria and polio as 206 World Health Organization facilities forced to close ‘I begged them, my daughter was dying’: how Taliban male escort rules are killing mothers and babiesMore than 200 health facilities run by the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, providing medical care for 1.84 million people, have closed or ceased operating after the US aid cuts announced by the Trump administration shut off life-saving medical care, including vaccinations, maternal and child health services.On his first day in office in January, President Donald Trump announced an immediate freeze on all US foreign assistance, including more than $40bn (£32bn) for international projects coming from USAID, the United States Agency for International Development. It was later confirmed that more than 80% of USAID programmes had been cancelled. Continue reading...

Science

66 h. ago US bombing of Yemen compounding dire humanitarian situation – rights groups

Anti-Houthi air campaign, details of which were revealed in Signal scandal, has brought further destruction to countryA ramped-up US bombing campaign on Yemen has killed civilians and brought further destruction and uncertainty to the poorest country in the Middle East, compounding an already dire situation after Donald Trump cut aid, according to local people, humanitarian workers and rights groups.“Now the rampant bombing has started, you never know which way things will go,” said Siddiq Khan, who works as a country director in Yemen for the aid charity Islamic Relief. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Musk’s Doge to fire all local workers and US diplomats from USAID, sources say

Unofficial Trump adviser’s cost-cutting team to finalize shuttering the foreign aid agency on which millions dependUS politics live – latest updatesElon Musk’s cost-cutting team is finalizing the dismantlement of the US Agency for International Development, ordering the firings of thousands of local workers and US diplomats and civil servants assigned to the agency overseas, two former top USAID officials and a source with knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday.On Friday, Congress was notified that almost all of USAID’s own employees were being fired by September, all of its overseas offices shut, and some functions absorbed into the state department. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago The world is experiencing record heat – this is why it’s about to get worse

The climate crisis is already displacing millions of people from their homes as they seek to escape extreme weather events, desertification and drought, writes Alicja Hagopian. With Donald Trump ordering billions of dollars of cuts to climate aid projects, the poorest and most vulnerable countries face even greater risks

Politics

9 d. ago Trump administration to cut vaccine aid to developing countries

Administration plans to end funding to Gavi, a global health organization that helps provide life-saving care for childrenThe Trump administration is planning to end funding for Gavi, a global health organization that helps provide vaccines and other life-saving care to developing countries.A 281-page spreadsheet obtained by the New York Times lists the Trump administration’s plans for thousands of foreign aid programs, including financial cuts to the organization that buys vaccines for children, as well as scaling back on programs that combat malaria in developing countries. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago HIV soars after a deadly war in Ethiopia's Tigray. Trump's aid cuts aren't helping

Ethiopia's Tigray region was once considered a model in the country's fight against HIV

Events

2 w. ago Here’s how some human rights and LGBTQ+ groups prepared for major foreign aid cuts under Trump

The Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid have defunded groups that campaign for LGBTQ+ communities and for democracy around the world

Politics

2 w. ago US evangelical groups urge Trump to spare HIV/Aids program from aid cuts

Christian organizations helped create Pepfar, credited with preventing 25m early deaths, particularly in AfricaChristian evangelical organizations instrumental in creating the US program that has saved millions of lives from HIV/Aids are pressing the Trump administration to rescue the scheme from crushing cuts to foreign assistance.The state department has said that the two-decade-old President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), which is estimated to have prevented 25m early deaths, is exempt from the cancellation of most US overseas aid. But the program is heavily reliant on logistical support from the US Agency for International Development (USAid), which has seen most of its projects killed off. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Marco Rubio declares South African ambassador to US persona non grata after Trump criticism

Declaration comes after Trump administration cut off aid to South Africa

Politics

2 w. ago Marco Rubio declares South African envoy to US persona non grata over speech criticizing Trump, Musk and Vance

Declaration comes after Trump administration cut off aid to South Africa

Politics

2 w. ago Ukraine army chief's scathing take on Donald Trump's decision to cut military aid

Volodymyr Zelensky's popularity has reportedly "skyrocketed" on the front since his showdown with Donald Trump in the Oval Office - after he showed an unwillingness to back down

Events

2 w. ago Rubio declares South African ambassador to US persona non grata over speech criticizing Trump, Musk and Vance

Declaration comes after Trump administration cut off aid to South Africa

Politics

3 w. ago Aid workers warn ‘people are dying and they’re going to continue dying’ as funding cuts hit

Moves by US, UK and other donors to cut aid mean ‘high malnutrition rates, starvation and death’, say expertsCuts to food assistance by the US, Britain and others are already leading to more people starving to death around the world, experts have warned.As the United Nations and other agencies try to understand just how badly President Donald Trump’s announced 83% cut in funding to USAid will affect the world’s most vulnerable people, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has said its aid provision in Somalia is being reduced, after last month’s estimate that 4.4 million people in the east African nation will be pushed into malnutrition from April because of drought, global inflation and conflict. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago How Starmer finally found his voice as prime minister – by doing what even Tony Blair feared to do

Sir Keir has begun to look like a prime minister by slashing international aid, cutting welfare and cosying up to Trump - not moves anyone expected from a Labour leader, as David Maddox explains

Politics

3 w. ago Ed Miliband on net zero in the age of Trump – Politics Weekly Westminster

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey are joined by Ed Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary, to discuss Labour’s plans to tackle the climate crisis, the third runway at Heathrow and how secure the path to a greener future looks in the age of Trump. Plus, are cuts to welfare and foreign aid the best way to balance the budget? Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump admits 'Ukraine may not survive' as US military aid cut off

In a Fox News interview on Sunday, Trump was asked if he felt 'comfortable' with the fact that he 'walked away, and Ukraine may not survive', prompting a chilling response from the US President

Events

3 w. ago Irish aid for Guatemala more vital after Trump’s cuts, says charity

Guatemala is vulnerable to the effects of climate change which is forcing its indigenous people further into poverty.

Politics

3 w. ago No disease is deadlier in Africa than malaria. Trump's US aid cuts weaken the fight against it

Malaria season begins this month in a large part of Africa

Politics

4 w. ago Trump offers fast citizenship to South African farmers after cutting aid over ‘racism against whites’

Trump declared he would cut aid to South Africa over “rights violations”, relating to new laws giving the South African Government the power to expropriate land

Events