44 h. ago ‘Savage’ UK cuts will deprive 55m people of aid around the world

Exclusive: The cuts will result in a reduction of key programmes for education, family planning, water and food aid. Alicja Hagopian and Kate Devlin report

Politics

1 week 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

1 week ago Voices: No wonder Anneliese Dodds has resigned over cutting aid to the world’s poorest people – it’s the only right thing to do

Labour’s disgraceful attempt to balance the books on the backs of the poorest people in the world is shameful – but shows Dodds to be a politician of decency and principle, says former deputy foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell

Politics

1 week 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 w. ago This government has one last chance to take a progressive path. Otherwise, we’re at the point of no return | John McDonnell

In her spring statement, I urge Rachel Reeves to look beyond short-term economic stability – and towards tackling long-term inequalityIf someone read out the following list of policies, which party would you think was in power? Depriving 2 million pensioners of the winter fuel allowance. Refusing to scrap the two-child benefit cap to lift nearly half a million children out of poverty. Raising tuition fees for students by more than the rate of inflation. Cutting overseas aid to the poorest people across the globe by half. Cutting £5bn from benefits for disabled people. Introducing a new round of cuts to government department spending and laying off 50,000 public sector workers.I very much doubt even 12 months ago you would have thought that this would be the Labour party in government.John McDonnell is the independent MP for Hayes and Harlington. He was shadow chancellor for Labour from 2015 to 2020 Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago I could not live on £70 a week in benefits, says 'hypocrite' Labour minister as he defends Starmer cuts

Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, said he had a 'mortgage to pay' as he explained why he thought he could not live on that amount.

Politics

3 w. ago What a difference a job makes! Minister who used to savage benefit cuts as a lefty think

Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, said he had a 'mortgage to pay' as he explained why he thought he could not live on that amount.

Politics