4 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

26 h. 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

36 h. ago UK aid cuts are a ‘blow to Britain’s reputation’, David Miliband warns

Head of International Rescue Committee says reductions cannot come at worse time

Events

36 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

46 h. 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

50 h. 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

52 h. ago UK aid cuts to vaccines could lead to half a million child deaths, MPs warned

Conservative former minister Sir David Davis asked Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty how he “lives with himself”.

Events

3 d. ago Myanmar earthquake: US slow to act as other countries step in

Donald Trump accused of damaging US ability to respond to disasters through cuts to foreign aid programmes.As aid from China, Russia, India and the UK begins to flow into Myanmar, there is a conspicuous gap in global support from the world’s richest country: the US.The powerful 7.7-magnitude quake that struck central Myanmar on Friday has caused widespread destruction, flattening swathes of the country’s second-largest city, Mandalay, and even a tower block in the Thai capital, Bangkok, more than 600 miles (1,000km) away. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Vaccines group Gavi says U.S. has not confirmed it will end funding

The head of leading vaccines group Gavi alliance says it has not received confirmation from the U.S. government that it might be losing more than $1 billion in pledged funding as part of a reported proposal by U.S. authorities to cut support for international aid groups

Economics

7 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

8 d. ago Australia focuses foreign aid spending on Pacific region as US slashes aid programs

Australia plans to spend a larger share of its foreign aid on its near neighbors in Asia and the Pacific islands after the United States announced major cuts to development and humanitarian aid abroad

Politics

8 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

8 d. ago Is this the end of fish and chips? Ed Miliband's Net Zero plans put British favourite at risk, industry warns

The head of The National Federation of Fish Fryers (NFFF) has voiced concerns that the transition to green energy risks exacerbating costs for chippies.

Events

9 d. 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

9 d. ago Gaza's child amputees struggle with recovery, especially after Israel's cutoff of aid

The U_N_ says Israel's 17-month-old military campaign in Gaza has created “largest cohort of child amputees in modern history.”

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves denies pursuing austerity as axe set to fall on Civil Service

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves denies Labour is pursuing austerity ahead of spring statement

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending.

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves denies Labour is pursuing austerity as Civil Service cuts confirmed

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending.

Politics

1 week ago Special Investigation: The Cameroon fraudster allowed to stay in Britain for reasons that will blow your mind and a shocking 'human rights' farce over Jamaican child rapist

When the convicted child rapist told an immigration court he should not be deported because he had fathered 15 children in Britain, even the seasoned judge looked aghast.

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