Foreign aid cuts ‘will leave an extra 369,000 children to starve’
Cuts to foreign aid by Western governments could result in 369,000 additional child deaths from severe malnutrition annually, according to a study in Nature. The reduction in overseas development budgets by the UK, USA, and other major donors is expected to create an 'unprecedented crisis.' Britain's aid budget will drop by 40% (approximately £6 billion) by 2027 to prioritise defence spending, prompting the resignation of development minister Anneliese Dodds. The USA has dissolved USAID, which previously managed much of its $60 billion foreign aid. Other nations, including France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, have also cut foreign aid, by 37%, 30%, and 25% respectively. Emergency nutrition spending could fall by half ($290 million annually), leaving 2.3 million children without critical treatment for severe malnutrition. In Nigeria, USAid's withdrawal halted nutrition services for 5.6 million children. In Sudan, nearly 80% of emergency food kitchens have closed.
Faith leaders unite against 'unjust' child poverty
Senior faith leaders from the UK’s six major religions have united to urge the Government to adopt a bold child poverty strategy. In an open letter to Bridget Philipson and Liz Kendall, 35 faith leaders, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Bishop of Leicester Martyn Snow, called for transformative action. With 4.3 million children currently living in poverty and projections indicating another 400,000 could be affected by the end of the decade, they said that poverty reduction is a moral imperative for a compassionate society. The letter expressed hope that the forthcoming strategy could mark a turning point, encouraging partnerships across society to ensure every child has a fair start in life. It references the 'Paying the Price' report by Action for Children, advocating reforms in social security and housing to lift 1.2 million children out of poverty by 2030. Some saw scrapping the two-child benefit cap as a crucial step in this process.
Ukraine: Russia bombs hospital as naval ceasefire is negotiated
Russia and Ukraine have reached separate agreements with the USA on a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, following peace talks in Saudi Arabia. Though indirect, the negotiations resulted in a promise to halt attacks on energy infrastructure and reopen critical trade routes. Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move but said it was too early to gauge its effectiveness. The Kremlin, however, tied the ceasefire to the lifting of sanctions on its food and fertiliser sectors, demanding restored access to financial systems and agricultural trade tools. The USA acknowledged it would support restoring Russia’s global market access in these areas, prompting Zelensky to criticise the move as a concession. Ukraine warned that any expansion of Russian naval activity beyond agreed zones would violate the ceasefire and justify defensive action. It is also calling for increased US support and sanctions if Russia fails to honour its commitments. Even as the negotiators were meeting, a Russian missile hit a hospital, injuring dozens: see Breaking news: France and the UK are at the forefront of a united European message of support for Ukraine: see
Turkey: over 1,400 arrested, protests continue
Protests have rocked Turkey for more than a week after the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition figure and potential rival to President Erdogan. He was detained on corruption charges, which he and his supporters claim are politically motivated. Over 1,400 people have been detained since the unrest began, including students, journalists, and lawyers. Rights groups and the UN have condemned the mass arrests and police violence. Despite government bans, thousands have continued to gather in Istanbul, chanting against the government and demanding early elections. The Republican People's Party (CHP) is calling for transparent trials and the release of detained officials. President Erdogan has denied any political interference, warning protesters they are leading the country into chaos. Journalists covering the protests have also been arrested, prompting international concern. While Imamoglu remains eligible to run for president unless convicted, his arrest has escalated tensions in an already polarised political climate.
