live U.S. launches fresh Iran strikes as Tehran retaliates in Gulf
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuw...
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed an $800 million contribution from the U.S., saying the funding will strengthen humanitarian operations as global hunger continues to rise.
The agency said the additional support comes at a critical time, with the number of people facing acute food insecurity expected to increase this year because of conflict, economic pressures and climate shocks.
The WFP said the new contribution will help expand and sustain key operations in some of the world's most vulnerable regions, including:
The U.S. remains the WFP's largest donor, although its funding has varied significantly in recent years.
Contributions fell sharply in 2025 to around $2 billion, less than half the total provided the previous year. Overall, U.S. humanitarian funding to the United Nations also declined steeply, reflecting broader shifts in foreign aid priorities.
Despite earlier reductions, the latest pledge signals renewed support for global food assistance at a time of growing need.
The WFP has warned that demand for assistance is outpacing available resources, increasing pressure on humanitarian agencies worldwide.
With hunger levels at record highs, officials say sustained international support will be essential to prevent conditions from worsening in vulnerable regions.
The funding announcement comes alongside a separate U.S. pledge of $218 million to the UN children's agency, UNICEF, highlighting continued involvement in global humanitarian efforts.
The U.S. says it has launched strikes on Iran after alleged attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the action as a response to threats against civilian shipping and a breach of the ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
NATO leaders are unveiling multi-billion-dollar arms deals in Ankara as President Donald Trump joins the summit, highlighting Europe's increased defence spending amid tensions over Russia and Iran, and following years of U.S. criticism of the alliance.
Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, has described fresh U.S. strikes on Iran as "absolutely necessary," in remarks at the start of the second day of the alliance's sumit in the Turkish capital Ankara.
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The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 1,759, including 600 deaths, according to government data released on Wednesday.
The World Health Organization has warned that Europe could face "more deadly weeks" as another intense heatwave develops over the Atlantic, urging governments to strengthen emergency preparations before temperatures rise again.
More than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since June 21 as the continent faces extreme heat, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
The Central African Republic declared a cholera outbreak after 197 cases, including 24 deaths, were confirmed in two health districts southwest of the country’s capital Bangui, local media reported Saturday.
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