live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
The Trump administration has announced a $60 billion reduction in global assistance, cutting over 90% of USAID contracts and reshaping U.S. foreign aid policy. The move has sparked legal challenges and raised concerns about the future of U.S. international support.
The Trump administration has announced it is eliminating over 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) foreign aid contracts, cutting $60 billion in global assistance.
The cuts, outlined in internal memos and federal court filings, signal a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign aid policy, reducing support for international development and humanitarian efforts.
The administration justifies the cuts by citing the need to eliminate “significant waste” and inefficiencies within foreign assistance programs. This move is part of a broader effort to overhaul how the U.S. delivers foreign aid through USAID and the State Department.
President Trump and ally Elon Musk have led efforts to reduce government spending, targeting USAID projects as part of their strategy. On January 20, Trump ordered a 90-day review of foreign assistance programs, which led to an immediate freeze in funding and the shutdown of thousands of U.S.-funded projects worldwide.
The cuts have sparked legal challenges from nonprofits and contractors who rely on USAID funding. As terminations continue, the future of U.S. foreign assistance remains uncertain, with advocates questioning the impact on global stability and U.S. diplomatic influence.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Millions of people across Spain and Iceland are preparing on Wednesday to witness a rare total solar eclipse, when the moon will pass directly between Earth and the Sun, briefly turning daylight into darkness along a narrow path.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of August, covering the latest developments.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Taiwan staged military defence drills on Wednesday as China concluded joint naval exercises with Indonesia in waters east of the island.
Washington’s counter-narcotics push is expanding as Colombia’s new conservative government backs deeper security cooperation.
Meta said it had removed more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16, as the country’s internet regulator weighs enforcement action over its teen social media ban.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has used Pacific Fleet drills to criticise Japan, NATO and possible Western moves against Russian commercial ships. He made the comments during his first visit to Iturup, a Japan-claimed island at the end of the Kuril chain near the island of Hokkaido.
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