foreign aid

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GOP Budget Would Kill 70K Kids: USAID Chief

Foreign aid vital for economy's future, Rajiv Shah argues

(Newser) - House Republicans' version of the budget deal to keep the government running would cause the deaths of at least 70,000 children around the world who depend on America aid, USAID chief Rajiv Shah testified yesterday. The agency predicts that 30,000 will die because of the scaling back of...

We Want to Cut Foreign Aid— and Expand It

Americans think it's 25% of the budget. In fact, it's 1%, and it works: Ken Hackett

(Newser) - Americans think foreign aid should be the first casualty of budget-trimming, a poll shows—but we also want it to be 10 times what it is now. That’s because most Americans think foreign aid makes up a quarter of the federal budget, and want to cut it to 10%....

North Korea Begs West for Food

But US, others, not so sure that's a great idea

(Newser) - North Korea is so hungry that it has, for the moment at least, abandoned its trademark bluster and started begging foreign governments for food, the Washington Post reports. But the US, which was the largest provider of food aid to North Korea until it shut off shipments two years ago,...

US Changes Tune on Killing Egypt's Aid

Top lawmakers figure out that might not be such a bright idea

(Newser) - Many top US lawmakers are backing off their calls to cut aid flowing to Egypt, as consensus builds that the money offers necessary leverage over the Egyptian military. John McCain, who had previously said that aid cuts were “on the table,” said yesterday that it is “just...

Another Temporary Budget Strains Federal Agencies

SEC can't hire; foreign aid money blocked; no end in sight

(Newser) - Because Democrats and Republicans are at loggerheads on spending, Congress had to approve yet another stopgap budget measure yesterday to keep the government running through March. While federal agencies avoided a shutdown, they've got to keep operating at last year's spending levels, a development that amounts to a budget cut...

US Uses Aid Dollars to Keep Allies in Afghanistan

Counterterror funds serve as tacit incentive to continue unpopular fight

(Newser) - The Pentagon is pouring millions of dollars into equipment and training for its smaller partner nations in the Afghanistan war, a new effort aimed at encouraging them not to abandon the increasingly unpopular conflict. While the funding cannot be openly used as an incentive for NATO nations to send troops...

Clinton Arrives in Chile, Promises Help
 Clinton Arrives in Chile, 
 Promises Help 
Chile Earthquake

Clinton Arrives in Chile, Promises Help

'We'll be here to help when the others leave'

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton arrived in Chile today, embracing president Michelle Bachelet and promising assistance. The US is already preparing to send water purification units, temporary bridges, a field hospital, and medical supplies, the secretary of state said. She delivered 25 satellite phones intended to help coordinate relief efforts. “We’ll...

Haiti Is a Cultural Disaster, Not a Natural One

Progress-resistant country needs 'intrusive paternalism'

(Newser) - The tragedy in Haiti is more a man-made than a natural disaster, caused by shoddy construction and terrible infrastructure, writes David Brooks, noting the 1989 Bay Area earthquake of the same magnitude only killed 63 people. The kind of poverty that caused this catastrophe needs to be tackled, but to...

China Offers Africa Billions in Aid, Debt Forgiveness

Beijing gives back amid flak over greed

(Newser) - Chinese premier Wen Jiabao today pledged $10 billion in low interest loans to African nations over the next three years and said Beijing would cancel the government debts of some of the poorest of those countries. The Asian powerhouse, at the start of a two-day China-Africa summit, looked to deflect...

Bono Charity Rips Italy, France for Stiffing Africa

Anti-poverty group says broken aid promise should cost Italy right to host G8 summit

(Newser) - An anti-poverty group founded by Bono has issued a report harshly condemning France and Italy for reneging on promises to boost aid to Africa, the BBC reports. The report from the organization One called France's performance "disappointing" and Italy's an "utter failure," which has dragged down...

Pakistan PM Claims 700 Taliban Killed

Army has already killed 700 militants: minister

(Newser) - With more than a million of its citizens fleeing violence within its borders, Pakistan's prime minister said today the army has killed more than 700 militants in the last two weeks, in an operation in which "the very existence of the country was at stake.” Syed Yousaf Raza...

Obama Seeks $83.4B for Wars
 Obama Seeks $83.4B for Wars 

Obama Seeks $83.4B for Wars

(Newser) - President Obama will ask Congress for $83.4 billion in supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the AP reports. Obama had in the past opposed such requests outside of the federal budget, but the administration says it's necessary one final time to fund the military through the...

African Union Suspends Madagascar

Pressure mounts against coup government

(Newser) - International pressure is mounting against the new government of Madagascar, installed this week via coup, the BBC reports. The African Union has suspended the island nation’s membership, calling the takeover “unconstitutional,” and South Africa said it might impose sanctions. France likewise condemned the takeover, and the US...

Bush Plans $1B for Georgia Ahead of Cheney Visit

Navy set to deliver more supplies; VP touts 'deep and abiding interest' in region

(Newser) - President Bush wants another $1 billion in economic aid for Georgia, the AP reports. An announcement is scheduled for later today, even as Vice President Dick Cheney is continuing a tour of former Soviet states that will take him to Georgia tomorrow. Meanwhile, a third US Navy ship entered the...

Visiting UN Chief Pushes Burma to Accept Aid

Junta refuses US supplies waiting nearby

(Newser) - UN chief Ban Ki-Moon witnessed cyclone damage in Burma today, on a trip to bring the devastated country a “message of hope” and push the junta to allow international aid for the millions left destitute, Reuters reports. “I'm quite confident we will be able to overcome this tragedy,...

China Death Toll Nears 40,000
 China Death Toll Nears 40,000 

China Death Toll Nears 40,000

Foreign medical workers arrive as focus shifts toward aiding survivors

(Newser) - The official quake death toll climbed to nearly 40,000 in China’s Sichuan province today, the Guardian reports, as foreign medical teams and equipment arrived on the scene. Relief efforts began shifting away from finding survivors to aiding the more than 200,000 injured and 5 million left homeless....

Junta Leader Visits Nargis Victims as UN Envoy Arrives

General meets survivors for first time since cyclone hit

(Newser) - The head of Burma's junta emerged today for the first time since cyclone Nargis struck two weeks ago to meet with survivors, CNN reports. Gen. Than Shwe visited a refugee camp 200 miles south of Yangon, touching the faces of infant survivors. The visit came as the UN's humanitarian secretary...

Bush Signs $700M Grant for Tanzania
Bush Signs $700M Grant
for Tanzania

Bush Signs $700M Grant for Tanzania

Rice, meanwhile, prepares to join negotiations in Kenya

(Newser) - During the second stop on his whirlwind African tour, President Bush heaped praise on Tanzania's president and signed over a $698 million grant for infrastructure development. "We like dealing with honest people and compassionate people," Bush said of his trip, which is avoiding current hot spots like Kenya...

Bush Defends Decision Not to Send Troops to Darfur

Reluctant to intervene in another Muslim nation

(Newser) - President Bush has defended his decision not to send US troops to Darfur to stop the genocide taking place in the troubled African region. The choice was partly due to a desire not to intervene in another Muslim country, he told the BBC. Bush is scheduled to leave today for...

Bangladeshi Bridge Collapses
Bangladeshi Bridge Collapses

Bangladeshi Bridge Collapses

Villagers struggle to free people trapped under fallen concrete slabs

(Newser) - At least three people were killed and scores injured in Bangladesh today when a bridge packed with thousands of cyclone survivors collapsed, the AP reports. Another 20 people were missing. The collapse occurred as Bangladeshis moved toward a relief center to receive much-needed food and supplies in a district hard...

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