The UK's former prime minister Tony Blair expressed concern that some countries could become "isolated from the world" because they lacked the capacity to vaccinate their populations.
Mr Blair called on the leaders of the wealthy G7 nations to redirect aid budgets to help poorer nations purchase Covid-19 vaccines.
He said the world would only reopen fully when a significant proportion of the global population was inoculated against the disease.
"China has been effectively shut down for a long period of time and will probably stay that way," he told London's Evening Standard.
“So they are able to control the disease inside their borders, and obviously it is a very powerful state in China, but if you’re going to open the world back up again, then you have got to make sure the entire world is vaccinated.
“And the big risk is that you end up with countries – and this is because we work so much with African governments – my anxiety is that you’re going to have countries essentially kind of isolated from the world, because they don’t have the capacity to vaccinate their people.”
Mr Blair challenged the G7 – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US – to unite the world to get vaccinated within eight months and to set up a global Covid variant tracking system.
“We should be doing everything we can,” he said.
Despair over UK foreign aid cut
The former prime minister's intervention comes as the UK's cut to its foreign aid budget – from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of national income – takes effect on a UN organisation that promotes sexual health.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said on Thursday the cut meant the UK's commitment to the organisation would shrink from £154 million ($215m) this year to only £23 million.
"These cuts will be devastating for women and girls and their families across the world,” UNFPA's executive director Natalia Kanem said.
"With the now-withdrawn £130 million, the UNFPA Supplies Partnership would have helped prevent about 250,000 maternal and child deaths, 14.6 million unintended pregnancies and 4.3 million unsafe abortions."
Liz Sugg, a former foreign office minister who resigned in protest over the foreign aid reduction, said the cuts were a "double hit" on the world's poorest.
"The cuts which we're seeing to the aid budget are huge," she told the BBC's Radio 4 Today programme on Thursday.
“This is money the UK committed to in the UN chamber, signed an agreement and now we’re walking away from it – it’s pretty unheard of.”
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi emphasised the UK's commitment to the World Health Organisation's Covax initiative that helps supply vaccines to the world's poorest countries.
He said the UK had donated £548 million to the scheme.
“We are doing a hell of a lot to make sure we help the rest of the world,” he told Sky News.
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Red flags
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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