A UN agency launched a scathing attack on Britain over its foreign aid budget cuts, warning that women and girls around the world will suffer as a result.
The UN Population Fund said the UK planned to cut family planning aid from £154 million ($214m) to £23m this year – a drop of 85 per cent.
Details of the cut emerged came after other programmes were identified as being in the firing line for funding cuts after Britain slashed its foreign aid budget.
The agency, UNFPA, supplies contraceptives and maternal health medicine for millions of women in some of the world’s poorest countries, trains maternal health workers, and promotes efforts to stop female genital mutilation and child marriage.
Natalia Kanem, UNFPA executive director, accused Britain of “stepping away from its commitments at a time when inequalities are deepening and international solidarity is needed more than ever”.
“These cuts will be devastating for women and girls and their families across the world,” she said.
"With the now-withdrawn £130m, the UNFPA Supplies Partnership would have helped prevent around 250,000 maternal and child deaths, 14.6 million unintended pregnancies and 4.3 million unsafe abortions.”
An additional £12m will be cut from UNFPA's core operating funds.
The agency acknowledged "the challenging situation facing many donor governments", but said it "deeply regrets the decision of our longstanding partner".
"The truth is that when funding stops, women and girls suffer, especially the poor, those living in remote, underserved communities and those living through humanitarian crises," it said.
The UK this year announced it would slash its overall foreign aid budget from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent of its national income, a reduction of about £4 billion.
The programmes affected by the decision are now becoming apparent.
On Wednesday, it was reported the UK planned to slash funding for international clean water and sanitation projects by 80 per cent.
On Tuesday, Liz Sugg – a former Foreign Office minister who resigned in protest over the cuts – challenged the government to confirm which programmes would be cut.
She said the government planned to cut the overseas budget for girls' education by more than 40 per cent.
The former minister also claimed that Britain planned to close its Women’s Integrated Sexual Health programme and cut funding to the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition by up to 80 per cent.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he did not recognise the figures, but admitted no area was immune to cuts.
Responding to the UN statement on Thursday, Ms Sugg said Britain’s withdrawn financial support to the women’s health organisation was a “double hit on the world's poorest”.
"The cuts which we're seeing to the aid budget are huge," she told the BBC 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.”
She said the UK was traditionally a strong advocate for women and girls around the world.
"(The cut) means millions of women will not have access to contraception and sadly that will mean many unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions," she said.
Former UK prime minister Tony Blair called on the leaders of the wealthy G7 collective of wealthy nations to redirect aid budgets to help poorer nations purchase Covid-19 vaccines.
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi emphasised the UK’s commitment to the World Health Organisation’s Covax initiative that helps inoculate the world’s poorest populations, with the UK donating £548m 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.
The Foreign Office said the aid cuts were only temporary and put in place because of the "seismic effect” of Covid-19 on the UK economy.
"We are working through what this means for individual programmes. Decisions will be announced in due course,” it said.
"We will still spend more than £10bn this year to fight poverty, tackle climate change and improve global health."
Official data shows emergency pandemic support measures have sent Britain's annual borrowing rocketing to the highest level since the Second World War.
More on foreign aid
UK vows to reverse cut in international aid when economy recovers from pandemic
World’s poorest countries braced for funding cuts ahead of UK aid budget announcement
UK’s foreign aid cuts likely to hinder vaccination and climate change efforts
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
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- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
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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.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Results
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Jetour T1 specs
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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Profile
Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $49,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
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Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld
Scoreline
Germany 2
Werner 9', Sane 19'
Netherlands 2
Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'
The five pillars of Islam
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Scoreline
Swansea 2
Grimes 20' (pen), Celina, 29'
Man City 3
Silva 69', Nordfeldt 78' (og), Aguero 88'
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The 12
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Not Dark Yet
Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer
Four stars
The five pillars of Islam
The%20specs
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The years Ramadan fell in May
