The UN warns that funding cuts will have catastrophic consequences for the fight against the disease.
The United Nations AIDS agency is warning that severe international funding cuts could lead to an additional 4 million deaths related to the disease by 2029.
The United States was the single biggest donor to the global response to HIV/AIDS before the administration of President Donald Trump abruptly halted foreign development assistance in January.
UNAIDS says the withdrawal of assistance will have catastrophic consequences for the fight against the pandemic.
So, what can countries do to reduce the impact of the funding cuts?
And why did wealthy nations end support for AIDS prevention and treatment programmes?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Dr Helen Rees – director of the Reproductive Health and HIV Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand
Dr Krishna Udayakumar – founding director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center
France has announced a “historic” deal with New Caledonia in which the South Pacific overseas territory, which was rocked by a wave of unrest last year over controversial electoral reforms, will be declared a new state.
The 13-page accord, reached on Saturday after negotiations in Paris between the French government and groups on both sides of the territory’s independence debate, proposes the creation of a “State of New Caledonia”, with its own nationality, but stops short of the independence sought by many Indigenous Kanaks.
“A State of New Caledonia within the Republic: it’s a bet on trust,” French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X, saying that the time had come for “respect, stability, and… goodwill to build a shared future”.
Under the agreement, New Caledonia would immediately control its foreign policy, but could put the transfer of additional sovereign powers over defence, currency, security and justice to a public vote, potentially paving the way to becoming a member state of the United Nations, according to French newspaper Le Monde.
Unrest broke out in May 2024, after Paris proposed a law allowing thousands of non-Indigenous long-term residents living in the territory to vote in provincial elections, diluting a 1998 accord that restricted these rights.
Kanaks, who make up about 40 percent of the territory’s population of nearly 300,000, feared the move would leave them in a permanent minority, diluting their influence and crushing their chances of winning independence.
The violence, in which 14 people were killed, is estimated to have cost the territory two billion euros ($2.3bn), shaving 10 percent off its gross domestic product (GDP), according to Manuel Valls, France’s minister for overseas territories.
The accord will help “us get out of the spiral of violence”, said Emmanuel Tjibaou, a Kanak lawmaker who took part in the talks.
Lawmaker Nicolas Metzdorf, who is in favour of remaining in the French fold, said the compromise deal was born of “demanding dialogue”, describing Caledonian nationality as a “real concession”.
Both chambers of France’s parliament are to meet in the fourth quarter of this year to vote on approving the deal, which is then to be submitted to New Caledonians in a referendum in 2026.
‘Intelligent compromise’
Located nearly 17,000km (10,600 miles) from Paris, New Caledonia has been governed from Paris since the 1800s.
Many Indigenous Kanaks still resent France’s power over their islands and want fuller autonomy or independence.
The last independence referendum in New Caledonia was held in 2021.
But it was boycotted by pro-independence groups over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Kanak population, and the political situation in the archipelago has since been deadlocked.
Valls called Saturday’s deal an “intelligent compromise” that maintains links between France and New Caledonia, but with more sovereignty for the Pacific island.
Jack van Poortvliet scored a last-gasp try to hand England a dramatic victory in the second Test and an impressive 2-0 series win over Argentina.
With the scores locked at 17-17 for most of the second half in San Juan, England were closing in on a series victory after winning the first Test, but Van Poortvliet ensured they would claim a clean sweep.
The 2-0 win will please head coach Steve Borthwick, with his side missing 14 British and Irish Lions and coming against a side who beat the Lions in Dublin in June.
Inside centre Seb Atkinson, one of those to step up and impress, opened both the scoring and his England account while Freddie Steward added his second try in as many games in a superb, end-to-end first half.
The hosts were lacklustre a week ago but recovered well in the second Test as tries from Lucio Cinti and Ignacio Mendy, plus a Santiago Carerras penalty, handed them a slender lead at the interval.
George Ford restored parity from the boot after the break before the sides became locked in an arm wrestle as they pushed for the decisive score.
Argentina rarely threatened the England line but the visitors allowed multiple opportunities to evade them before Guy Pepper made the crucial break and offloaded for his fellow replacement Van Poortvliet to dive over in the corner.
Ford missed the subsequent conversion but, with the clock in the red, England caught the restart and fired the ball into the stands to claim their 10th Test win in Argentina.
England shake off George absence
Getty Images
England’s preparations were altered at the 11th hour after co-captain Jamie George became the 15th Englishman called up by the British and Irish Lions.
George watched from the sidelines in San Juan before he flies out to join the Lions in Brisbane on Sunday, as Saracens team-mate Theo Dan was handed a Test start and Curtis Langdon stepped on to the bench.
The visitors were not hampered by the late adjustment though, and picked up where they left off in La Plata with a renewed fluidity in attack.
With Fin Smith and Marcus Smith both with the Lions, Ford produced another controlled display from fly-half and had an influential hand in Atkinson’s opening try.
The Sale fly-half, on his 101st cap, first put up a high kick which was safely palmed back, before a pin-point cross-field was clung on to by Tom Roebuck. The ball was fed inside to debutant centre Luke Northmore, who offloaded to Atkinson to score his maiden try on his second appearance.
The Pumas hit back after Ben Curry had been sent to the sin-bin, as scrum-half Simon Benitez Cruz juggled his way past a helpless Tom Willis before feeding Cinti for the hosts’ opening try.
Another neatly devised move resulted in Steward diving in at the corner but the England full-back was unfortunate when Carreras’ chip over the top ricocheted off the post for Mendy to gather and score.
Argentina were resolute in defence but barely fired a shot after the interval before being reduced to 14 players when Pablo Matera – who surpassed Agustin Creevy to become the Pumas’ most-capped player on his 111th Test appearance – was sent to the sin-bin for foul play at the breakdown.
England’s pressure finally told late on when Pepper, who was influential in the loose off the bench, made the break before feeding Van Poortvliet for a run-in.
‘We found a way’ – what they said
England fly-half George Ford said: “We found a way in the end. We had a lot of opportunities in the 22 but couldn’t get over the line. I’m proud of the boys. I like our fight, our togetherness, showing how much we care.
Line-ups
Argentina: Elizalde; Moroni, Cinti, Piccardo, Mendy; S Carreras, Cruz; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Kodela, Petti, Rubiolo, S Grondona, Gonzalez, Matera
Replacements: Bernasconi, Vivas, Delgado, Paulos, Isa, B Grondona, Moyano, Roger
Sin-bin: Matera (58)
England: Steward; Roebuck, Northmore, Atkinson, Muir; Ford (capt), Spencer; Baxter, Dan, Heyes, Ewels, Coles, B Curry, Underhill, T Willis
Replacements: Langdon, Rodd, Opoku-Fordjour, Cunningham-South, Pepper, Dombrandt, Van Poortvliet, Murley
Lorraine Kelly was away filming last month and it’s now been reported that she was working on a ‘big budget’ travel show for Channel 4 ahead of changes to her ITV talk show
Lorraine’s show has been affected by the ITV cuts(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly is said to have filmed a “big budget” project for Channel 4 recently. Ahead of changes to her long-running ITV talk show next year, it’s been teased that she’s considering other options that she could explore.
Lorraine, now 65, has fronted her eponymous show for more than a decade, with it having launched in 2010. It was however announced by ITV earlier this year that, from January next year, episodes will be reduced to 30 minutes. It was also revealed that the show will then only run for 30 weeks each year.
Following the news, last month, Lorraine shared that she was away and teased that she was having “big filming adventures” in Norway. She said in a video message on Instagram: “I’m in the land of the midnight sun. It’s absolutely glorious. It’s a project that I’ve wanted to do for years and years, and finally it’s actually happening. I’m heading really, really far north.”
Lorraine Kelly has filmed a new show with an ITV rival(Image: Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Women of the Year)
It’s now been reported by the Sun that Lorraine flew to the country last month to work on a travel show for Channel 4, rather than ITV. A source told the outlet that the broadcaster was “delighted” to have signed up Lorraine for the project.
The source said it was “exciting” for her to do “something different” and to be back on location somewhere. They teased that amid the shake-up at ITV daytime shows, her “loyal” fans will support Lorraine “wherever she goes”.
They said: “Despite the apparent slight in the ITV daytime shake-up, Lorraine’s loyal fanbase isn’t to be underestimated and they will follow her wherever she goes. She’s survived in this business a long time, and she’s a master at rolling with the punches.”
It’s also been reported by the outlet that the production role Head of Lorraine is being axed at ITV. It’s claimed that her two producers are set to instead report to bosses on This Morning.
The source said that it casts doubt on the future of the talk show and claimed that her current contract finishes next year. The source teased: “She’s opening her eyes up to the many options available to her.”
ITV said in a statement: “We have always said that from January 2026, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women will be three editorially distinct shows which will be produced by one team. These changes are not about the performance of the shows or the staff. We can assure our viewers that their favourite daytime shows will remain familiar to them on screen.”
Although best known for her work on ITV, Lorraine has appeared on other channels over the years too. It includes her having been on Channel 4’s the Last Leg on several occasions and she mentioned the show on a podcast recently.
She teased last month that she’s able to be “a bit naughty” on shows away from ITV’s Lorraine. As reported at the time, she said to Tom Kerridge on the Proper Tasty podcast: “40 years in TV last year was incredible. I got a BAFTA. ‘Here’s a BAFTA for being alive.’ I thought, ‘Hang on a minute, I’m not done yet’.
“I think now I can be a lot cheekier. Because I’ve always been a bit naughty. Not so much in the morning, but if I do a wee show on Channel 4, or The Last Leg, or something like that.”
She teased: “You can be unleashed. And I quite like that. You do have to have a self-edit button and I’m finding mine is not operating as much as it should.”
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Morocco finished top of Group A at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) after Yasmin Mrabet’s penalty earned the hosts a 1-0 victory over Senegal, while Zambia also won to secure their passage to the quarter-finals.
Morocco emerged triumphant from a scrappy encounter in Rabat, which rested on a controversial decision made with the help of VAR late in the first half.
Referee Shamirah Nabadda initially appeared to miss a coming together between Senegal goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye and Morocco striker Ibtissam Jraidi, but replays clearly showed Ndiaye strike her opponent in the face with one forearm while carrying the ball with the other.
After a lengthy delay, Nabadda was advised to go to the monitor, and although screens said it was to check a possible red card, Nabadda pointed to the spot instead and issued the fortunate Ndiaye with only a yellow.
Mrabet kept her cool to send the keeper the wrong way in the second minute of stoppage time, converting Morocco’s third penalty of the group stage.
Racheal Kundananji’s ninth-minute goal was enough to see off the Leopardesses, who had midfielder Falonne Pambani sent off in the 69th minute for a foul on Ireen Lungu.
Zambia face the winners of Group B in the last eight, which will provide a blockbuster clash against Nigeria if the record nine-time Wafcon winners avoid defeat against Algeria on Sunday (19:00 GMT).
Morocco, meanwhile, will take on the third-placed finisher in Group B or Group C.
Officials take centre stage
The atmosphere inside the Olympic Stadium in Rabat was crackling with anticipation ahead of kick-off between Morocco and Senegal and, for the first time this tournament, there was not a spare seat to be seen.
Pounding drums helped lift the volume further, while giant Moroccan flags waved in a stiff breeze that made conditions far cooler once the sun went down.
But fans hoping to be entertained by two teams who had found goalscoring easy in their first two group games were left disappointed by a stop-start affair that often threatened to become ill-tempered.
While the decision for Mrabet’s goal was the most important intervention of the evening, the assistant referees’ flags also played a key role.
Both teams had the ball in the net during the 90 minutes, only to see the goals ruled out by a late flags for offside. Jraidi and Senegal forward Nguenar Ndiaye also saw the flag go up following good chances they failed to finish.
While most of those offside decisions were clear, VAR had to intervene again in added time at the end of the game after Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak found the back of the net.
Referee Nabadda was also busy keeping discipline in what developed into a niggly affair, issuing a total of seven yellow cards.
While Senegal huffed and puffed, the West Africans never really looked like creating much in the way of clear chances.
The hosts always looked the superior footballing side and saw Chebbak and Jraidi also spurn excellent opportunities that were onside.
Topping the group means Morocco stay in the capital for their quarter-final on Friday, while Zambia remain in Mohammedia for their clash the same day.
Liberia’s president was “honoured” to meet US counterpart Donald Trump this week and wasn’t offended by Trump’s comment about his fluency in English — his mother tongue — Liberia’s foreign minister said on Friday.
The US president’s comment has even inspired a catchy tribute song in the West African country.
Trump praised President Joseph Boakai on Wednesday for his English-speaking skills, apparently unaware that English is the official language of Liberia.
US President Donald Trump attends the North Atlantic Council plenary meeting at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP)
Responding to remarks Boakai made at a White House mini-summit of the presidents of five mineral-rich countries in West Africa, the US leader said, “Such good English… Where were you educated?”
READ ALSO: ‘Where Were You Educated?’ Trump Comments On Liberian President’s English
Boakai — who, like most Liberians, speaks English as a first language — laughed uncomfortably and replied he had been educated in his home country.
“We were honoured by the White House’s invitation to President Boakai for a meeting with President Trump and fellow African leaders. No offence was taken,” Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti told AFP on Friday evening.
She said Liberia was keen to strengthen ties with the United States, “built on mutual respect”.
Liberia is the oldest republic in sub-Saharan Africa.
It was founded in 1822 when the American Colonisation Society, funded by the US Congress and slaveholders, began sending freed slaves to its shores.
Thousands of “Americo-Liberian” settlers followed.
They declared independence in 1847 and set up a government to rule over the native African majority.
English is the official language and the most widely used throughout the country.
English King Of Africa
In response to Trump’s faux pas, singer and former cultural ambassador Queen Juli Endee penned a song in tribute to Boakai.
“We salute JNB, our black president, Beautiful English King of Africa,” she and her band sang in a video widely shared on social media.
The clip shows them waving US flags and wearing T-shirts bearing the images of Boakai and Trump.
Liberians, meanwhile, voiced mixed reactions.
Shadrach Johnson, unemployed, welcomed the fact that Boakai had been among the small number of African leaders invited to the summit.
“He went there and spoke on behalf of the Liberian people. It’s progress,” he told AFP.
But street trader Patience Allison said Trump had insulted her head of state and sought to provoke.
“For him to ask that question, it is almost like you are making fun. He was really making fun of our president,” she said.
