Development aid

Groups accuse France of climate inaction, take case to court

Jan. 14, 2021 9:57 AM EST

PARIS (AP) — A French court started examining on Thursday what environmental and other organizations are billing as “the case of the century,” accusing the country's authorities of failing to act against climate change. It stems from a legal complaint filed by Greenpeace France, Oxfam France,...

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2017 file photo, Harvard professor Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, addresses an audience at a forum on the campus of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass. President-elect Joe Biden has selected Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama, to run the U.S. Agency for International Development. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Biden picks Samantha Power, former UN envoy, for US aid post

Jan. 13, 2021 1:40 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he has picked Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama, to run the agency overseeing American foreign humanitarian and development aid. If confirmed by the Senate, Power will head the U.S....

Britain to end state support for fossil fuel sector exports

Dec. 11, 2020 5:30 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — Britain said Friday that it is ending state support for fossil fuel industry exports, and shifting government assistance to low-carbon and renewable energy projects abroad. The announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson comes a day before he co-hosts a virtual summit with more than 70 world...

A train moves during the inauguration of a 140-kilometer (90-mile) line running from eastern Iran into western Afghanistan, at a railroad station in Khaf, Iran, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. The leaders of Iran and Afghanistan on Thursday inaugurated the first railway link between the two countries, expressing hope it would enhance trade links across the region. (Mohammad Ramezani, ISNA via AP)

Iran, Afghanistan open first rail link with eye on trade

Dec. 10, 2020 5:30 AM EST

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The leaders of Iran and Afghanistan on Thursday inaugurated the first railway link between the two countries, expressing hope it would enhance trade links across the region. The 140-kilometer (90-mile) line running from eastern Iran into western Afghanistan will eventually be expanded...

Christmas lights are lit up on New Bond Street in Mayfair, London, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Haircuts, shopping trips and visits to the pub will be back on the agenda for millions of people when a four-week lockdown in England comes to an end next week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

UK cuts overseas aid after worst recession in over 300 years

Nov. 25, 2020 3:23 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — The British government faced fury Wednesday after ditching its long-standing target for overseas aid in the wake of what it described as the deepest recession in over three centuries. In a statement to lawmakers, Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said the target to allocate 0.7% of national income...

FILE - In this file photo dated Friday Nov. 6, 2020, mink look out from a pen at a farm near Naestved, Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has appointed Thursday Nov. 19, 2020, a new agriculture minister, after Mogens Jensen resigned after the government ordered the culling of all Danish mink because of the coronavirus, but without having the necessary legislation in place first.(Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix FILE via AP)

Danish PM taps new minister after mink culling fiasco

Nov. 19, 2020 1:55 PM EST

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen appointed a new agriculture minister Thursday to succeed Mogens Jensen, who resigned after the government ordered the culling of all Danish mink without having the necessary legislation in place. Development Cooperation Minister Rasmus...

In this grab taken from video, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a statement on the defence review via video link from 10 Downing Street, in London, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Johnson has backed what is being touted as the biggest investment program in the U.K.'s armed forces since the end of the Cold War three decades ago. Johnson told lawmakers Thursday that the four-year financial package for the Ministry of Defense will “end the era of retreat” and pivot ting it towards potential future threats. Johnson said the armed forces will receive an additional 16.5 billion pounds ($21 billion) over and above the government’s earlier plans. (House of Commons/PA via AP)

UK defense spending boost stokes concerns about overseas aid

Nov. 19, 2020 10:49 AM EST

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday touted the biggest investment in the U.K.'s armed forces since the end of the Cold War three decades ago but brushed aside concerns that his government is about to abandon pledges on overseas aid spending in order to pay for it. Johnson told...