Latest Poverty News

Billionaires' wealth soared in 2024, anti-poverty group says as the elites prepare for another Davos

Jan. 20, 2025 03:42 AM EST

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — Billionaires' wealth grew three times faster in 2024 than the year before, a top anti-poverty group reported on Monday as some of the world's political and financial elite prepared for an annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland. Oxfam International, in its...

Funding cuts to Afghanistan are the biggest threat to helping women, aid agency chief warns

Jan. 19, 2025 12:08 PM EST

Funding cuts to Afghanistan are the biggest threat to helping the country’s women, the chief of a top aid agency warned Sunday. Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said women and girls were bearing the brunt of dwindling financial support for...

World Bank says the global is economy is growing steadily, but not fast enough to help ease poverty

Jan. 16, 2025 13:13 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The global economy is growing steadily in the face of war, protectionist trade policies and high interest rates. It just isn’t growing fast enough to bring relief to the world’s poorest, the World Bank said Thursday in its latest assessment of the global economy. ...

Key takeaways from Trump's energy secretary pick's confirmation hearing

Jan. 15, 2025 15:13 PM EST

Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for energy secretary, told senators during his confirmation hearing Wednesday that he would promote all sources of American energy, while also acknowledging the burning of fossil fuels causes climate change. Wright, a fossil fuel...

Struggling To Survive: Hawaii Residents Take On Debt, Think About Leaving

Jan. 14, 2025 11:45 AM EST

Money is tight pretty much all the time. So after paying their rent, Puaʻena Vierra and her wife rack up credit card debt for groceries, medical expenses and other necessities. They are among a quarter of households in Hawaiʻi who spent more than their income in 2024. ...

UN food agency says some donors are hesitant to fund urgent Syrian aid under the new authorities

Jan. 14, 2025 09:43 AM EST

DAMASCUS (AP) — Some governments are hesitant to boost funding for urgent humanitarian needs in Syria under the country's new interim rulers after the fall of former President Bashar Assad, the director of the U.N. World Food Program said Tuesday. WFP chief Cindy McCain said...

A startup city in Kenya tries to tackle Africa's problem of urbanizing while poor

Jan. 12, 2025 01:58 AM EST

KIAMBU, Kenya (AP) — Turn into Tatu City on the outskirts of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, and it feels like entering a different world. Even the country's most reckless drivers are transformed, slowing to a crawl and not tossing trash out the window — thanks to surveillance cameras...

Today in History: January 8, Lyndon Johnson declares 'war on poverty'

Jan. 08, 2025 00:02 AM EST

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 8, the eighth day of 2025. There are 357 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 8, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in his State of the Union address, declared an “unconditional war on poverty in America.” Also...

Turkey's soaring costs are creating a 'lost generation' of kids forced to help their families get by

Dec. 25, 2024 00:03 AM EST

ISTANBUL (AP) — In a dim one-room apartment in one of Istanbul’s poorest neighborhoods, 11-year-old Atakan Sahin curls up on a threadbare sofa with his siblings to watch TV while their mother stirs a pot of pasta. The simple meal is all the family of six can look forward to most...

White House says Biden will visit Pope Francis, Meloni in final international trip of his presidency

Dec. 19, 2024 18:35 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Italy next month to meet with Pope Francis and top Italian officials for what is expected to be the final international trip of his presidency. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Biden will also...