Vaccine offered to all over 40s in England; first US Covid emergency aid supplies arrive in India; UK temporarily reduces international aid from £14.5bn to £10bn
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The United Kingdom said Thursday it is temporarily reducing its international aid from £14.5bn (about $20bn) last year to £10bn this year ($14bn) because of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and two UN agencies announced huge funding cuts of more than 80%, AP reports.
The UN Population Fund, which now calls itself the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, said it had been informed that its flagship family planning program was being cut from £154m ($211m) to around £23m ($32m). In addition, it said £12m ($17m) is being cut from its core operating funds.
A military plane on Friday brought the first US emergency coronavirus supplies to help India battle its devastating surge in the pandemic, AFP reports.
A Super Galaxy military transporter carrying more than 400 oxygen cylinders and other hospital equipment and nearly one million rapid coronavirus tests landed at New Delhi’s international airport as the Indian capital battles a major pandemic crisis.
