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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

Nidhi Bouri – former deputy assistant administrator for Global Health at USAID

Parents have been urged to pack a simple item in their holiday suitcase as it could “save a child’s life.” The advice has been issued by an NHS GP ahead of peak travel season

It’s getting to that time of year when holiday season is quickly approaching, and you’re going to be thinking about what to pack. If you’re a parent, you may want to pay attention, as people are being urged to pack a simple item that could “save a child’s life.”

The advice has been issued by NHS GP, Dr Shireen, who often shares vital health advice on TikTok. According to her, you need to ensure you have one very important item of clothing, as it could make a big difference to children’s safety when they’re having fun and relaxing near the pool.

In a candid video, she explained: “If you’re planning to go near any pools this summer, please watch this video, particularly if you have young children. The colour of the swimming costume will literally help save their lives if they are in trouble.

“So, there are some colours that, when they’re submerged under water, literally will camouflage with the water, and disappear. That means, if a child is drowning, it will make it so much harder for you to find them, to spot them and to save them.

“On the other side, there are some colours that really show up brightly. And I’m quickly going to go through them with you so, when it comes to you doing your shopping for your clothes for your children and also for yourselves, [you’re] making the right choices.”

According to Dr Shireen, bright colours like red and yellow are good options to go for. Orange and neon colours are also said to be better.

The ones you need to “worry about”, according to the doctor, are light blue shades, green and grey as they “completely disappear” in the water, which makes it so much harder for children to be spotted.

While it’s fine to allow little ones to pick patterns that they like, she said it’s wise to be mindful of what sorts of colours you’re picking out. The key, according to her, is opting for shades that help to make them more visible.

Little you may know, Dr Shireen’s advice is actually super important. When your children go in the pool, bright, neon colours like orange, pink and yellow are thought to be the “most effective at enhancing visibility in the water”, and can even help save lives by making it easier to spot swimmers in distress.

In contrast, dark colours such as navy blue or black tend to blend in with the water, therefore making it much harder to spot when someone is in need of help. The video has been viewed dozens of times since it was shared, with some admitting they had no idea the colour of a swimsuit was so important.

One replied: “So informative. Thank you.” Another added: “This is so smart. I didn’t even think about this.”

A third said: “Amazing advice.” The GP was praised for sharing the top travel tip, as so many people weren’t aware of its importance.

NHS advice about water safety states: “Supervise children at all times when they are in or around a water source. Think about water safety in the home – children can drown rapidly and in small volumes of water.

“Ensure paddling pools are always emptied when not in use, or securely covered over. Make your pond safe – use a rigid metal grille across it, fence it off or fill it in.

“Consider teaching your child to swim – get details about public swimming baths, including swimming lessons. Be extra vigilant on holiday – beach and pool conditions and safety standards vary considerably throughout the world.”

The seal population has increased from about 4,000, considered nearly extinct, in the late 1980s to about 50,000.

Lithuania will make a concerted effort to save its grey seal population, which has managed to stabilise though continues to remain vulnerable, in the Baltic Sea as it contends with shrinking fish stocks, pollution and the negative effect of climate change.

Over the years, Lithuania has introduced several bans, including on toxic pesticide usage and commercial cod fishing, in an effort to fortify its grey seal population.

The effects of climate change on the seals’ habitat are severe, as the Baltic Sea, which is shared by the European Union and Russia, rarely freezes over now, depriving the seals of sanctuaries to rear their cubs.

“Mothers are forced to breed on land in high concentration with other seals,” said Vaida Surviliene, a scientist at Lithuania’s Vilnius University told the AFP news agency. “They are unable to recognise their cubs and often leave them because of it,” she said.

Survival rates for cubs in the wild can be as low as 5 percent, according to local scientists.

Rearing cubs ashore also leaves mother seals exposed to humans, other wild animals, rowdy males, as well as a higher risk of diseases, according to Arunas Grusas, a biologist at the Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre in the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda.

Grusas first began caring for seals in 1987, when he brought back a pup to his office at the Klaipeda Sea Museum, which now oversees the new rehabilitation centre built in 2022.

“We taught them how to feed themselves, got them used to the water – they had to get comfortable with the sea, which spat them out ashore practically dying,” Grusas said.

The very first cubs were placed into makeshift baths set up in an office. The scientists then nursed them back to health, first with liquid formula before moving on to solid food.

In the late 1980s, the seals were nearly extinct – there were just about 4,000 to 5,000 left in the sea, from a population of about 100,000 before World War II.

Recently, a growing number of adult seals have been washing up on Lithuanian beaches.

Scientists like Grusas point the finger at near-shore fishing nets, where seals desperate for food end up entangled and ultimately drown.

Once the seals are ready to re-enter the wild, scientists release them into the sea with GPS trackers, which show the seals generally favour a route north towards the Swedish Gotland island in the middle of the Baltic Sea, where fish are more plentiful.

Some, however, are scared to venture off alone and return to the boat from which they were released. Eventually, they all find their way back to the wild.

The annual maximum ice extent in the Baltic Sea has been decreasing rapidly since the 1980s, with the lowest extent on record in the winter of 2019-2020.

A Palestinian man trapped under rubble in a burning building spoke to his cousin by phone, pleading for help after an Israeli airstrike flattened their home in Gaza City. Rescue teams later found Ibrahim al-Daly dead from severe burns. (Warning: Distressing Content)

No club in MLS history played more games during a two-year span than the 103 LAFC played the past two seasons. It was an exhausting and unrelenting slog that saw the team play a game every five days.

Yet it may prove to be just a warm-up for what the team could face during the remainder of this season. Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the short-handed Colorado Rapids, which snapped a four-game winless streak in all competition, was LAFC’s 28^th match in less than five months. If it makes long runs in both the Leagues Cup and MLS Cup playoffs, the team will play another 29 times this season, with seven of those matches coming in the next 26 days weeks.

It’s a tortuous schedule, especially in mid-summer. But it’s also an unavoidable one.

“This schedule is what it is. We cannot change that,” said coach Steve Cherundolo, who got goals Wednesday from Denis Bouanga, Nathan Ordaz and newcomer Javairo Dilrosun. “It’s important not to waste any moments; moments meaning games you can win, moments also meaning chances in each game. So it’s important to play as effective as possible.

“That is our objective.”

Another objective would be to call for help, or at least relief, which is something LAFC figures to do as well. Because while the schedule ahead looks daunting, the team appears to have ample resources to deal with it.

The departures of Olivier Giroud, who returned to France, and Cengiz Under, whose loan from Turkish club Fenerbahce expired, frees up two designated player spots and more than $2.6 million in salary heading into the summer transfer window, which opens in two weeks. And the $10 million LAFC will receive for making the FIFA Club World Cup gives general manager John Thorrington more money to fund a roster upgrade.

“I don’t think there’s been a transfer window that LAFC has not been active in,” Cherundolo said. “We are always trying to improve the team whenever possible. That is just part of who we are and how we do things.

“So I, of course, expect the exact same demeanor this window.”

Exactly what that would look like, Cherundolo said, was a question for Thorrington, who wasn’t taking any this week. But LAFC’s needs are as obvious as they are plentiful.

LAFC’s Nathan Ordaz (27) celebrates after scoring a goal against Colorado Rapids at BMO Stadium on Wednesday.

(Shaun Clark / Getty Images)

Bouanga and Ordaz, who scored the first two goals Wednesday, have combined for 13 of LAFC’s 33 goals this season and the departures of Giroud and Under make the offense even more top heavy. Keeping Dilrosun, a former Dutch international on a short-term loan from Mexico’s Club América, could help spread out the scoring but expect LAFC to look to add another attacker in the transfer window just the same

The loss of center back Marlon, whose contract expired nine days ago, has also created a hole, this one on the back line.

Time is critical because despite the win over Colorado, which went down a man in the sixth minute when left back Jackson Travis drew a red card for elbowing defender Sergi Palencia in the face, LAFC (8-5-5) is closer to the ninth and final playoff Western Conference playoff spot than it is to the top of the 15-team table. However the team’s congested schedule means it will play at least more two games than every other team in the conference the rest of the season, something that is both a blessing and a curse.

It’s a blessing because it gives the team two extra chances to make up ground against the teams ahead of them. But it’s a curse in that it means the team’s MLS schedule is the most challenging down the stretch.

“That’s what I like,” Bouanga, whose first-half penalty-kick goal was his ninth of the season 50^th in his MLS career, said through a translator. “I like play, play, play. When we train too much it becomes tiring for me.”

The crowded calendar is mainly a result of LAFC’s participation in the Club World Cup, which forced MLS four games, including Wednesday’s match with Colorado, to be rescheduled while adding four non-league games to the schedule. Then there’s the upcoming Leagues Cup, which will force LAFC to play as least three more games and perhaps as many as six.

Ordaz, whose goal early in the second half came off the rebound of a Dilrosun shot, said its important not too look too far ahead.

“You just have to go one day at a time,” he said. “I think we’re all going to be important, the whole team. Everybody’s ready and we’re going to trust in everyone.”

His coach agreed.

“We need to take it step by step, meaning game by game,” Cherundolo said.

“When you’re winning games that’s a great time to have a congested schedule because things are flowing and going in the right direction. So it’s important to get us going, get the ball rolling in the right direction.”

LAFC has been heading in the opposite direction the last month, earning just a draw in four games in all competition and getting shut out three times. Wednesday’s win, however, was the team’s most one-sided since a 4-0 victory over Seattle in mid May. The team also got a big effort from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who recorded his sixth clean sheet in 16 MLS games.

“There’s no replacement for wins, and more specifically three points in the position we’re in,” Cherundolo said. “So that was very important, regardless of how it happened.”

Joseph Paintsil had two goals, Matheus Nascimento also scored a goal and the Galaxy beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 on Friday night to snap a three-game winless streak.

The Galaxy (2-13-6), the defending MLS Cup champion, won for the first time since it beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 on May 31 to snap a 16-game winless streak to open the season. The Galaxy went into the game with 13 points, fewest in all of MLS.

The Whitecaps (11-4-5) have lost three of their last four. Vancouver is second in the Western Conference with 38 points, behind San Diego (39).

Edwin Cerrillo flicked a shot from 30 yards outs that was deflected by goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka and Nascimento put away the rebound with a first-touch finish to open the scoring in the second minute.

Paintsil made it 2-0 in the 60th. Gabriel Pec played an long arcing ball to the top of the penalty box, where Marco Reus tapped a first-touch pass to a wide-open Paintsil, who calmly flicked a shot inside the back post from the left side of the area.

Paintsil converted from the penalty spot in the 77th minute for his first career multi-goal game. The 27-year-old forward has three goals and one assist this season after he finished with 10 goals and 10 assists last season, his first in MLS.

Takaoka had five saves for Vancouver. Jayden Nelson was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute and another in stoppage time as the Whitecaps played a man down for the final few minutes.

Novak Micovic had a save for LA. The Galaxy had 55% possession and outshot Vancouver 12-6, 8-1 on target.

The Whitecaps beat the Galaxy 2-1 at home on March 2.

The airport lounge access deal will let travellers enjoy a quiet space away from the crowds, with complimentary snacks, drinks, WiFi and comfortable seating

It is time to set our sights on the upcoming summer holidays. Whether travellers have already secured their booking or are just beginning to plan, the countdown to a sun-soaked getaway has officially started.

Priority Pass is currently offering a 30% discount on airport lounge access, allowing holidaymakers to enjoy chic spaces away from the throngs, complete with complimentary nibbles, beverages, WiFi and cosy seating.

Securing an airport lounge is the ultimate travel hack for dodging jam-packed airports. There are more than 1,700 Priority Pass airport lounges to choose from.

READ MORE: I ditched B&Q paint for an eco-friendly range and it’s transformed my home’

READ MORE: ‘I’ll be wearing Joanie Clothing’s pretty postcard print jumpsuit all summer’

This deal will enable travellers to experience the luxury of first-class without the hefty price tag. Nestled away from the hectic terminal waiting areas, guests can enjoy refreshments, queue-free bathroom facilities and WiFi for work or leisure.

For families jetting off with children, they also provide a welcome break from the chaos of large terminals, making it easier to keep an eye on the little ones and keep them entertained. All Priority Pass airport lounges come equipped with flight information screens.

30% off airport lounge access

30% off

Priority Pass

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Get a discount on airport lounge access with Priority Pass this summer

Some even offer sleep pods for lengthy layovers, and the option to indulge in dedicated spa areas and treatments at an extra charge. The Priority Pass digital membership is instantly available via the app, allowing travellers to book and unwind as soon as they sign up.

Unlike one-off lounge passes, Priority Pass allows usage on both outbound and return flights, whereas a single-day lounge pass only covers one leg of the journey. This typically works out cheaper than purchasing a single-use entry pass for a departure lounge, and the more frequently you use the lounges, the more cost-effective your subscription becomes.

If Priority Pass airport lounges don’t quite tick all your boxes, single-use airport passes can be booked through Expedia, with Heathrow Airport lounges starting from £34. There are also other options available for airports across the UK and further afield. It’s worth mentioning that Holiday Extras offers a variety of airport lounge deals, along with car hire, hotel stays and more.

The Priority Pass app comes with additional benefits such as early access to duty-free shopping, premium fitness content, and the ability to pre-book lounges. Members can also enjoy spa treatments, gaming zones, pre-order takeout, private transfers, and discounted car rentals worldwide.

Travellers who’ve used Priority Pass airport lounges in the past have been voicing their opinions on Trustpilot. One jet-setter recounted: “Six family members visited the lounge in Florence, Italy, while waiting for our flight back to the USA. It was very relaxing, good food and drinks, nice bathrooms, no wait to get in. Very good experience.”

Another traveller said: “Been using Priority Pass in Europe for over a year. I made 22 visits last year and all of the experiences were smooth. Zero complaints and I would highly recommend Priority Pass to anyone interested.”

A third passenger wrote: “Our experience was very good! The staff at Heathrow Airport was courteous and efficient. The food was good and the lounge was nice although rather crowded! Would definitely use the lounge again!”.

However, it hasn’t been all rosy, with a less satisfied customer commenting: “I like the clubs, but they aren’t at all the airports I fly out of. Lately, they have been crowded and have to wait. Often they are located in different terminals than the one I fly out of.”

Despite a few hiccups, the consensus is that securing a spot in a Priority Pass airport lounge has generally been a hit with flyers. Another user concluded: “Literally a life saver when travelling. I love having a place to relax and grab a bite to eat or a drink before a flight. It’s truly a game changer.”

JERUSALEM — President Trump’s call for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be thrown out has plunged the American leader into one of Israel’s most heated debates, unnerving some in its political class just days after they unanimously praised his strikes on Iran.

Trump’s social media post condemning the trial as a “WITCH HUNT,” and his vow that the United States will be the one who “saves” Netanyahu from serious corruption charges, came just two days after he called off an Israeli bombing raid in Iran to preserve a ceasefire.

Both were dramatic interventions in the affairs of an ally that previous U.S. administrations had always insisted was a sovereign nation that made its own decisions. Now the one leader nearly all Israelis seem to support has fully embraced the one who most divides them.

“With all due respect for Trump, he is not supposed to interfere in a legal process in an independent country,” opposition leader Yair Lapid told Israeli media.

Trump says trial should be canceled

In an extended post on his Truth Social site, Trump condemned Netanyahu’s trial in the same language that both he and Netanyahu have long used to describe their legal woes. Both contend they are the victims of witch hunts by hostile media, crooked law enforcement and political opponents.

“I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its Greatest Moments in History, and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their Great War Time Prime Minister!” Trump wrote, using a common nickname for Netanyahu.

“Bibi Netanyahu’s trial should be CANCELLED, IMMEDIATELY, or a Pardon given to a Great Hero, who has done so much for the State. … It was the United States of America that saved Israel, and now it is going to be the United States of America that saves Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump wrote.

Netanyahu’s allies took to social media Thursday to praise Trump and a spokesperson from Netanyahu’s Likud party translated the post into Hebrew.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, a former rival who once challenged Netanyahu over the corruption charges, only to join his Cabinet last year, said the trial was harming the state: “When the president of the United States calls for an annulment of the trial or for a pardon — can anyone say that he is wrong?”

Netanyahu himself said in a post addressed to Trump that he was “deeply moved by your heartfelt support for me and your incredible support for Israel and the Jewish people.”

Netanyahu is a polarizing figure in Israel

Netanyahu became the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to be indicted when he was charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases after yearslong investigations accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political supporters.

He took the witness stand for the first time late last year and his cross-examination began earlier this month. Several hearings have been postponed as he has dealt with the wars and unrest stemming from Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu portrays himself as a towering statesman fighting for Israel’s very survival and accuses his political opponents of trying to achieve in the courtroom what they failed to do at the ballot box during his nearly unbroken 16 years in power — the longest of any Israeli leader.

His critics accuse him of prolonging the war in Gaza and of leaving dozens of hostages languishing in Hamas captivity to cling to power and more effectively battle the allegations. Massive weekly protests against Netanyahu have been held for years.

Trump seen as Israel’s greatest U.S. friend

Trump is seen by Netanyahu — and many Israelis — as the greatest friend they have ever had in the White House. He has lent unprecedented support to Israel’s claims to territories seized in war, he brokered the Abraham Accords with four Arab nations in his first term and over the weekend he ordered direct strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, which Israel views as an existential threat.

Still, even some staunch supporters of Netanyahu and Trump seemed a bit unnerved.

Simcha Rotman, a lawmaker from the far-right Religious Zionist party and one of the architects of Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul, wrote on X that Netanyahu’s trial “may be an example of an accumulation of many faults” of the justice system.

“Still, it is not the place of the president of the United States to interfere in legal proceedings in Israel.”

Melzer and Hazboun write for the Associated Press. Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel.

BRITS jetting off to Europe for their summer holidays could risk losing cash if they pick the wrong time to buy the currency.

When heading abroad, it is not uncommon for many holiday-goers to exchange cash into the currency of the country they are travelling to.

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But when you convert cash from one currency to another, you could end up getting more money in exchange or in some instances less.

Factors such as inflation and the economic stability of a country can impact how much a currency is worth.

Currently, the Great British Pound (GBP) is worth more than the Euro, a popular holiday destination for many Brits.

So for example, if you had £100 and exchanged it you would get €116 in return.

While UK holiday goers currently get more money back when they swap their cash for Euros, returns have been better in previous years.

Back in 2024, £1 was worth €1.18.

Tony Redondo, founder of Cosomos Currency Exchange told The Sun that factors such as “soft UK economic data” and “rising geo-political tensions” is pushing the Pound to Euro exchange rate lower.

Inflation fell to 3.4% in the 12 months to May, raising expectations the Bank of England could cut interest rates tomorrow, June 19.

This can lower the value of the Pound as investors seek to get higher returns elsewhere.

With this in mind, Tony said that holiday goers heading to Europe before the end of the month, should buy Euros “soon”.

He said: “It might be best to buy soon to protect from any further possible downside.”

But the money expert said that those not travelling until the end of school holidays have no need to panic.

He said: “A calculated gamble would be to wait it out as the world moves at such a pace nowadays, that hopefully, the Pound has time to recover.  

“After all, in 17 out of the last 20 years, the Pound has gone up in value against the Euro in either July or August. “

It is worth noting that exchange rates can go up and down, so it is worth checking online currency converters to see how much you can get.

MORE HOLIDAY MONEY HACKS

When heading abroad there are a few hacks to ensure you don’t end up losing money.

Customers should avoid exchanging money at the airport as they tend to have higher fees due as they cater to a captive market.

Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “If you have a holiday booked and want to make the most of current rates.

“Don’t wait to buy your travel money at the airport as you will pay a premium – and never pay for your currency with a credit card as paying on plastic means you’ll be charged a ‘cash advance fee’.

This fee is charged on ATM withdrawals but also on transactions such as online gambling and buying foreign currency.

You should also be aware that banks tend to charge customers a fee for using their debit or credit card abroad.

For example, NatWest charges customers a 2.75% fee for spending your debit card abroad.

That would add a £1.16 charge to the cost of a jacket which cost £42.16.

But some banks don’t charge you for spending abroad.

For example, Monzo does not charge its customers foreign transaction fees nor does First Direct.

MOTORING experts have revealed the ten cheapest cars to insure in the UK.

The average insurance premium has increased by a whopping 43 per cent year on year from £284 in 2024 to a shocking high of £941.

Prices have begun to drop over the past few months but the average quote is now sitting around £834, which is still a huge premium.

Experts have now revealed how to get this massive premium down a bit.

They’ve revealed the top ten cheapest cars to insure in the UK to help keep the price of motoring down for everyday Brits.

Not only are the motors cheap to insure but they are affordable for anyone looking to pick up a new car.

The list consists mostly of hatchbacks and super minis but some SUVs do make an appearance.

Skoda Fabia

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The Fabia is reportedly the cheapest of all UK motors to insure.

The little Czech hatchback only costs around £237 a year to insure and can be bought for an impressively low £19,410.

Seat Ibiza

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The Ibiza remains a cheap option since the mark one was introduced to the UK market in 1983.

At only £240 a year and £19,795 to buy the little hatchback remains one of the UK’s best cheap and cheerful models.

Dacia Sandero

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Costing just £240 a year to insure and a very cheap £13,250 to buy, the Romanian motor offers an excellent option for first time drivers.

Only slightly more expensive to insure than the Ibiza the Sandero is a fair sight cheaper to buy than most of the alternatives.

Volkswagen Polo

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The German made Volkswagen Polo is up next with an insurance premium of around £247.

A favourite among first time drivers in the UK the Polo costs just £21,210 to buy.

Volkswagen T-Cross

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Surprisingly the SUV style Volkswagen T-Cross came in next, despite being large it can be insured for just £248.

A Volkswagen T-Cross could be purchased for around £24,895 and offers the most space on the list, perfect for families.

Hyundai i10

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The first Japanese car on the list, the Hyundai i10, can be insured for only £259 and purchased for a modest £16,380.

The most technologically advanced of the motors on this list the i10 offers a slew of futuristic features not available with some of the other options.

Kia Picanto

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The tiny Kia Picanto can be insured for just £250 and bought for only £18,945.

One of the smallest motors on the list the quick little car is a perfect option for the city, learners or first time motorists.

Kia Stonic

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Another Kia, the Stonic, though much larger than the hatchback Picanto, can be insured for around the same at £260.

Buying one is a fair bit pricier though costing motorists around £20,265.

Hyundai i20

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Not to be confused with the much more powerful i20N the Hyundai i20 can be insured for just £282 and purchased for £20,880.

A little larger and more powerful than some other entries on the list the i20 offers a bit of a step up in performance for a bit of a step up in cost.

Toyota Aygo X

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Scraping in at the bottom of the list the Toyota Aygo X can be insured for £307, the only motor on the list to break the £300 mark.

It remains relatively cheap to buy however at around £16,515.