Australia focuses foreign aid spending on Pacific region as US slashes aid programs

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia plans to spend a larger share of its foreign aid on its neighbors in Asia and the Pacific islands after the United States announced major cuts to development and humanitarian aid abroad.

Three-quarters of Australia’s total overseas development aid will directly benefit the Indo-Pacific region, which is a 40-year high proportion, according to documents seen by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Total aid for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is...