AP roundup: Aid cuts, child separations and tech‑driven scams exposed

A package of Associated Press investigations and videos documents a range of global failures with real human costs: in Nepal, former HIV‑prevention workers say USAID funding cuts left them with few options, and some—including transgender staff—report turning to sex work. Other probes show U.S. technology enabling an industrialized, global scam industry; dozens of children previously separated under the Trump administration were re‑separated despite a judge’s reunification order; and boarding programs for troubled teens are increasingly enrolling adoptees. Reporting also highlights misconduct and abuse by U.S. immigration and border officials, secretive surveillance of American drivers by Border Patrol, deadly maritime attacks tied to anti‑drug efforts, and the effects of foreign aid reductions in conflict zones.

The investigations draw on court documents, classified and internal records, on‑the‑ground interviews and video reporting to trace how policy decisions, private sector tools and institutional practices have contributed to harm among vulnerable populations. Together, the pieces portray systemic accountability and safety gaps across government agencies and private operators, with multiple stories underscoring legal, humanitarian and public‑health consequences for affected communities, as reported by AP News