This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Valerie Sanderson, and in the early hours of Saturday, the 8th of February, these are our main stories.

In the US, a judge says he'll order the Trump administration to halt some elements of its attempt to dismantle USAID, the world's largest aid agency.

Voters in Ecuador head to the polls this weekend.

We hear from those affected by the country's gang violence.

The UK government asked Apple to provide its security agencies with access to encrypted data

stored by users across the world.

Also in this podcast, for the first time in more than 20 years, the US

approves a new type of painkiller. And later, we would find new animals. We would discover

new things about the ocean currents and temperature and how much salt was in the water.

The quest to map all of the seabeds on planet Earth.

As we record this podcast, a judge in the US has announced he'll block parts of the Trump

administration's attempt to dismantle USAID, the world's largest aid agency. The plan to shut

down the agency

will mean a stop to work in around 120 countries

that's taken place over 60 years

and is aimed at fighting epidemics,

educating children, providing clean water

and supporting a free press.

According to the United Nations,

USAID accounts for more than 40% of all humanitarian aid last year.

Beatrice Grinstein is the president of the International Aid Society based in Brazil.

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