A Rohingya man carries USAID packages as he transports them to a warehouse at a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Reuters
A Rohingya man carries USAID packages as he transports them to a warehouse at a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Reuters
A Rohingya man carries USAID packages as he transports them to a warehouse at a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Reuters
A Rohingya man carries USAID packages as he transports them to a warehouse at a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Reuters

Trump moves to scrap $5bn in approved foreign aid spending


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President Donald Trump wants to block nearly $5 billion in foreign aid without getting approval from Congress, which had approved the spending.

The move represents another test for Mr Trump as he works to consolidate power in the White House and circumvent lawmakers. The President notified House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday that he won't be spending $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch.

The move, being used for the first time in 50 years, challenges Congress’s spending powers and intensifies an already contentious battle over government funding, which is due to lapse on September 30.

It could increase the chance of a government shutdown and Democrats are sure to seek guarantees Mr Trump will actually spend money lawmakers appropriate in exchange for their votes to keep the government open.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the move “is further proof President Trump and Congressional Republicans are hellbent on rejecting bipartisanship and ‘going it alone’ this fall”.

“If Republicans are insistent on going it alone, Democrats won’t be party to their destruction,” Mr Schumer said in a statement.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that funding has been scrapped for programmes violating Mr Trump's “America First” priorities.

“Among items being cancelled are $2.7 million for 'inclusive democracy' programmes in South Africa, $4 million for 'global LGBTQI+ awareness,' and for the 'Global Labour Programme,'” he said.

“None of these programmes are in America’s interest, which is why the President is taking decisive action to put America and Americans first.”

The Trump administration has effectively dismantled USAID, the chief US foreign aid agency, since taking office.

Mr Trump, after taking office for the second time in January, launched a sweeping campaign to downsize or dismantle swathes of the US government.

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Pari

Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment

Director: Prosit Roy

Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani

Three stars

ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures

October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA

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How it works

1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground

2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water

3) One application is said to last five years

4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

* JP Morgan Private Bank 

Hidden killer

Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.

The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.

Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.

Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.

Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu. 

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Updated: August 29, 2025, 6:11 PM