The US Capitol in Washington, The $9 billion at stake is small in the context of the $6.8 trillion federal budget. Reuters
The US Capitol in Washington, The $9 billion at stake is small in the context of the $6.8 trillion federal budget. Reuters
The US Capitol in Washington, The $9 billion at stake is small in the context of the $6.8 trillion federal budget. Reuters
The US Capitol in Washington, The $9 billion at stake is small in the context of the $6.8 trillion federal budget. Reuters

US Senate approves $9bn federal cuts, including to USAID


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The US Senate on Thursday approved a package of spending cuts proposed by President Donald Trump that would cancel more than $9 billion in funding for foreign aid programmes and public broadcasting.

The cuts were proposed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) and largely affect USAID-administered programmes designed to assist foreign countries suffering from disease, war and natural disasters.

The plan also eliminates all $1.1 billion the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was due to receive over the next two years. CPB funds National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service, which Republicans have accused of anti-conservative bias.

The bill now goes back to the House for final approval, with legislators up against the clock. Congress, which had already allocated the money, has to approve the cuts by Friday or the White House must spend the cash as originally intended.

The $9 billion at stake is small in the context of the $6.8 trillion federal budget and represents only a tiny portion of all the funds approved by Congress that the Trump administration has held up while it has pursued sweeping cuts.

The cuts would overturn bipartisan spending agreements most recently passed in a full-year stopgap funding bill.

Mr Musk originally said Doge would save taxpayers $2 trillion but the agency now acknowledges it has saved taxpayers $190 billion – though factcheckers suspect even that claim as dubious.

Despite the unpopularity of the proposal in some sections of both parties, the Republican-led Senate passed the measure with 51 votes for and 48 against in a session that lasted more than two hours beyond midnight.

Republicans have indicated more packages codifying the Doge cuts were still to come. Mr Musk, who left the government in May, was recruited by Mr Trump to lead the task force after the tech billionaire spent $290 million helping him get elected.

The version of the text passed in June by the House of Representatives sought to eliminate $400 million in funding allocated to health programmes, including the Pepfar global Aids relief fund created by then-president George W Bush.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham told AFP that while he was a "big fan" of the soft power approach of foreign aid, he said the bill was consistent with Mr Trump's promises to cut spending.

"When you start spending money on a bunch of junk and liberal programmes disconnected from the purpose of the aid package, it makes it difficult on a guy like me," he said.

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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

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Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
The Bio

Name: Lynn Davison

Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi

Children: She has one son, Casey, 28

Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite Author: CJ Sansom

Favourite holiday destination: Bali

Favourite food: A Sunday roast

'Shakuntala Devi'

Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra

Director: Anu Menon

Rating: Three out of five stars

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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

Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

Profile

Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari

Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.

Number of employees: Over 50

Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised

Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital 

Sector of operation: Transport

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Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

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Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Tuesday's fixtures
Group A
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Iran v Uzbekistan, 8pm
N Korea v UAE, 10.15pm
Updated: July 17, 2025, 4:56 PM