
USAID cuts may cause over 14 million additional deaths
President Donald Trump's administration has made funding cuts to USAID and its aid programs worldwide in what the US government says is part of its broader plan to remove wasteful spending.
The research was published on Monday, the same day former US presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush delivered rare open criticism of the Trump administration - and singer Bono recited a poem - in an emotional video farewell with staffers of the USAID.
Obama called the Trump administration's dismantling of USAID "a colossal mistake".
Speaking in a recorded statement, he offered assurances to the aid and development workers.
"Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come," he told them.
Monday was the last day as an independent agency for the six-decade-old humanitarian and development organisation, created by president John F Kennedy as a peaceful way of promoting US national security by boosting goodwill and prosperity abroad.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered USAID absorbed into the State Department from Tuesday.
USAID funding has had a crucial role in improving global health, primarily directed toward low and middle-income countries, particularly African nations, according to the study.
The study estimated that over the past two decades, USAID-funded programs had prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including 30 million deaths among children.
Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts - combined with the potential dismantling of the agency - could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million deaths among children younger than five, the study said.
Washington is the world's largest humanitarian aid donor, amounting to at least 38 per cent of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $US61 billion ($A93 billion) in foreign assistance last year, just over half of it via USAID, according to government data.
"Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030," the study said.
USAID was one of the first and most fiercely targeted for government-cutting by Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, with staffers abruptly locked out of systems and offices and terminated by mass emailing.
Trump claimed the agency was run by "radical left lunatics" and rife with "tremendous fraud." Musk called it "a criminal organisation."
Rubio said the Trump administration cancelled over 80 per cent of all programs at USAID following a six-week review.
The remaining approximately 1000 programs, he said, would now be administered "more effectively" under the US State Department and in consultation with Congress.
with AP
Deep funding cuts to the US Agency for International Development and its potential dismantling could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The Lancet medical journal.
President Donald Trump's administration has made funding cuts to USAID and its aid programs worldwide in what the US government says is part of its broader plan to remove wasteful spending.
The research was published on Monday, the same day former US presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush delivered rare open criticism of the Trump administration - and singer Bono recited a poem - in an emotional video farewell with staffers of the USAID.
Obama called the Trump administration's dismantling of USAID "a colossal mistake".
Speaking in a recorded statement, he offered assurances to the aid and development workers.
"Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come," he told them.
Monday was the last day as an independent agency for the six-decade-old humanitarian and development organisation, created by president John F Kennedy as a peaceful way of promoting US national security by boosting goodwill and prosperity abroad.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered USAID absorbed into the State Department from Tuesday.
USAID funding has had a crucial role in improving global health, primarily directed toward low and middle-income countries, particularly African nations, according to the study.
The study estimated that over the past two decades, USAID-funded programs had prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including 30 million deaths among children.
Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts - combined with the potential dismantling of the agency - could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million deaths among children younger than five, the study said.
Washington is the world's largest humanitarian aid donor, amounting to at least 38 per cent of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $US61 billion ($A93 billion) in foreign assistance last year, just over half of it via USAID, according to government data.
"Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030," the study said.
USAID was one of the first and most fiercely targeted for government-cutting by Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, with staffers abruptly locked out of systems and offices and terminated by mass emailing.
Trump claimed the agency was run by "radical left lunatics" and rife with "tremendous fraud." Musk called it "a criminal organisation."
Rubio said the Trump administration cancelled over 80 per cent of all programs at USAID following a six-week review.
The remaining approximately 1000 programs, he said, would now be administered "more effectively" under the US State Department and in consultation with Congress.
with AP
Deep funding cuts to the US Agency for International Development and its potential dismantling could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The Lancet medical journal.
President Donald Trump's administration has made funding cuts to USAID and its aid programs worldwide in what the US government says is part of its broader plan to remove wasteful spending.
The research was published on Monday, the same day former US presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush delivered rare open criticism of the Trump administration - and singer Bono recited a poem - in an emotional video farewell with staffers of the USAID.
Obama called the Trump administration's dismantling of USAID "a colossal mistake".
Speaking in a recorded statement, he offered assurances to the aid and development workers.
"Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come," he told them.
Monday was the last day as an independent agency for the six-decade-old humanitarian and development organisation, created by president John F Kennedy as a peaceful way of promoting US national security by boosting goodwill and prosperity abroad.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered USAID absorbed into the State Department from Tuesday.
USAID funding has had a crucial role in improving global health, primarily directed toward low and middle-income countries, particularly African nations, according to the study.
The study estimated that over the past two decades, USAID-funded programs had prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including 30 million deaths among children.
Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts - combined with the potential dismantling of the agency - could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million deaths among children younger than five, the study said.
Washington is the world's largest humanitarian aid donor, amounting to at least 38 per cent of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $US61 billion ($A93 billion) in foreign assistance last year, just over half of it via USAID, according to government data.
"Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030," the study said.
USAID was one of the first and most fiercely targeted for government-cutting by Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, with staffers abruptly locked out of systems and offices and terminated by mass emailing.
Trump claimed the agency was run by "radical left lunatics" and rife with "tremendous fraud." Musk called it "a criminal organisation."
Rubio said the Trump administration cancelled over 80 per cent of all programs at USAID following a six-week review.
The remaining approximately 1000 programs, he said, would now be administered "more effectively" under the US State Department and in consultation with Congress.
with AP
Deep funding cuts to the US Agency for International Development and its potential dismantling could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The Lancet medical journal.
President Donald Trump's administration has made funding cuts to USAID and its aid programs worldwide in what the US government says is part of its broader plan to remove wasteful spending.
The research was published on Monday, the same day former US presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush delivered rare open criticism of the Trump administration - and singer Bono recited a poem - in an emotional video farewell with staffers of the USAID.
Obama called the Trump administration's dismantling of USAID "a colossal mistake".
Speaking in a recorded statement, he offered assurances to the aid and development workers.
"Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come," he told them.
Monday was the last day as an independent agency for the six-decade-old humanitarian and development organisation, created by president John F Kennedy as a peaceful way of promoting US national security by boosting goodwill and prosperity abroad.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered USAID absorbed into the State Department from Tuesday.
USAID funding has had a crucial role in improving global health, primarily directed toward low and middle-income countries, particularly African nations, according to the study.
The study estimated that over the past two decades, USAID-funded programs had prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including 30 million deaths among children.
Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts - combined with the potential dismantling of the agency - could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million deaths among children younger than five, the study said.
Washington is the world's largest humanitarian aid donor, amounting to at least 38 per cent of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $US61 billion ($A93 billion) in foreign assistance last year, just over half of it via USAID, according to government data.
"Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030," the study said.
USAID was one of the first and most fiercely targeted for government-cutting by Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, with staffers abruptly locked out of systems and offices and terminated by mass emailing.
Trump claimed the agency was run by "radical left lunatics" and rife with "tremendous fraud." Musk called it "a criminal organisation."
Rubio said the Trump administration cancelled over 80 per cent of all programs at USAID following a six-week review.
The remaining approximately 1000 programs, he said, would now be administered "more effectively" under the US State Department and in consultation with Congress.
with AP
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
18 minutes ago
- News.com.au
You don't need to walk 10,000 steps to benefit from its ‘health benefits'
Ten thousand steps per day has been widely recommended as the standard benchmark for physical activity — but a new study suggests that just 7000 could be enough to boost essential health markers. Researchers from the University of Sydney conducted a review of 57 studies spanning more than 10 countries, which tracked participants' steps and health outcomes. Led by Professor Melody Ding from the School of Public Health, the team looked at how different daily step counts impacted the risk of dying from heart disease and cancer, as well as the risk of developing cancer, type 2 diabetes, dementia and depression, according to a university press release. And it turns out, you may not need as many steps as was first thought. Researchers found that walking at least 7000 steps a day was linked to improvement in eight major health outcomes, including heart disease, dementia and depressive symptoms. 'Any increase in daily steps, even modest ones like 4000 steps, delivers health benefits compared to very low activity levels,' Ding told Fox News. 'When possible, targeting around 7000 steps per day can substantially reduce risks for many chronic diseases and adverse health outcomes. 'Even small increases in step counts, such as increasing from 2000 to 4000 steps a day, are associated with significant health gain.' Higher step counts beyond 7000 may add extra benefits, but the improvement rate slows, she noted. The results were published in The Lancet Public Health journal. In particular, the researchers found that walking 7000 steps a day reduced the risk of death by 47 per cent, almost exactly the same as 10000 steps. That same step benchmark was also linked to a 38 per cent reduced risk of dementia and a 22 per cent reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, both only slightly lower than the benefit of 10,000 steps, the release stated. 'Significant health improvements' were reported when people increased from 2000 steps per day to anywhere between 5000 and 7000. 'Aiming for 7000 steps is a realistic goal based on our findings, which assessed health outcomes in a range of areas that hadn't been looked at before,' said Professor Ding in the release. 'However, for those who cannot yet achieve 7000 steps a day, even small increases in step counts, such as increasing from 2000 to 4000 steps a day, are associated with significant health gain.' For those who are already very active and consistently hitting 10,000+ steps, Ding said, 'keep it up — there's no need to cut back'. The researchers also noted that stepping doesn't need to happen all at once or require intentional exercise. 'Everyday movements count — like getting off the bus a stop earlier or choosing stairs over elevators,' Ding advised. 'Small, incidental bouts throughout the day add up and contribute to health. Embrace opportunities to move more in practical, enjoyable ways.' There were some limitations in the study, the researchers noted. 'For some outcomes, we have a small number of studies,' Ding told Fox News. There are also some study-level biases, she said. 'For example, people who are already unwell will take fewer steps because of their health conditions,' Ding said. 'And while there is an indication that the dose-response may be different for older adults, we didn't have enough data for all outcomes to explore it.' It's also important to note that while walking offers great health benefits, it is not a complete 'package' in itself, she noted. 'Everyday movements count — like getting off the bus a stop earlier or choosing stairs over elevators,' Ding said. 'Try to also incorporate strength training and mobility exercise into a weekly routine for more complete health benefits.' In next steps, the researchers plan to use these findings to shape future physical activity guidelines.

News.com.au
40 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Stock markets, dollar rise on EU-US trade deal
Stock markets and the dollar advanced Monday after the European Union and United States struck a deal to avert a damaging trade war. The deal, announced by President Donald Trump and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, followed several US trade agreements last week, including one with Japan, and comes ahead of a new round of China-US talks. The Paris stock market climbed 0.6 percent and Frankfurt gained 0.3 percent in early afternoon deals, while London flattened. Britain, which had already struck a deal on tariffs with the United States, is outside the EU. That agreement has helped push London's benchmark FTSE 100 index to record highs in recent weeks. Trump and von der Leyen announced at his golf resort in Scotland that a baseline tariff of 15 percent would be levied on EU exports to the United States. "To many this seems a very one-sided deal, but the optimism shows throughout European equities" with investors welcoming at least the "clarity" it brought, said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Rostro trading group. The levies would apply across the board, including for Europe's crucial automobile sector, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. "It's a good deal," von der Leyen said, adding that it will bring "stability" and "predictability". Germany's main auto industry group, the VDA, warned however that the 15-percent tariff on EU exports "burdens" carmakers. Shares in Volkswagen, Porsche and Mercedes were each down around one percent in Frankfurt. As part of the deal, Trump said the 27-nation EU bloc had agreed to purchase "$750 billion worth of energy" from the United States, as well as make $600 billion in additional investments. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban slammed the deal. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he backed it, but "without any enthusiasm". "There remains a prevailing sense that the agreement does not constitute a significant win," said Jochen Stanzl, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets. "While it is positive that an escalation of tariffs has been avoided, the deal feels more like a compromise than a triumph," he added. - US-China talks - In Asia, Hong Kong and Shanghai advanced, boosted by relief that countries were reaching deals with Washington. While Tokyo fell for a second day, having soared around five percent on Wednesday and Thursday in reaction to Japan's US deal. The broad gains came after another record day on Friday for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Wall Street. Traders prepared for a busy week with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng holding new trade talks in Stockholm. A 90-day truce, set to expire August 12, has seen US tariffs lowered to 30 percent and China's to 10 percent after both sides imposed triple-digit duties in April. Also on the agenda are earnings from tech titans Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft, as well as data on US economic growth and jobs. The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its meeting this week, with investors focused on its outlook for the rest of the year given Trump's tariffs and recent trade deals. The Bank of Japan is also forecast to hold off on any big moves on borrowing costs. - Key figures at around 1040 GMT - London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 9,116.29 points Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.6 percent at 7,879.15 Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 24,285.13 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.1 percent at 40,998.27 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.7 percent at 25,562.13 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,597.94 (close) New York - Dow: UP 0.5 percent at 44,901.92 (close) Dollar/yen: UP at 148.34 yen from 147.68 yen on Friday Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1668 from $1.1738 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3420 from $1.3431 Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.93 pence from 87.40 pence

ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Strange bedfellows
MYLEE HOGAN: Today the president filing a libel lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, his company News Corp and the reporters behind this article that claims Trump sent Epstein a 'bawdy' 50th birthday letter in 2003 … - Seven News 6pm (Sydney), 19 July 2025 Hello, welcome to Media Watch, I'm Linton Besser. And first tonight, the vortex of intrigues and deceptions now threatening to engulf the White House as Donald Trump tries and fails to douse the flames of the Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy theory he helped to set alight. And not for the first time, marshalling a brigade of lawyers to his cause. MYLEE HOGAN: Seeking $15 billion in damages, the president called it a 'FAKE NEWS 'article' … - Seven News 6pm (Sydney), 19 July 2025 Ten days ago the US president filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, a Rupert Murdoch-controlled newspaper, after its team reported evidence of just how pally Donald Trump was with the financier and convicted sex trafficker—a letter to Epstein bearing Trump's name in a 2003 album of warm felicitations: It contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair. - The Wall Street Journal, 18 July 2025 And what did those typewritten words say? Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it… Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret. - The Wall Street Journal, 18 July 2025 Cue apoplexy from Camp Trump with his usual purple denials, before pulling the trigger on a lawsuit that very same day and yanking the newspaper's White House access to his trip to Scotland. Murdoch's Journal was undeterred however, and soon after took another swing at the President. Donald Trump rode to power on the back of a MAGA obsession with deep-state secrecy, whose flames he's happily fanned: DONALD TRUMP: … her friend, or boyfriend … JONATHAN SWAN: Epstein. DONALD TRUMP: … was either killed or committed suicide in jail … DONALD TRUMP: … he died in jail. Was he killed? Was it suicide? - AXIOS on HBO, Youtube, 4 August 2020 Now the crows have come home to roost, because, despite the efforts of his administration, and some right-wing media, to distance Trump from Epstein it's obvious to everyone with half a brain that Donald Trump was indeed an Epstein familiar, with The New York Times also reporting the album story late last week. Trump is now seeking 15 billion dollars in damages from the Murdoch empire, marking a new twist in the on-and-off-again affair between the two men. After years of boosting by Murdoch's Fox News, in February the 'Dirty Digger' was invited to play a bit part during yet another piece of Oval Office theatre: DONALD TRUMP: … Rupert is in a class by himself, he's an amazing guy … - C-SPAN, 4 February 2025 But along the way Murdoch's occasional distaste for Trump has surfaced in his other outlets: TRUMPTY DUMPTY - The New York Post, 10 November 2022 Trump Is the Republican Party's Biggest Loser - The Wall Street Journal, The Editorial Board, 9 November 2022 Donald Trump's litigation against The Wall Street Journal is far from his first foray against the press. Trump has become accustomed to handing out libel lawsuits like confetti. The writs have returned meanwhile, a handsome $100 million windfall in settlements paid by media companies cowed perhaps by the prospect of presidential retaliation including ABC America, social media giant Meta, and most infamous of all, CBS owner Paramount which settled a Trump complaint over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris as CBS talk show star Stephen Colbert explained earlier this month: STEPHEN COLBERT: This settlement is for a nuisance lawsuit Trump filed claiming that 60 Minutes deceptively edited their interview with then candidate Kamala Harris last fall. Paramount knows they could have easily fought it because in their own words 'the lawsuit was completely without merit'. - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS/YouTube, 15 July 2025 Three days later Colbert was opening his show like this: STEPHEN COLBERT: I want to let you know something that I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May. And… AUDIENCE: Boo! Nooo! - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS/YouTube, 18 July 2025 Speculation ran rife this was yet another capitulation, with Paramount doing anything in its power to grease the way for a multibillion-dollar merger needing US Government approval. Paramount claimed its decision to axe the show was 'purely financial', which means of course whatever warmth the decision brought to the breast of the president was but mere serendipity. Then last week, lo and behold, it emerged that Paramount's betrayal of its 60 Minutes team, its pay-off to Trump and its cancellation of America's number one late night show franchise had done little harm to its interests, the mega-merger getting the rubber-stamp. So, does the latest Wall Street Journal investigation mean Rupert Murdoch is making a stand for America's free press? Not everyone is convinced: If Rupert Murdoch becomes a white knight standing up to a rampantly bullying US president, the world has moved into the upside-down. - The Conversation, 22 July 2025 Which could mean Americans have to look elsewhere for a white knight: DONALD TRUMP: Why is my dick so small? ARTIST: But that's the size it is in the photo. DONALD TRUMP: Get that guy outta here. I'm gonna sue you. I'm gonna sue both of you. Hahahah. - South Park, Network Ten, 24 July 2024 The creators of comedy cult-hit South Park launching a scathing take-down of both Donald Trump and Paramount's 60 Minutes settlement less than 24 hours after signing a multi-billion dollar deal with, yes, Paramount which bothered Donald Trump not one little bit. South Park and Rupert Murdoch linking arms in defiance of an increasingly authoritarian White House, what a bizarre footnote in the unravelling of the great American experiment.