Musk Says Trump 'Shutting Down' US Aid Agency

Elon Musk, the world's richest person and President Donald Trump's controversial close advisor, said Monday the giant USAID humanitarian agency will be "shutting down" as part of his radical -- and critics say unconstitutional -- drive to shrink the US government.

Employees at the US Agency for International Development, which runs aid programs in about 120 countries, were instructed by email not to go to their offices Monday. Some 600 staffers found themselves locked out of their computer systems, ABC News reported.

Musk called USAID "a criminal organization" and declared "you've got to basically get rid of the whole thing."

The founder of SpaceX and Tesla -- who has massive contracts with the US government and was the biggest donor to Trump's presidential campaign -- said he had cleared the unprecedented move against a major wing of US government with Trump himself.

"I went over with him in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down," Musk said in a discussion on his X online platform.

USAID is the aid arm of US foreign policy, funding health and emergency programs in the world's poorest regions. It is also seen as an important source of soft power for the superpower in its struggle for influence with rivals including China.

Echoing far-right Republicans, Musk used X to call the agency "a viper's nest of radical-left marxists who hate America."

Unconstitutional?

Democrats, who hold the minority in Congress, are sounding alarm over what they say is an unconstitutional power grab by Trump and Musk.

Congress has authority over the US budget but Musk -- whose so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is not even a formal government agency -- says he can decide how money is used.

Because Musk is neither a federal employee nor a government official, it remains unclear to whom he or his informal agency are accountable -- other than to Trump.

The pace and intensity of Musk's operation, which is using employees brought from his own companies, has caught opponents off guard.

In one especially tense episode, Musk's team insisted on gaining access to the Treasury's highly sensitive payment system, which is used for dispatching trillions of dollars a year across the entire government. It also contains the personal data on swaths of Americans.

Unable to prevent this, the top civil servant at the Treasury Department, David Lebryk, left his job Friday, US media reported.

"I can think of no good reason why political operators who have demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law would need access to these sensitive, mission-critical systems," Democratic Senator Ron Wyden wrote in a letter to Trump's new Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent.

USAID in crosshairs

The assault on USAID comes in the context of long-running narratives on the far-right and libertarian wings of the Republican Party that the United States wastes money on foreigners while ignoring Americans.

The agency describes itself as working "to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies while advancing our security and prosperity."

Its budget of more than $40 billion is a small drop in overall US government annual spending of nearly $7 trillion.

Among other criticisms, which Musk has not substantiated, he claims USAID does "rogue CIA work" and even "funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people."

Trump echoed this rhetoric, saying Sunday that USAID is "run by a bunch of radical lunatics."

One person welcoming the apparent death knell for the aid agency was former Russian president -- and ally to current ruler Vladimir Putin -- Dmitry Medvedev.

"Smart move by @elonmusk, trying to plug USAID's Deep Throat," Medvedev posted on X.

Matthew Kavanagh, head of Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Policy & Politics, called the running down of USAID "a disaster for US foreign policy."

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Pacer Jagjit Singh led the way with excellent figures of 6/51 as Chandigarh comfortably defended a small target to register a 54-run win over Chhattisgarh in their Elite Group D Ranji Trophy match here on Sunday. Chhattisgarh were bowled out for 122 after being set a victory target of 177. With this result, Chandigarh went level with Saurashtra and Tamil Nadu on 25 points in the Group D standings but still missed out on qualification for the quarterfinals owing to fewer bonus-point wins this season.

Resuming the fourth and final day on their overnight total of 222 for four, Chandigarh kept losing wickets at regular intervals before being bowled out for 299 in their second innings.

Pacer Ravi Kiran ended with impressive figures of 5/63, and was the main factor behind his team bowling out Chandigarh for less than 300.

Captain Manan Vohra, who was dismissed on the third evening, remained the top-scorer in Chandigarh's second innings with his 54-run knock, while Mayank Sidhu and Amrit Lubana chipped in with 47 and 43 respectively.

The target of 177, however, proved to be too difficult for Chhattisgarh as they were packed off in just 30.1 overs by the Chandigarh bowlers.

While Jagjit was the wrecker-in-chief with his six wickets, off-spinner Vishu Kashyap supported him well by dismissing three Chhattisgarh batters to pave the way for his team's victory in their last game of the tournament.

Opener Aayush Pandey top-scored for Chhattisgarh in their second innings with a 41-run knock off 74 balls, while Prateek Yadav and Sumit Ruikar contributed 27 and 26 respectively, as the other batters caved in without a fight.

Pandey struck eight fours during his stay in the middle. 

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The Indian cricket team scripted history on Sunday after beating England by 150 runs in the fifth and final T20I in Mumbai. Abhishek Sharma was the wrecker-in-chief as India smashed their highest-ever score in the powerplay in the format, 95 runs at the loss of one wicket. Boundaries were flowing all-around the park, thanks to terrific hitting from Abhishek as he reached his fifty in only 17 balls. By the end of powerplay, the southpaw reached the score of 58 off only 21 balls. 

India's highest scores in T20I powerplay -

95/1 vs England in Mumbai in 2025
82/2 vs SCotland in Dubai in 2021
82/1 vs Bangladesh in Hyderabad in 2024
78/2 vs South Africa in Johannesburg in 2018

Abhishek missed equalling Rohit Sharma's record of being the fastest Indian to score a T20I ton by just two balls. Rohit had hit a 35-ball T20I century for India against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Abhishek also scored a 17-ball half-century, which was the second fastest by an India, when he hit Jamie Overton for a massive six in the fifth over.

He also shared a 115-run second-wicket partnership with Tilak Varma (24).

Asked to bat first, a fired-up Abhishek unleashed seven boundaries and 13 sixes en route to 135 (54 balls) as he scored the second-fastest T20I century by an Indian batter off 37 balls to help the hosts amass 247 for 9.

Indian bowlers Mohammed Shami (3/25), Varun Chakravarthy (2/25), Shivam Dube (2/11) and Abhishek Sharma (2/3) then stifled the England batters, managing to dismiss them for 97 runs with 9.3 overs to spare.

Brief Scores: India 247 for 9 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 135, Tilak Varma 24, Shivam Dube 30; Brydon Carse 3/38, Mark Wood 2/32).

England 97 all out in 10.3 overs (Phil Salt 55; Mohammed Shami 3/25, Varun Chakravarthy 2/25, Shivam Dube 2/11, Abhishek Sharma 2/3).

(With PTI Inputs)

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UK Castle Worth Rs 225 Crore Goes For Sale For First Time In 700 Years

A castle straight out of a fairytale is up for sale for the first time in nearly 700 years in the UK. Ripley Castle, located near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has been put up for sale with an asking price of a casual Rs 225 crore (£21 million), which could make it the most expensive property ever sold in the UK outside of London.

The property is spread across 445 acres of land and contains a lake, a pub, a helipad and a car park. The estate has been split into nine lots which could be bought individually or together, and also features a cricket pitch, hotel, tea room, gift shop and wedding venue, according to a BBC report. 

Sir Thomas, who has looked after the property for decades alongside his wife Lady Ingilby, is the proud owner of the property. The Ripley Castle came into family heirloom after Sir Thomas Ingilby, who lived between 1290 and 1352, married heiress Edeline Thwenge in 1308/9 and acquired the estate as dowry. His son Thomas saved King Edward III's life when he was gored by a boar and was knighted.

Quizzed why he was selling the property, Sir Thomas said the couple wanted to retire and do other things after spending years maintaining the large property.

"There are days when we are very positive about it, there are other days when we are sad for what we will miss," Sir Thomas told the publication.

"I've been looking after the place for over 50 years, so this has been my whole life. I don't want to be carried out of here feet first, I've got things I want to do."

"We've ticked every box on that list. We've left it in the best state possible and safeguarded the heritage for future generations."

Also Read | UK Health Officials Told Not To Call Fat People 'Obese' In Fresh Directive

The couple who has four grandchildren, is planning to do some travelling after the process of selling the estate is complete.

"Some of the events we've hosted here have been incredibly moving ... There are evenings when we walk around the gardens by the lake, and deer come down to drink while the scent of the flowers surrounds us. It feels like something out of a fairy tale," said Lady Ingilby.

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Harshit Rana coming in as a 'like for like' concussion substitute for Shivam Dube in the fourth India vs England T20I grabbed attention on Saturday. The latter, who scored 53, was hit on the helmet in the penultimate ball of the Indian innings by a Jamie Overton delivery. Following the mandatory concussion test, Dube was cleared to play. However, he was run out on the final delivery of the innings. Dube is a pace allrounder, while Rana has so far played the role of  specialist fast bowler in the Indian cricket team.

The decision to play Rana in place of Dube almost drew similar reaction from several former cricketers, who felt that it was not a 'like for like' replacement.

Just retired Ravichandran Ashwin also gave his take on  the issue.

"The game is done. India capture yet another series at home. T20I has been a real juggernaut of a win. But my question is, whether we forgot it was an international game and played an IPL match? Because today all the discussion was on how Shivam Dube's concussion substitute? I can understand it has happened in the past too. In Canberra, Yuzvendra Chahal replaced Ravindra Jadeja," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. 

"You can call poetic justice, or in fact poetic injustice. I don't understand it. At least earlier, Chahal replaced Ravindra Jadeja. Here, Harshit Rana replaced Shivam Dube.

"There is no role of the Indian or England team. If there is no one in the squad, then you can say that Harshit Rana can bat a bit and Shivam Dube can bowl a bit, that's why we brought him in. Like-for-like replacement Ramandeep Singh was sitting outside. I don't understand," said Ashwin.

"This is a case of pure cricketing miscalculation, either on the part of the umpires or the part of the match referee or whoever be it. Ramandeep Singh was there, a batter who can vall a bit, like-for-like for Shivam Dube. But not him. Harshit Rana was chosen as the concussion substitute. I think people in charge should look into this. Today it happened against England and hurt, some day India might be hurt too."

Harshit Rana picked his maiden wicket in the shortest format of the game as he dismissed Liam Livingstone in the 12th over of the innings. Livingstone went back to the pavilion after scoring just nine runs off 13 balls. In his second over, the right-arm seamer conceded 18 runs in his over where he was slammed for two sixes and a four by the vice-captain and right-hand batter Harry Brook.

The 23-year-old player took his second T20I wicket on his debut in the third over as he dismissed the left-hand batter, Jacob Bethell, who went back to the dressing room after scoring just six runs from nine balls.

In his last over of the spell, the fast bowler gave away just six runs and took the wicket of Jamie Overton on the last ball of his spell. The speedster finished his spell with a figures of 4-0-33-3.

With agency inputs 

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"Will Find You, And Kill You": Trump After US Strikes ISIS In Somalia

The United States military on Saturday conducted air strikes on Islamic State group targets in Somalia, President Donald Trump announced.

"This morning I ordered precision Military air strikes on the Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia," Trump said on Truth Social.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes targeted IS-Somalia operatives in the Golis mountains in the semi-autonomous Puntland region. "Our initial assessment is that multiple operatives were killed in the airstrikes and no civilians were harmed," Hegseth said in a statement.

Local commanders confirmed the strikes to AFP.

"We don't know so far the number of the casualties, but we believe the missiles precisely hit the targets," Mohamed Ali, a military commander in Bossaso area, told AFP by phone.

"We believe there are casualties of the terrorist leaders, including the foreigners who the Puntland forces were chasing in the last few days," he said. 

Abdirahman Adan, another member of the army in a nearby area, said they heard "five loud explosions" and saw smoke over the targeted area. 

Puntland has not commented officially about the airstrike so far.

Hegseth said the strikes further degrade "ISIS's ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks threatening US citizens, our partners, and innocent civilians and sends a clear signal that the United States always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies."

Islamic State has a relatively small presence in Somalia compared to the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab, but experts have warned of growing activity.

"The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that 'WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!'" Trump said in his post.

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Hina Munawar, a police officer with a strong background in security and operations, has been named as the first female team manager for the Pakistan men's cricket team ahead of the Champions Trophy. Munawar, who has served in the Frontier Constabulary in the high-risk Swat area, has been appointed as the Operations Manager for Pakistan's Tri-Nation series and the Champions Trophy which begins on February 19 in Karachi. While senior retired bureaucrat Naveed Akram Cheema will continue as team manager, Munawar's appointment has sparked curiosity among cricket fans, experts, and media.

After passing the Civil Superior Services exam, Munawar transitioned into various law enforcement and security roles.

"Perhaps her appointment is aimed at streamlining operations within the team and between players and the board, as she has worked in strategic and leadership roles, helping to streamline various operations," said a source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Munawar, who joined the PCB last year, was also appointed manager of the Pakistan women's under-19 team for the Asia Cup.

"She made history as the first female district officer in the Frontier Constabulary in Swat, breaking gender barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field," the source added.

It is understood that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi brought Munawar into the board on deputation, as she remains part of the Police Service of Pakistan.

The PCB aims to streamline team management and create a more organized and efficient environment, with her appointment bringing fresh perspectives to the traditionally coaching-focused and male-dominated setup.

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