Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

Fortune

Sasha Rogelberg

Elon Musk’s DOGE swiped $329 million in humanitarian funding from Nepal, leaving a Gen Z tech revolution to transform the budding country’s economy

Nepal Elon Musk Gen Z United States USAid Balen Shah Economy Fortune

A group of young people stand together, each with the flag of Nepal draped around their shoulders. (Credit: Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto—Getty Images)

When the Department of Government Efficiency, helmed by Elon Musk, gutted the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), it included slashing an estimated $329 million in humanitarian aid to Nepal. Stuti Basnyet, who served as the acting program office director for USAID in Nepal in 2025 during the agency’s wind-down, remembers the months following the cuts.

“Everyone went through denial first that this was even happening, to just deep grievance at how it was being done,” she told Fortune.

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

Legal US Resident Dies in ICE Custody After Daughter Alleges Staff Refused To 'Give Him His Medications'

Legal US Resident Dies in ICE Custody After Daughter Alleges Staff Refused To 'Give Him His Medications'

Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, a Mexican permanent resident, died in ICE custody in Laredo, Texas. His daughter alleges staff withheld medication, while ICE says he received appropriate care.

International Business Times UK

Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers say

Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers say

The Justice Department’s inspector general has declined to investigate the handling of the criminal case against a former Olympian who was cleared of accusations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Independent UK

Toledo Chemical Leak: Why Residents Face One-Mile Evacuations and a Three-Mile Shelter Order in Ohio

Toledo Chemical Leak: Why Residents Face One-Mile Evacuations and a Three-Mile Shelter Order in Ohio

Residents in northern Toledo were ordered to evacuate or shelter indoors after an industrial chemical release disrupted schools and transport, while officials continued monitoring the scene.

International Business Times UK

Trump Administration Tried to Shut Down Pollution Lawsuit Against Elon Musk's AI Data Centre, but Federal Judge Refused

Trump Administration Tried to Shut Down Pollution Lawsuit Against Elon Musk's AI Data Centre, but Federal Judge Refused

A federal judge has allowed the NAACP's Clean Air Act lawsuit over alleged pollution from turbines powering Elon Musk's xAI data centre to continue.

International Business Times UK

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Stranded Iranian tankers, American pressure: Why Sri Lanka faces a difficult choice

Stranded Iranian tankers, American pressure: Why Sri Lanka faces a difficult choice

Sri Lanka has announced it has no immediate plans to assist 19 Iranian oil tankers anchored in international waters off the island nation's coast, despite shortages of food, water and fuel aboard the vessels.

The Times of India

Florida woman accused of fatal hit-and-run takes damaged car to dealership where she works. Her coworker’s suspicions reportedly lead to her arrest

Florida woman accused of fatal hit-and-run takes damaged car to dealership where she works. Her coworker’s suspicions reportedly lead to her arrest

There was still blood and human tissue smeared across the car.

We Got This Covered

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

Legal US Resident Dies in ICE Custody After Daughter Alleges Staff Refused To 'Give Him His Medications'

Legal US Resident Dies in ICE Custody After Daughter Alleges Staff Refused To 'Give Him His Medications'

Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, a Mexican permanent resident, died in ICE custody in Laredo, Texas. His daughter alleges staff withheld medication, while ICE says he received appropriate care.

International Business Times UK

Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers say

Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers say

The Justice Department’s inspector general has declined to investigate the handling of the criminal case against a former Olympian who was cleared of accusations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Independent UK

Toledo Chemical Leak: Why Residents Face One-Mile Evacuations and a Three-Mile Shelter Order in Ohio

Toledo Chemical Leak: Why Residents Face One-Mile Evacuations and a Three-Mile Shelter Order in Ohio

Residents in northern Toledo were ordered to evacuate or shelter indoors after an industrial chemical release disrupted schools and transport, while officials continued monitoring the scene.

International Business Times UK

Trump Administration Tried to Shut Down Pollution Lawsuit Against Elon Musk's AI Data Centre, but Federal Judge Refused

Trump Administration Tried to Shut Down Pollution Lawsuit Against Elon Musk's AI Data Centre, but Federal Judge Refused

A federal judge has allowed the NAACP's Clean Air Act lawsuit over alleged pollution from turbines powering Elon Musk's xAI data centre to continue.

International Business Times UK

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Stranded Iranian tankers, American pressure: Why Sri Lanka faces a difficult choice

Stranded Iranian tankers, American pressure: Why Sri Lanka faces a difficult choice

Sri Lanka has announced it has no immediate plans to assist 19 Iranian oil tankers anchored in international waters off the island nation's coast, despite shortages of food, water and fuel aboard the vessels.

The Times of India

Florida woman accused of fatal hit-and-run takes damaged car to dealership where she works. Her coworker’s suspicions reportedly lead to her arrest

Florida woman accused of fatal hit-and-run takes damaged car to dealership where she works. Her coworker’s suspicions reportedly lead to her arrest

There was still blood and human tissue smeared across the car.

We Got This Covered

Our Picks

Doctors Were the Butt of 40% of Facebook Doctor Jokes, but the Most-Liked One Skewered a Lawyer

Researchers combed 30,075 Facebook posts for doctor jokes. Physicians were the usual target, but the most-liked punchline hit a lawyer.

Fridge or not? What’s the best way to store bread?

Our experts have some airtight advice to stop your loaf from going stale

The Guardian - UK

Not enjoying being a parent? You’re not alone. Here’s how to handle this complicated feeling

We’re often told parenting is one of the most rewarding things we’ll ever do. But as many parents will attest, it is also full of very difficult moments. And sometimes these moments seem almost constant.

The Conversation

A warm, sumptuous tale of two Coppolas

As "Marie Antoinette" turns 20, Eleanor and Sofia Coppola's documentary reveals new resonance

Cyndi Lauper on fun, fashion and freedom of expression: ‘We have braces on our brains’

As she auctions off her treasures, the synth-pop savant opens up about her eccentric style and why she doesn’t believe in cancel culture

The Guardian - US

Is Noel Gallagher the next guest on final season of Chicken Shop Date?

Speculation began swirling after Amelia Dimoldenberg shared a cryptic Instagram post teasing the identity of her next celebrity date

Evening Standard

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play