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Trump Wins Fight to Withhold Billions of Dollars in Foreign Aid
In a 2-1 decision on Wednesday, the appellate panel reversed a Washington federal judge who found that US officials were violating the Constitution's separation of powers principles by failing to authorize the money to be paid in line with what the legislative branch directed.
The ruling is a significant win for Trump's broader effort to withhold funding from programs that have fallen out of favor with his administration, regardless of how Congress exercised its authority over spending. Trump's critics have assailed what they've described as a far-reaching power grab by the executive branch.
The nonprofits and business that sued could ask all of the active judges on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to reconsider the three-member panel's decision.

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Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
High drama marks Panchayat polls in Nainital
Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court on Thursday took cognizance of allegations that five elected representatives in Nainital district panchayat were missing ahead of voting. However, police said that affidavits submitted by the five elected members claimed they were staying away voluntarily. Counting of votes underway for Uttarakhand Panchayat Elections, in Nainital, on July 31 (PTI) Congress leaders alleged that they were abducted to influence the outcome of election of district panchayat president for which voting was underway on Thursday . A division bench of chief justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra, hearing a public interest litigation, questioned the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nainital PN Meena on whether the missing representatives had been traced. The SSP said security personnel had visited their homes as per earlier court directions to provide protection 10 days before voting, but were told by relatives that the representatives were visiting family and did not require security. Polling was held on Thursday for the posts of district panchayat presidents as well as vice presidents and Block Pramukhs. The SSP added that the police had received affidavits from the five representatives stating they were travelling and had asked that no case be registered if anyone reported them missing. Two more similar affidavits were received on Thursday. Advocate General SN Babulkar told the court that all representatives had confirmed they were abstaining from voting on their own will. However, senior counsel DS Patni presented a pen drive with video footage allegedly showing one of the representatives, Dikar Singh Mewari, being dragged away by unidentified men, some of whose faces were visible, while an armed policeman looked away. Another video purportedly showed three more affidavit signatories being forcibly removed from a polling booth. The bench directed that both videos be handed over to the Nainital SSP and District Magistrate Vandana Singh for examination. Counsel DS Mehta told the court that an attempt to file a kidnapping complaint naming the alleged abductors was rejected by the Tallital SHO. The SSP assured the bench that action would be taken against any police personnel found guilty of dereliction of duty. Family members of three missing representatives — Uma Bisht, sister of Deep Singh Bisht; Vinod Kotalia, brother of Pramod Singh; and Sanjeev Jantwal, son of Vipin Singh Jantwal-appeared before the court — each detailing how their relatives were taken away. Kotalia alleged that his brother was abducted by a group . Jantwal said he had seen a video of his father's abduction on a Facebook account. The court ordered that its directions be sent immediately to the district magistrate and SSP, with affidavits kept in the safe custody of the Registrar (Judicial). The matter will be heard next on August 18. Earlier, high drama was witnessed during the election for district panchayat president and block Pramukh in Nainital, turned tense on Thursday with clashes, allegations of kidnapping and even firing between supporters of the BJP and Congress. Congress leaders Yashpal Arya, Khatima MLA Bhuvan Kapri, Haldwani MLA Sumit Hridayesh, former MLA Sanjeev Arya, district panchayat president candidate Pushpa Negi, and 10 members arrived at the High Court while a hearing was underway before Chief Justice G Narender and Justice Alok Mahra. They alleged before the bench that 'people of the ruling party' assaulted them and 'tried to kidnap some members.' Showing election result certificates for 15 members, they claimed that 'five of their local leaders were missing.' The court directed District Magistrate Vandana Singh and SSP Nainital PN Meena to appear virtually within minutes. It ordered both officers to 'maintain law and order' and ensure 'peaceful and fair elections,' instructing that members be brought to the polling station in police security. High Court security officer Rakesh Bisht was tasked with escorting the 10 district panchayat members who were in court to the polling station under police protection. In the block pramukh election at Betalghat in Nainital districts, three rounds of firing were reported amid clashes between supporters of both parties. Police dispersed the crowd and began an investigation. Both sides accused each other of instigating violence. BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt alleged that Yashpal Arya was 'trying to influence the voting,' while Congress state president Karan Mahara accused the BJP of 'assaulting Congress leaders.' District Magistrate Vandana Singh, who appeared in the court in the evening again, told the court that she will recommend repolling for zila panchayat elections to the state election commission (SEC)


Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
CM Yogi blames Cong for Partition, lauds PM for push to heal ‘old wounds'
Lucknow: At an event to mark the eve of Independence, designated as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that it was Congress appeasement policies that led to India's division, the Partition of a 'Sanatan Bharat'. Blaming the opposition for having ignored the plight of those displaced by the Partition, the CM said that those who get citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act will be given land and full rehabilitation in UP. Calling the Partition a "dark chapter" in India's history, which inflicted deep wounds on the nation, Yogi credited PM Modi with reviving this forgotten history. "Today, the entire country mourns, remembering the horrors of Aug 14, 1947," he said, while inaugurating an exhibition marking 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'. Later in the day, the CM led a silent march against the Partition and then addressed a seminar on it. The CM said that at one end, revolutionaries embraced martyrdom for India's freedom and on the other, Congress divided the nation in its greed for power. He alleged that the Congress policies led to the ethnic cleansing of Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists from Pakistan. "The violence claimed 15-20 lakh lives and displaced crores, marking one of the darkest episodes in history. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 5 Books Warren Buffett Recommends You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo This Partition was a moral and humanitarian crime, executed under the appeasement policy of the Congress. During this time, women faced humiliation and brutality. This Partition gave birth to a monster like Pakistan, which still engages in various conspiracies against India," the CM said. He also accused the then Congress govt of showing complete apathy towards the displaced persons. The CM said that no memorials were built and no museums were established for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who were forced to leave their ancestral homes. Their suffering, he said, was erased from public memory. Against this, PM Modi granted citizenship and rehabilitation rights to refugees under the CAA, because of which, for the first time, displaced people in J&K and other regions received citizenship, he said. Hitting out at Congress further, the CM said that it was the same party which first murdered democracy under the guise of Emergency and then orchestrated the massacre of Sikhs in 1984. Instead of facing the consequences of its leaders' wrong decisions, it was still trying to mislead the public. He also stressed the importance of connecting the younger generation with history, saying that the exhibition portrayed the grim reality of Partition, its massacres, riots and forced migrations. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !


Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Breaking news live updates, August 15: Police chief orders more cooperation with immigration agents as federal activity takes root in DC
01:37 (IST) Aug 15 The Washington, D.C., police chief stepped up cooperation between her officers and federal immigration officials as President Donald Trump's law enforcement takeover of the nation's capital took root Thursday. National Guard troops watched over some of the world's most renowned landmarks and Humvees took up position in front of the busy main train station. The police chief's order establishes that Metropolitan Police Department officers may now share information with immigration agencies regarding people not in custody — such as someone involved in a traffic stop or checkpoint. MPD officers may also provide 'transportation for federal immigration employees and detained subject,' the order states. The changes, which raise collaboration between the two forces in notable ways, erodes the district's long-standing policy against cooperating with civil immigration enforcement. They are effective immediately. Mayor Muriel Bowser, walking a tightrope between the Republican White House and the constituency of her largely Democratic city, was out of town Thursday for a family commitment in Martha's Vineyard but would be back Friday, her office said. In a city tense from days of ramp-up toward federal law enforcement intervention, volunteers helped homeless people leave long-standing encampments — to where, exactly, was often unclear. Trump told reporters that he was pleased at how the operation — and, now, its direct link with his immigration-control efforts — was unfolding. 'That's a very positive thing, I have heard that just happened,' Trump said of Police Chief Pamela Smith's order. 'That's a great step. That's a great step if they're doing that." A boost in police activity, federal and otherwise For an already wary Washington, Thursday marked a notable — and highly visible — uptick in presence from the previous two days. The visibility of federal forces around the city, including in many high-traffic areas, was striking to residents going about their lives. Trump has the power to take over federal law enforcement for 30 days before his actions must be reviewed by Congress, though he has said he'll re-evaluate as that deadline approaches. The response before Thursday had been gradual and, by all appearances, low key. But on Wednesday night, officers set up a checkpoint in one of D.C.'s popular nightlife areas, drawing protests. The White House said 45 arrests were made Wednesday night, with 29 people arrested for living in the country illegally; other arrests included for distribution or possession of drugs, carrying a concealed weapon and assaulting a federal officer. Troops were stationed outside the Union Station transportation hub as the 800 Guard members who have been activated by Trump start in on missions that include monument security, community safety patrols and beautification efforts, the Pentagon said. 'They will remain until law and order has been restored in the District as determined by the president, standing as the gatekeepers of our great nation's capital,' Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said. 'The National Guard is uniquely qualified for this mission as a community-based force with strong local ties and disciplined training.' Wilson said the troops won't be armed and declined to give more details on what the safety patrols or beautification efforts would entail or how many Guard members have already been sent out on the streets. National Guard Major Micah Maxwell said troops will assist law enforcement in a variety of roles, including traffic control posts and crowd control. The Guard members have been trained in de-escalation tactics and crowd control equipment, Maxwell said. The White House said Thursday that Guard members aren't making arrests but are 'protecting federal assets, providing a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deterring violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence.' Although the current deployment is taking place under unprecedented circumstances, National Guard troops are a semi-regular presence in D.C., typically being used during mass public events like the annual July 4 celebration. They have regularly been used in the past for crowd control in and around Metro stations. Trump on Thursday denied that the federal law enforcement officials he sent into Washington's streets to fight crime have been diverted from priority assignments like counterterrorism. Asked if he was concerned about that, Trump said he's using a 'very small force' of soldiers and that city police are now allowed to do their job properly amidst his security lockdown. For homeless residents, an uncertain time is at hand Meanwhile, about a dozen homeless residents in Washington packed up their belongings with help from volunteers from charitable groups and staffers from some city agencies. Items largely were not forcibly thrown out by law enforcement, but a garbage truck idled nearby. Several protesters held signs close by, some critical of the Trump administration. Once the residents had left, a construction vehicle from a city agency cleared through the remains of the tents. The departures were voluntary, but they came in response to a clear threat from the Trump administration. Advocates expect law enforcement officers to fan out across D.C. in the coming days to forcibly take down any remaining homeless encampments. In Washington Circle, which still contains a few tents, city workers put up signs announcing 'general cleanup of this public space' starting at 10 a.m. Monday. For two days, small groups of federal officers have been visible in scattered parts of the city. But more were present in high-profile locations Wednesday night, and troops were expected to start doing more missions Thursday. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations have patrolled the popular U Street corridor, while Drug Enforcement Administration officers were seen on the National Mall, with Guard members parked nearby. DEA agents also joined MPD officers on patrol in the Navy Yard neighborhood, while FBI agents stood along the heavily trafficked Massachusetts Avenue.