Services collapsing as USAID cuts health contracts worldwide
U.S.-funded health projects around the world, including those providing lifesaving care, received termination notices from Washington on Thursday as President Donald Trump's administration neared completion of a review to ensure grants are aligned with its "America First" policy.
Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all foreign aid in January pending assessments of how projects were consistent with this foreign policy.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed concerns that Washington is ending foreign aid, saying waivers had been provided to life-saving aid.
Only weeks later, the administration decided to terminate more than 90% of the programs globally, according to a February 25 court document, including many that were initially covered by waivers such as work tackling HIV as well as wider health programs.
Reuters
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Nahar Net
3 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Trump pushes ahead with maximalist immigration campaign in face of LA protests
by Naharnet Newsdesk 10 June 2025, 14:52 Donald Trump made no secret of his willingness to exert a maximalist approach to enforcing immigration laws and keeping order as he campaigned to return to the White House. The fulfillment of that pledge is now on full display in Los Angeles. The president has put hundreds of National Guard troops on the streets to quell protests over his administration's immigration raids, a deployment that state and city officials say has only inflamed tensions. Trump called up the California National Guard over the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom — the first time in 60 years a president has done so — and is deploying active-duty troops to support the guard. By overriding Newsom, Trump is already going beyond what he did to respond to Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, when he warned he could send troops to contain demonstrations that turned violent if governors in the states did not act to do so themselves. Trump said in September of that year that he "can't call in the National Guard unless we're requested by a governor" and that "we have to go by the laws." But now, the past and current president is moving swiftly, with little internal restraint to test the bounds of his executive authority in order to deliver on his promise of mass deportations. What remains to be seen is whether Americans will stand by him once it's operationalized nationwide, as Trump looks to secure billions from Congress to dramatically expand the country's detention and deportation operations. For now, Trump is betting that they will. "If we didn't do the job, that place would be burning down," Trump told reporters Monday, speaking about California. "I feel we had no choice. ... I don't want to see what happened so many times in this country." 'A crisis of Trump's own making' The protests began to unfold Friday as federal authorities arrested immigrants in several locations throughout the sprawling city, including in the fashion district of Los Angeles and at a Home Depot. The anger over the administration's actions quickly spread, with protests in Chicago and Boston as demonstrations in the southern California city also continued Monday. But Trump and other administration officials remained unbowed, capitalizing on the images of burning cars, graffiti and Mexican flags — which, while not dominant, started to become the defining images of the unrest — to bolster their law-and-order cause. Leaders in the country's most populous state were similarly defiant. California officials sued the Trump administration Monday, with the state's attorney general, Rob Bonta, arguing that the deployment of troops "trampled" on the state's sovereignty and pushing for a restraining order. The initial deployment of 300 National Guard troops was expected to quickly expand to the full 4,000 that has been authorized by Trump. The state's senior Democratic senator, Alex Padilla, said in an interview that "this is absolutely a crisis of Trump's own making." "There are a lot of people who are passionate about speaking up for fundamental rights and respecting due process, but the deployment of National Guard only serves to escalate tensions and the situation," Padilla told The Associated Press. "It's exactly what Donald Trump wanted to do." Padilla slammed the deployment as "counterproductive" and said the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department was not advised ahead of the federalization of the National Guard. His office has also pushed the Pentagon for a justification on the deployment, and "as far as we're told, the Department of Defense isn't sure what the mission is here," Padilla added. Candidate Trump previewed immigration strategy during campaign Much of this was predictable. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to conduct the largest domestic deportation operation in American history to expel millions of immigrants in the country without legal status. He often praised President Dwight D. Eisenhower's military-style immigration raids, and the candidate and his advisers suggested they would have broad power to deploy troops domestically to enact Trump's far-reaching immigration and public safety goals. Trump's speedy deployment in California of troops against those whom the president has alluded to as "insurrectionists" on social media is a sharp contrast to his decision to issue no order or formal request for National Guard troops during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, despite his repeated and false assertions that he had made such an offer. Trump is now surrounded by officials who have no interest in constraining his power. In 2020, Trump's then-Pentagon chief publicly rebuked Trump's threat to send in troops using the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law that empowers the president to use the military within the U.S. and against American citizens. Current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled support on his personal X account for deploying troops to California, writing, "The National Guard, and Marines if need be, stand with ICE," referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The Defense Department said Monday it is deploying about 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles to support National Guard troops already on the ground to respond to the protests. White House responds to an 'incompetent' governor Protesters over the weekend blocked off a major freeway and burned self-driving cars as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades in clashes that encompassed several downtown blocks in Los Angeles and led to several dozen arrests. Much of the city saw no violence. But the protests prompted Trump to issue the directive Saturday mobilizing the California National Guard over Newsom's objections. The president and his top immigration aides accused the governor of mismanaging the protests, with border czar Tom Homan asserting in a Fox News interview Monday that Newsom stoked anti-ICE sentiments and waited two days to declare unlawful assembly in the city. Trump told Newsom in a phone call Friday evening to get the situation in Los Angeles under control, a White House official said. It was only when the administration felt Newsom was not restoring order in the city — and after Trump watched the situation escalate for 24 hours and White House officials saw imagery of federal law enforcement officers with lacerations and other injuries — that the president moved to deploy the Guard, according to the official, who was granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations. "He's an incompetent governor," Trump said Monday. "Look at the job he's doing in California. He's destroying one of our great states." Local law enforcement officials said Los Angeles police responded as quickly as they could once the protests erupted, and Newsom repeatedly asserted that state and city authorities had the situation under control. "Los Angeles is no stranger to demonstrations and protests and rallies and marches," Padilla said. "Local law enforcement knows how to handle this and has a rapport with the community and community leaders to be able to allow for that." The aggressive moves prompted blowback from some of Trump's erstwhile allies. Ileana Garcia, a Florida state senator who in 2016 founded the group Latinas for Trump and was hired to direct Latino outreach, called the recent escalation "unacceptable and inhumane." "I understand the importance of deporting criminal aliens, but what we are witnessing are arbitrary measures to hunt down people who are complying with their immigration hearings — in many cases, with credible fear of persecution claims — all driven by a Miller-like desire to satisfy a self-fabricated deportation goal," said Garcia, referring to Stephen Miller, a White House deputy chief of staff and key architect of Trump's immigration crackdown. The tactics could be just a preview to what more could come from the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. GOP lawmakers are working to pass a massive tax-and-border package that includes billions to hire thousands of new officers for Border Patrol and for ICE. The goal, under the Trump-backed plan, is to remove 1 million immigrants without status annually and house 100,000 people in immigration detention centers.
Ya Libnan
3 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
Calexit or common ground? Why California and America must move beyond the Trump-Newsom clash
Calls for California to secede from The United States increased following the feud between Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump over the deployment of thousands of National Guards in Los Angeles By Vlad Green , Op-ED The idea of California seceding from the United States has resurfaced with a vengeance, driven by hashtags like #Calexit and #FreeCalifornia that have trended nationally following recent clashes between Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump. As tensions flare over immigration enforcement and National Guard deployments, some Californians — frustrated by what they see as federal overreach — have again floated the notion of breaking away from the Union. But while the idea of Calexit may be good fodder for social media and late-night talk shows, it distracts from the deeper issues facing California and the nation: political division, economic uncertainty, and the urgent need for practical solutions that actually help people. California's economy is enormous — the largest in the United States and the fourth largest in the world if it were a separate nation. It's home to some of the planet's most valuable companies, top universities, and a diverse, dynamic population that embodies the American Dream. Yet even in this powerhouse state, many Californians feel left behind, struggling with housing costs, homelessness, and an immigration system that needs reform. These are not problems that can be solved by hashtags or by political theater. They require collaboration, not conflict. Unfortunately, the Trump-Newsom feud has often deepened the divide. President Trump famously dubbed Newsom 'Newscum,' while Newsom has relished taking shots at Trump's policies, even vowing to 'Trump-proof' California. This dynamic may generate headlines, but it does little to solve real problems. Instead, it reinforces the notion that California is at odds with the rest of America — an idea that fuels talk of secession. But let's be clear: Calexit is neither legal nor practical. The Supreme Court settled this question after the Civil War, ruling in Texas v. White that states cannot unilaterally secede. More importantly, secession would upend California's trade, defense, and economy, hurting the very people who are already struggling. What California — and America — needs now is a bridge, not a break. We need leaders who can look beyond personal rivalries and forge partnerships that get things done. Whether it's immigration reform, wildfire prevention, or building affordable housing, these challenges won't be solved by blue states and red states battling it out. They require a commitment to dialogue, respect, and compromise. Gavin Newsom has a responsibility to work constructively with federal authorities — no matter who occupies the White House. Likewise, Donald Trump — and every president after him — has a responsibility to treat California not as an enemy but as an integral part of the American family. California's story has always been one of reinvention and resilience. Let's not let the rhetoric of secession overshadow that legacy. Instead, let's choose unity over division and partnership over partisanship. In the end, that's the only way forward — for California and for America.
Al Manar
3 hours ago
- Al Manar
85 Days of Renewed Israeli Bombardment in Gaza as Starvation Deepens, Health System Collapses
The Israeli enemy's assault on Gaza has entered its 85th consecutive day, intensifying a 613-day campaign that has pushed the besieged enclave to the brink—marked by soaring civilian casualties, widespread starvation, and a collapsing health system. Over the past 24 hours, 69 Palestinians—including women, children, and individuals awaiting food aid—were killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to Palestinian sources. Gaza Ministry of Health reported that the death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 54,981 martyrs and 126,920 injuries. The Israeli occupation army's attacks have increasingly targeted displaced civilians across Gaza. Civil defense teams reported fatalities and injuries near the Nuseirat corridor and western Rafah, where people had gathered in hopes of receiving aid—a grim scene that now repeats daily amid international inaction to halt the targeting of non-combatants. The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by a continued blockade on essential food supplies, enforced since early March, further intensifying widespread hunger. The World Health Organization announced the complete shutdown of Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis due to extensive damage and a lack of basic medical resources. Odai Dabour, an official at the Palestinian Medical Relief Society in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that over 76,000 children in Gaza are now registered as malnourished, with the real number likely much higher. He added that at least 41% of Gaza's kidney failure patients have died due… — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) June 10, 2025 Meanwhile, footage circulated by activists showed gunfire directed at civilians collecting aid from a US-run distribution center in northern Rafah. Gaza's Medical Relief Society described aid centers as 'death traps,' stating that people are dying in the streets from starvation. In a separate development, US President Donald Trump disclosed that negotiations are underway involving the US, the Israeli occupation, Hamas, and Iran, with the goal of brokering a ceasefire and facilitating a hostage exchange. Tunisian-Led Convoy Departs for Gaza From Tunis to Rafah, a large humanitarian land convoy—Caravan of Steadfastness—set off from Mohamed V Avenue in the Tunisian capital. Organized by the Joint Action Coordination for Palestine, the convoy aims to break the blockade on Gaza. The convoy comprises representatives from trade unions, medical sectors, and youth groups, accompanied by Algerian and broader Maghrebian solidarity delegations. Approximately 300 Algerians joined, invited by the Algerian People's Coordination for Palestine. The convoy—made up of civilian vehicles, buses, and ambulances loaded with medical and relief supplies—gathered at 4 a.m. local time to finalize preparations before proceeding toward the Ras Jedir border crossing into Libya, waving Palestinian flags. It includes specialized teams assigned to logistical, humanitarian, and media roles, marking the outcome of extensive coordination among North African civil society organizations. Other convoys—by land, sea, and air—are expected to join, underscoring the global scope of solidarity and the continued resonance of the Palestinian cause. Spokesperson Wael Nawar noted during a press conference that pro-Palestinian activists from 32 countries are expected to arrive via Cairo International Airport to join the initiative. In international waters, the Israeli occupation navy intercepted the ship Madleen, detaining its passengers.
