Trump's mega spending bill passes; celebrity silence on Diddy verdict
We also turn to the celebrity world where Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been convicted on two charges but cleared of the most serious allegations. Columnist Gemma White discusses the muted response from major celebrities and what the verdict could mean for survivors of abuse. She reflects on how high-profile voices like Kesha and Aubrey O'Day have spoken out, while many big names remain silent.
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
US judge briefly pauses deportation of 8 migrants to South Sudan
US District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington made the ruling at an emergency hearing on July 4The administration has detained the men for six weeks on a military base in DjiboutiWASHINGTON: A federal judge briefly halted the Trump administration on Friday from placing eight migrants on a plane destined for conflict-ridden South Sudan, to give lawyers for the men time to make their argument to a court in Massachusetts. US District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington made the ruling at an emergency hearing on July 4, when courts are otherwise closed for the Independence Day holiday. The group of migrants had filed new claims on Thursday after the Supreme Court clarified that a federal judge in Boston could no longer require US Department of Homeland Security to hold administration has detained the men for six weeks on a military base in Djibouti rather than bring back to the United order stops the US government from moving the men until 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. They were scheduled to be removed to South Sudan on a 7 p.m. case is the latest development over the legality of the Trump administration's campaign to deter immigration by shipping migrants to locations other than their countries of origin pursuant to deals with other countries.A lawyer for the US said during the hearing that court orders halting agreed-upon deportations pose a serious problem for US diplomatic relations and would make foreign countries less likely to accept transfers of migrants in the future. The group of men have been convicted of various crimes, with four of them convicted of murder, the US Department of Homeland Security has Sudan has long been dangerous even for locals. The US State Department advises citizens not to travel there due to violent crime and armed conflict. The United Nations has said the African country's political crisis could reignite a brutal civil war that ended in 2018. The eight men, who their lawyers said are from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Burma, Sudan and Vietnam, argue their deportations to South Sudan would violate the US constitution, which prohibits 'cruel and unusual' said that he would transfer the case to Massachusetts rather than hear it himself, but remarked that if they proved their allegations about the motives of US authorities, they would likely have a valid claim.'It seems to me almost self-evident that the United States government cannot take human beings and send them to circumstances in which their physical well-being is at risk simply either to punish them or send a signal to others,' Moss said during the hearing.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Pentagon has undermined Trump's goal of Ukraine peace
The US Department of Defense halted deliveries of Patriot air defense systems and other precision weapons to Ukraine last week following an internal assessment of its own stockpiles. Some of these weapons were already in Poland waiting for final transfer. The news came as a shock. While the Trump administration has taken a more nuanced approach to Ukraine and Russia than its predecessor, it had continued the flow of weapons to Kyiv as leverage in its effort to bring Moscow to the negotiating table. The timing could not be worse. Russia has launched some of the most intense aerial bombardments in the history of its invasion, including night-time barrages of more than 400 drones and ballistic missiles at a time. For Ukraine, already stretched thin on ammunition and air defense capabilities, this freeze in support threatens to make a difficult situation even more dire. The decision also undermines President Donald Trump's stated goal of ending the war. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly emphasized the need to bring Russia and Ukraine to a negotiated settlement and made it a cornerstone of his foreign policy. But six months after he returned to the Oval Office, the war appears no closer to resolution than it was on his first day. There is no doubt the president has been sincere in his desire to bring the two sides to the table. He has called for a ceasefire and for negotiations, and Ukraine has signaled its willingness to work with the White House. The Kremlin, however, has been far more reluctant. Trump has hinted at increasing pressure on Russia to engage more seriously in diplomacy. That's precisely why the Pentagon's decision to halt aid is so surprising — and damaging. Trump appeared to have geopolitical momentum on his side. His bold military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, an action many believed he would never take, restored a sense of American credibility abroad, especially after what many saw as the Biden administration's appeasement of Tehran. Then, at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump had a major win. He convinced European allies to commit to significantly increased defense spending, including a landmark pledge to reach 5 percent of GDP by 2035 — spending levels not seen even during the Cold War. At that same summit, a Ukrainian journalist asked Trump about the urgent need for air defense systems to protect civilians from Russian missile attacks. The president responded with genuine emotion. He said he would return to Washington and explore the possibility of sending more Patriot missile interceptors to Ukraine. Days later, however, his own Department of Defense contradicted both his words and apparent intent. There is no doubt Trump has been sincere in his desire to bring the two sides to the table. Luke Coffey This is not the first time the Pentagon has acted out of sync with the president. In February, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a temporary halt to military assistance to Ukraine without coordinating with the White House. That pause lasted only a few days, but it rattled allies and partners across Europe and sent shockwaves through Kyiv. At the time, the White House quietly aired its frustration. Now, it appears the Pentagon may be repeating the same mistake. This latest move underscores a deeper problem: an ideological struggle within the Trump administration over US foreign policy. On one side are the isolationists who believe America should retreat from global commitments and focus exclusively on domestic concerns. They see little value in supporting Ukraine or NATO, or even maintaining a robust defense budget, since their vision of America's role in the world is minimal at best. Opposing them are the so-called prioritizers, who believe the US should focus nearly all of its strategic energy and resources on Asia, and particularly on countering the growing threat from China. In this view, America must prepare for a potential conflict over Taiwan, even if doing so means deprioritizing Europe or the Middle East. Every dollar spent and every missile deployed must serve the Indo-Pacific theater first. Both factions, for different reasons, see Ukraine as a distraction, so when aid is withheld, both are satisfied. As long as this internal tug-of-war continues, behind closed doors and in public, the president will struggle to implement a coherent and effective foreign policy. Trump may be most comfortable dealing with issues such as trade, the economy, and border security, but the reality is that global leadership also requires strategic clarity on defense and diplomacy. To succeed, he needs a team aligned with his vision — not one that undermines it. Now is the time for Trump to reassert control and redouble efforts to end Russia's war in a way that promotes lasting European stability and delivers a fair, just outcome for Ukraine. Achieving this will probably be one of the most difficult foreign policy challenges of his presidency. But he cannot meet that challenge with a divided administration. He needs a unified front — particularly from his Department of Defense. The sooner Trump reverses the Pentagon's decision to halt military aid to Ukraine, the better the prospects for peace. Time is of the essence, and any further delay could cost lives — and squander the strategic gains he has worked hard to achieve.
Al Arabiya
6 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
LL Cool J Says He Won't Perform at Philadelphia's July Fourth Festival in Support of Workers Strike
Rapper LL Cool J said he won't perform at a Fourth of July festival in Philadelphia in support of a strike by nearly 10,000 city workers. The rapper and actor had been scheduled to appear at the Wawa Welcome America Festival on Friday along with R&B singer and Philadelphia native Jazmine Sullivan and other performers. LL Cool J said in a video posted on social media that 'there's absolutely no way that I can perform, cross a picket line, and pick up money when I know that people are out there fighting for a living wage. I hope, I hope, I hope that, you know, the mayor and the city can make a deal. I hope it works out,' he said. LL Cool J also said that he never wants to disappoint his fans and that he plans to be in Philadelphia in case an agreement is reached. The festival comes as the strike moved into a fourth day Friday. Trash has been piling up in some areas and more than 30 Medical Examiner's Office staffers have been ordered back to work because of a growing backlog of bodies in storage. The latest talks between the city and leaders of District Council 33 – the largest of four major unions representing city workers – ended late Wednesday. Both sides have said they were willing to continue negotiations. The union represents many of the city's blue-collar workers, from trash collectors to clerks to security guards. Police and firefighters are not on strike. The city has offered a three-year contract with annual raises of about 3 percent, which the union said amounts to little more than $1,000 after taxes for members making $46,000 a year on average. Mayor Cherelle Parker has said the city has put its best offer on the table. She stressed that the effective 13 percent pay hike over her four-year term – including last year's 5 percent bump – along with a fifth step on the pay scale would be the best contract the union has seen in decades. Parker responded to LL Cool J's statement saying that she spoke with him on Thursday. 'I respect his decision and understand his desire to see the city unified,' the mayor said. 'He is always welcome in Philadelphia.' The union also responded, saying LL Cool J's support for municipal workers highlights his commitment to social justice and community well-being. 'His support not only brings attention to our efforts but also inspires others to recognize and advocate for the rights and respect of all workers,' the union said. 'It's heartening to see public figures using their influence to champion causes that matter to everyday people.' On Thursday, Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas-Street approved the city's request to have the medical examiner's office staffers return to work because bodies have been piling up there in storage, posing a health and safety risk. Those workers include death and forensic investigators, forensic technicians, and clerks. The order came a day after the judge ordered some emergency service dispatchers and essential water department employees back to work. Mounting trash piles in some parts of the city were also still causing grief for residents and officials, who have strongly urged residents to follow the collection guidelines imposed when the strike began Tuesday. They also urged residents to report problems at the trash collection sites and noted trash is being cleared as fast as possible and the city is working to open more sites.
