Latest news with #donation
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pete Hegseth's Secret Deal to Get Trump His Free Qatari Jet Is Leaked
The U.S. has formally received Qatar's 'unconditional donation' of a $400 million 747-8 Boeing jet for the Trump administration to use as Air Force One. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Qatari counterpart earlier this month signed a memorandum of understanding which also allows Trump to use the plane once he leaves office, ABC News reported Monday. That document describes the plane as a 'bona fide gift' to the Defense Department, with the U.S. paying nothing for it. 'This donation is made in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support between the parties,' it states. 'Nothing in this [memorandum of understanding] is, or shall be interpreted or construed as, an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice.' The memo adds that the plane is 'not connected or otherwise related to any governmental decision and, as such, is not made, offered, promised or accepted because of any past, present or future official act or decision and is not intended to obtain or retain any improper advantage or to influence any official decision.' The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry from the Daily Beast. The Defense Department declined to comment. When the 'gift'–which was previously used by the Qatari royal family–was first announced in May, lawmakers, commentators on the right and left, and Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, were critical. Some questioned whether the arrangement was really 'free' given Trump's transactional approach to the presidency. The cost of renovations was also a point of concern, given how aviation experts estimated a minimum price tag of $1 billion. The Defense Department recently transferred nearly that much for a classified projected, The New York Times reported Sunday. Air Force officials told the outlet that some of the money would be spent on renovating the aircraft that has been called a 'flying palace.' After Trump leaves office, ownership of the plane will transfer to the Trump presidential library foundation, Hegseth confirmed during a June Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. But that didn't sit well with some lawmakers. 'Why would we ask the American taxpayer to spend upwards of $1 billion on a plane that would then only be used for a handful of months and then transfer directly to the president?' Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy asked. 'That doesn't sound like a wise use of taxpayer dollars.'
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
York's Persimmon Homes to feature on Hemsworth Town FC's kit
A football club has received a £4,000 donation from a York-based housebuilder. Hemsworth Town FC was awarded the funding by Persimmon Homes, with the money set to provide new football kits for players at the West Yorkshire club. The donation came through Persimmon's Community Champions scheme, to which the club had applied. Sam Britton, commercial manager and coach at Hemsworth Town FC, said: "We're absolutely delighted to welcome Persimmon Homes as a sponsor. "Their support will make a genuine difference to our club and the wider community. "Partnerships like this are crucial for the continued growth of grassroots football, and we're really excited about what the future holds. "To mark the partnership, Persimmon Homes will proudly feature on every one of our home shirts." Ben Bowman, West Yorkshire senior land manager at Persimmon Homes, said: "It was a pleasure to visit Hemsworth Community Centre and meet with Hemsworth Town FC. "Seeing first-hand how the team are supporting the community and getting more people into sport was fantastic. "We're looking forward to working further with the club, and we are proud to support them." Persimmon Homes staff met with club representatives, and Hemsworth Town Council councillor Harriet Saxon, during a visit to Hemsworth Community Centre.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pentagon accepts 'unconditional donation' of Qatari jet, agreement says: Sources
The Trump administration has accepted the 'unconditional donation' of a luxury jet from Qatar, with no stipulation on what should happen to the aircraft after President Donald Trump leaves office, according to an agreement reviewed by ABC News. The memorandum of understanding, or MOU, was signed earlier this month by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatar's Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Soud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The deal paves the way for the Air Force to begin the process of retrofitting the plane -- dubbed a 'flying palace' because of its luxurious finishes -- for the president's use. MORE: Pentagon accepts luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One Sources told ABC News earlier this year that after the president left office, the plan called for transferring ownership of the plane to the Trump presidential library foundation. The cost of refurbishing the plane is classified, although lawmakers have speculated that it could cost as much as $1 billion. The Air Force referred questions on the deal to Hegseth's office, which referred a reporter back to the Air Force. 'Why would we ask the American taxpayer to spend upwards of $1 billion on a plane that would then only be used for a handful of months and then transfer directly to the president? That doesn't sound like a wise use of taxpayer dollars,' said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-N.Y., during a Senate hearing in June. MORE: Qatar's luxury jet donation poses significant security risks, experts say Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers that the money to refurbish the jet would be pulled from a program intended to replace aging nuclear missiles, called the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program. But Meink said the Sentinel nuclear program, which is over budget, wouldn't be immediately impacted because it was being restructured. Trump has long complained about the primary aircraft used in the current Air Force One fleet, which are Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets that have been operational since 1990. The Air Force is under contract with Boeing to replace those aircraft. 'The aircraft is donated in its current condition ('as is'), without any guarantees or warranties, unless otherwise agreed upon in future arrangements,' the new memo states. 'The donation is unconditional, and the aircraft may be used or disposed of by the DOD in its sole discretion, in any manner it deems appropriate, so long as such use or disposal remains in accordance with United States laws,' the memo later adds. Nothing in the agreement should be 'interpreted or construed' as 'an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice,' the memo adds, calling it a 'bona fide gift.' The Washington Post first reported the details of the agreement.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pentagon accepts 'unconditional donation' of Qatari jet, agreement says: Sources
The Trump administration has accepted the 'unconditional donation' of a luxury jet from Qatar, with no stipulation on what should happen to the aircraft after President Donald Trump leaves office, according to an agreement reviewed by ABC News. The memorandum of understanding, or MOU, was signed earlier this month by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatar's Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Soud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The deal paves the way for the Air Force to begin the process of retrofitting the plane -- dubbed a 'flying palace' because of its luxurious finishes -- for the president's use. MORE: Pentagon accepts luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One Sources told ABC News earlier this year that after the president left office, the plan called for transferring ownership of the plane to the Trump presidential library foundation. The cost of refurbishing the plane is classified, although lawmakers have speculated that it could cost as much as $1 billion. The Air Force referred questions on the deal to Hegseth's office, which referred a reporter back to the Air Force. 'Why would we ask the American taxpayer to spend upwards of $1 billion on a plane that would then only be used for a handful of months and then transfer directly to the president? That doesn't sound like a wise use of taxpayer dollars,' said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-N.Y., during a Senate hearing in June. MORE: Qatar's luxury jet donation poses significant security risks, experts say Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers that the money to refurbish the jet would be pulled from a program intended to replace aging nuclear missiles, called the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program. But Meink said the Sentinel nuclear program, which is over budget, wouldn't be immediately impacted because it was being restructured. Trump has long complained about the primary aircraft used in the current Air Force One fleet, which are Boeing 747-200 jumbo jets that have been operational since 1990. The Air Force is under contract with Boeing to replace those aircraft. 'The aircraft is donated in its current condition ('as is'), without any guarantees or warranties, unless otherwise agreed upon in future arrangements,' the new memo states. 'The donation is unconditional, and the aircraft may be used or disposed of by the DOD in its sole discretion, in any manner it deems appropriate, so long as such use or disposal remains in accordance with United States laws,' the memo later adds. Nothing in the agreement should be 'interpreted or construed' as 'an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice,' the memo adds, calling it a 'bona fide gift.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Canada Stands with Ukraine. Now Ukrainians Stand with Canada.
Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Ukrainian Canadian Congress donate $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross in support of the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Wildfires Appeals Photo Credit: Alexis Aubin/Canadian Red Cross TORONTO, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a heartfelt gesture of solidarity and gratitude, the and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) announced a $100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross to help meet the needs of people impacted by wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Canadians have stood with Ukraine in extraordinary ways. Together, CUF and UCC, through the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA), have raised and committed over $95 million in aid, impacting the lives of more than 6 million Ukrainians. Much of that support has come from communities now facing their own crisis. "As wildfires destroy homes, displace families, and blanket communities in smoke, we see firsthand the toll this emergency is taking on Canadians, many of whom stood with Ukrainians when they needed them most," . "This donation is our way of standing with Canadians now." 'We are grateful to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress for their generous support that will benefit people impacted by wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan,' . 'As we continue to respond to one of the worst wildfire seasons in the prairies, the Red Cross is committed to helping people while they are away from home and as they begin to recover.' 'Our hearts go out to our neighbours whose lives and homes are affected by these wildfires,' said Alexandra Chyczij, National President, Ukrainian Canadian Congress. 'The Ukrainian Canadian Congress will do all we can to support these communities during their time of need.' The $100,000 contribution to the Canadian Red Cross will be used for assisting those impacted by the wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan with immediate and ongoing relief. This includes financial assistance, support to evacuees and the communities hosting them, recovery and resilience efforts in response to the wildfires, as well as supporting community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events within Manitoba and Saskatchewan. United by care and driven by community, CUF and UCC reaffirm their ongoing commitment to the Canadian communities that continue to make their work possible. To donate and learn more about the CUF, please visit Social Media: Instagram: @canadaukrainefoundation Facebook: @cufoundation YouTube: @canada-ukrainefoundation2010 Media Contacts:Zai Karim zai@ - 647-983-6669Shannon Kenney shannon@ - 416-770-0359 About the Canada-Ukraine Foundation Founded in 1995 during the 18th Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was established to coordinate, develop, and deliver humanitarian assistance from Canadians to Ukraine. CUF continues to play a vital role as a national charitable foundation, working to monitor, promote, and support humanitarian aid initiatives. Its mission includes evaluating projects, fostering collaboration among aid providers, setting strategic priorities, and ensuring resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact. CUF also serves as a forum for individuals and organizations—across community, private, and public sectors—committed to supporting Ukraine. In addition to its work abroad, CUF also supports related initiatives within Canada. To learn more: About the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal A joint initiative of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA) was launched in January 2022 to coordinate the efficient delivery of humanitarian aid in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its efforts focus on supporting displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter, and food security—both in Ukraine and among those displaced to Europe and Canada. To date, the UHA has delivered over $95 million in aid, helping more than 6 million people. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
