Trump signs order ending US sanctions on Syria, Damascus welcomes move
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday ending the U.S. sanctions programme on Syria, the White House confirmed....
In a brief ruling on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s request to block a lower court’s order requiring the payment of nearly $2 billion in frozen USAID funds.
The decision, which effectively prevents the administration from further delaying payments to international aid groups and contractors for completed projects, marks a significant rebuke of the executive branch’s recent policies on foreign spending.
The case originated after President Donald Trump froze approximately $1.9 billion in USAID payments, prompting aid groups to seek judicial relief. In its one-paragraph opinion, the Supreme Court noted that the February 26 deadline imposed by U.S. District Judge Amir Ali had already passed. The Court directed the district court to provide new instructions, stating, “Given that the deadline in the challenged order has now passed, and in light of the ongoing preliminary injunction proceedings, the District Court should clarify what obligations the Government must fulfill to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order, with due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines.”
Chief Justice John Roberts had earlier agreed to pause Judge Ali’s order—which had required the Trump administration to pay all outstanding invoices by 11:59 p.m.—after the Justice Department argued that the deadline was “impossible” to meet. Although Roberts did not elaborate on his decision to pause the lower court’s order, his action prevented foreign aid groups from immediately pursuing a motion of civil contempt against the administration—a legal strategy that could have accelerated the recovery of the unpaid funds.
Acting U.S. Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued in a court filing that while the aid groups’ claims were likely legitimate, the timeline imposed by the district court was neither logistically nor technically feasible. She further contended that enforcing such a deadline without consideration for the complexities of the payment system intruded upon the executive branch’s constitutionally granted foreign affairs powers.
The plaintiffs countered that the Trump administration had made no progress toward meeting the February 26 deadline, emphasizing that all outstanding invoices had been approved by USAID’s front-line managers well before the deadline passed. They accused the administration of dismantling critical payment systems and purging essential USAID staff, actions that they say have created significant bottlenecks in the process.
This legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of President Trump’s broader plan to cut foreign aid, which includes proposals to slash USAID contracts by up to 90% and eliminate an additional $60 billion in foreign spending. Critics warn that such drastic measures risk undermining U.S. influence abroad and could lead to economic and security repercussions, as diminished U.S. support may open the door for increased corruption and create opportunities for geopolitical rivals.
As the Supreme Court’s decision awaits further instructions from the district court, international aid groups and contractors continue to monitor developments closely, hopeful that a revised timeline will facilitate the long-delayed payments.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved the disbursement of an additional $500 million to Ukraine, following the completion of its eighth review under the country’s $15.5 billion Extended Fund Facility.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday publicly criticized AT&T for technical issues that disrupted a national conference call with faith leaders, urging the company’s leadership to address the situation and suggesting his administration may turn to a different carrier in future communications.
France, Spain, Kenya, and several other nations announced on Monday a joint pledge to tax premium-class airline passengers and private jet users, in a move aimed at raising billions of dollars for climate action and sustainable development.
An oil tanker carrying one million barrels of crude oil exploded near the Libyan coast, Bloomberg reported on 30 June.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday ending the U.S. sanctions programme on Syria, the White House confirmed.
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