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US Supreme Court rejects Trump’s bid to avoid paying USAID contractors, beneficiaries

Justice Samuel Alito, leading the dissenting conservative justices, criticized the ruling, calling it a reward for “an act of judicial hubris” and arguing that it imposes a $2 billion burden on American taxpayers. Alito contended that Judge Ali lacked the authority to mandate such payments.

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a federal judge’s authority to order the Trump administration to pay $2 billion to contractors of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) but stopped short of requiring immediate payment. The 5-4 decision rejected an emergency application filed by the Justice Department, which sought to block the order issued by U.S. District Judge Amir Ali.

Judge Ali had issued a series of rulings demanding the government release funds that President Donald Trump froze through an executive order targeting what he called wasteful foreign aid programs. While the Supreme Court’s decision is a temporary setback for the Trump administration, the nonprofit organizations and businesses awaiting payment remain in limbo. One organization recently laid off 110 employees due to the funding freeze, according to court documents.

Justice Samuel Alito, leading the dissenting conservative justices, criticized the ruling, calling it a reward for “an act of judicial hubris” and arguing that it imposes a $2 billion burden on American taxpayers. Alito contended that Judge Ali lacked the authority to mandate such payments.

The Supreme Court’s decision leaves in place Ali’s temporary restraining order, which had paused the spending freeze. Judge Ali is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday to consider a more permanent solution.

The majority opinion, supported by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett alongside the court’s three liberal justices, noted that the Trump administration had not challenged Ali’s initial order but only the deadline for compliance, which has already passed. The court instructed Ali to clarify the government’s obligations under the temporary restraining order, taking into account the feasibility of compliance timelines.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh joined Alito in dissent.

The Trump administration argued that the situation had evolved since the initial freeze, as it replaced the blanket spending halt with individualized assessments. These assessments led to the cancellation of 5,800 USAID contracts and 4,100 State Department grants, totaling nearly $60 billion in aid.

The funding freeze was implemented following an executive order by President Trump, who criticized foreign aid programs as wasteful and misaligned with his foreign policy objectives. The subsequent lawsuit alleged that the freeze violated federal law and disrupted critical, life-saving programs abroad.

Judge Ali initially ordered the temporary restoration of funding on February 13. However, after nearly two weeks of non-compliance, he set a deadline for the government to release payments for work already completed. The administration appealed, calling Ali’s order “incredibly intrusive and profoundly erroneous” and objecting to the timeline for releasing the funds.

The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the ongoing tension between the judiciary and the executive branch over the administration’s foreign aid policies. While the ruling affirms the judiciary’s role in overseeing executive actions, the delay in payment leaves contractors and aid organizations grappling with financial uncertainty.

As the legal battle continues, the fate of billions of dollars in foreign aid remains unresolved, with significant implications for global humanitarian efforts and U.S. foreign policy.

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Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

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Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

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USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

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The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

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Latest world news

Jaishankar raises deaths of three Indian sailors with Marco Rubio, lodges strong protest

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed India’s strong protest to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over an attack that killed three Indian sailors, stressing that lethal action against commercial shipping is unjustified.

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday spoke with Marco Rubio and conveyed India’s strong protest over recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.

According to reports, Jaishankar told Rubio that the use of lethal force against commercial shipping was not justified and underlined India’s serious concerns regarding the safety of civilian seafarers operating in the region. The conversation came days after three Indian mariners were killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello near the Oman coast.

The incident has triggered diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Washington. India had earlier summoned a senior US diplomat to register its concerns and seek accountability following the attack. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that actions endangering civilian shipping undermine maritime safety and stability in a strategically important region.

India reiterates concern over maritime safety

India has stressed the importance of protecting civilian seafarers and ensuring the security of international maritime commerce. Officials have expressed concern over multiple incidents involving Indian crew members in West Asian waters in recent days.

The deaths of the three sailors have also sparked calls within India for stronger diplomatic efforts to safeguard Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in conflict-affected maritime zones.

Background of the incident

The attack involved the tanker Settebello, which was operating near Oman when it was struck during ongoing tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran and maritime operations in the Gulf region. Initial reports indicated that Indian crew members were among those affected, and later confirmations established that three Indian sailors had died in the incident.

India has maintained that civilian shipping should not become a target and has continued diplomatic outreach to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers working across global shipping routes.

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