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US judge temporarily blocks Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans
A US judge temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s order to freeze hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grants and loans, minutes before it was set to come into effect on Tuesday.
Judge Loren AliKhan’s order to pause the plan until next Monday at 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) came in response to a lawsuit filed earlier in the day by a group of organisations representing grant recipients.
The lawsuit claims the White House’s temporary freezing of already approved funding violates the law.
In the hours before the order was due to take effect, there was widespread confusion about which agencies and programmes would be impacted.
The acting head of the White House budget office had instructed agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance”.
It said the move was intended to give the new administration time to assess what grants and loans were in step with their agenda.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s plan to pause billions of dollars in US government funding was about being “good stewards of tax dollars”.
Speaking to reporters in her first ever briefing, she said the pause in funding would allow governments to cut back spending for “woke” gender issues and diversity programmes.
But it prompted confusion, as well as anger from opposition figures, on Tuesday as those who receive federal loans and grants – such as non-profits and research organisations – reckoned with the reality of swiftly losing funding.
Judge AliKhan on Tuesday said she was issuing a brief stay that would “preserve the status quo” until she can hold an oral argument, now set for Monday morning.
The White House directive could have impacted billions of dollars meant for federal programmes, from disaster relief to cancer research.
In a post on X, Diane Yentel, the president of the National Council of Nonprofits, the organisation that brought the lawsuit, celebrated the ruling.
“Our lawsuit was successful – the US district court is blocking OMB (Office of Management and Budget) from moving forward on its reckless plan to halt federal funding,” she wrote.
In the lawsuit, her organisation wrote that Trump’s order seeks to “eradicate essentially all federal grant programs”.
It argues that Trump’s order is “devoid of any legal basis or the barest rationale” and will have ripple effects throughout the entire United States and beyond.
This is separate from an action by a coalition of Democratic states who filed a lawsuit later on Tuesday to block the order, calling it unconstitutional.
Stephen Miller, the White House’s deputy chief of staff, also defended the directive before the judge’s decision was announced, telling reporters that this would allow the government to get “credit control”.
“It does not impact any federal programmes that Americans rely on,” he said, answering a question about whether “Meals on Wheels” food delivery programme would be affected.
On Tuesday, several states reported issues accessing funds through Medicaid, a government health insurance programme for low-income people. The White House later said the programme would not be affected and that the problem would be resolved soon.
It also said Social Security benefits would not be affected, nor would any programme “that provides direct benefits to individuals”, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps.
In a letter to the White House, top Democrats expressed “extreme alarm” about the plan to pause funding.
“The scope of what you are ordering is breathtaking, unprecedented, and will have devastating consequences across the country,” wrote Washington Senator Patty Murray and Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.
Democratic minority leader of the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, said the move would cause missed payrolls and rent payments, and cause “chaos”.
[BBC]
Opener Usman Khawaja celebrated his maiden Test double century as Australia continued to build a formidable first innings total on day two against a hapless Sri Lanka in the opening Test in Galle.
Khawaja reached lunch on 204 not out, while debutant Josh Inglis cruised to 44 at a run-a-ball pace to strengthen Australia’s position. Khawaja also notched his highest Test score, overtaking his 195 not out against South Africa at the SCG in 2023 when rain forced an Australia declaration.
Khawaja and stand-in captain Steven Smith have been the fulcrum of what will be a massive Australia first innings, combining for a 266-run partnership. They added 71 runs on day two before Smith fell lbw for 141 to legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, Sri Lanka’s most threatening bowler.
Smith added 37 runs to his overnight tally after a momentous opening day where he became the fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs en route to a 35th century.
The 38-year-old Khawaja celebrated his first Test double century just before lunch as he kneeled down and bowed to the turf as the fans, many of whom are Australians, applauded with gusto.
He had earlier overtaken Justin Langer’s 166 in Colombo in 2004 as the highest score by an Australian in Sri Lanka. Having struggled against spin earlier in his career in South Asia, Khawaja has become only the second Australian after Allan Border to make Test centuries in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Khawaja has wound back the clock after an 18-month Test century drought, having most recently against India struggled at the hands of tormentor Jasprit Bumrah.
Sri Lanka only used their trio of spinners through the first session, but mostly to no avail. They have been unable to stop the flow of runs much like the opening two sessions on day one. Sri Lanka’s tardy performance in the field on the opening day, where they missed several opportunities to dismiss Khawaja and Smith, has proven costly.
Australia resumed on 330 for 2 with play starting 15 minutes early after rain ended day one prematurely. Armed with a second new ball, offspinner Nishan Peiris immediately spun the ball sharply and troubled Khawaja from around the wicket.
The conditions were more challenging than on the opening day as left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya settled into a good rhythm. After resorting to a defensive leg stump tactic late on day one, Jayasuriya attacked the stumps and aimed to skid the ball on.
But he was met by steely defence from Khawaja and Smith, who after four overs had enough and showed his first signs of aggression by skipping down the wicket as the partnership passed 200 runs.
Khawaja soon brought up his 150 before whacking the first boundary of the day with an excellent slog sweep off Peiris. He had unfurled the reverse sweep to good effect on day one, but Khawaja was lucky on his first attempt in the morning’s play when he only just cleared Peiris over short third for a boundary.
Smith started to rediscover his tempo from day one and once again showcased lightning footwork to whack Peiris over cover. He was even more belligerent against Jayasuriya, hammering him over long-on for six as Australia passed 400 runs.
A third straight wicketless session loomed for Sri Lanka until Vandersay deceived Smith with a delivery that straightened down the line and hit him on the back pad. Vandersay’s enthusiastic appeal was initially turned down, but the decision was overturned on review in a massive relief for Sri Lanka.
After waiting almost 100 overs, Inglis finally entered the crease as he chewed gum furiously awaiting his first delivery in Test cricket. He started in fine fashion with a boundary after whipping Vandersay through mid-on and was at ease against spin even though his reverse sweeps picked out fielders.
He showcased his confidence by skipping down the track and launching several blows down the ground. Even though he is brought up on the pace-friendly WACA ground, Inglis is a noted player of spin underlining exactly why the selectors were keen to shoehorn him in the side.
Inglis, the Western Australia wicketkeeper, is playing as a specialist batter and proved he is ready for the Test level having performed strongly in the Sheffield Shield, while he has captained Australia in T20I and ODI cricket recently.
Brief scores: [Day 2 Lunch]
Australia 475 for 3 in 114 overs (Usman Khawaja 204*, Steven Smith 141, Travis Head 57, Josh Inglis 44*; Jeffrey Vandersay 2-131, Prabath Jayasuriya 1-163) vs Sri Lanka
[Cricinfo]
Thousands of fans have filled a stadium in the Indian capital, Delhi, as Virat Kohli makes his much-anticipated return to domestic cricket after more than 12 years.
The 36-year-old star batter has turned out for Delhi on today [30] in the Ranji Trophy match against the Railways team at the well-attended Arun Jaitley stadium.
Kohli’s return follows the national cricket board’s directive for contracted players to play domestic cricket after India’s 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss to Australia.
It also comes amid a personal lean patch in Test cricket, where the former Indian captain has struggled for consistency in recent years.
One of India’s greatest batters, Kohli has redefined modern cricket with his aggressive and technically sound batting. With more than 27,000 international runs across formats, he has been the backbone of India’s middle order for more than a decade.
But his red-ball form has dipped in recent years. Kohli averaged 54.97 in Test cricket until 2019, but since 2020, it has dipped to 30.72 – and just 22.47 in his last 10 Tests.
Since the start of 2024, his average of 23.2 is the ninth lowest among players with a minimum of 10 innings.
Kohli’s return to the domestic circuit has already generated immense excitement, with fans and experts alike keen to see whether this move helps reignite his form.
A large crowd gathered outside the stadium on Tuesday after word spread that Kohli would join the Delhi team for training ahead of the game.
Reports said even TV and YouTube journalists – a rare sight before a domestic match – were present. “He joined his Delhi team-mates for football drills, bouts of laughter, and 100m sprints, before it was time to hit the batting nets,” ESPNcricinfo reported.
Long queues have been reported outside the stadium as fans have been let in free to watch the game.
Akash Kumar told news agency ANI that he had been standing outside the stadium for almost five hours before the match began and that he had never seen such a crowd for a domestic match.
The captain of the Delhi team, Ayush Badoni, said everyone in the team was “excited and motivated” by Kohli’s arrival.
Pratham Singh, the captain of the opposing Railways team, said it was inspiring for them to see Kohli and that they would be “more motivated to do better” in this match.
Fans will have to wait a bit to watch Kohli bat as Delhi won the toss and chose to bowl.
India’s red-ball domestic Ranji Trophy season, running from 5 January to 10 March, features 32 teams.
Kohli made his domestic debut in 2006 at 18, scoring just 10 runs in his first match.
Over the next six years with the Delhi team, he notched five centuries and as many fifties. His last domestic appearance was in 2012.
[BBC]
A regional jet carrying dozens of passengers and a military helicopter have collided midair near Washington Dc the United States, raising fears of mass casualties and forcing a halt to all takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan Washington national airport.
US President Donald Trump said late on Wednesday he had been briefed on the “terrible accident”.
“May God bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,” he said in a statement. “I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at around 9pm local time while en route from Wichita, Kansas, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
“PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas,” the FAA said in a statement.
“The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation,” the aviation agency added, referring to the National Transportation Safety Board.
[Aljazeera]
Khawaja brings up maiden double-century as Australia cross 450
Fans fill stadium for Virat Kohli’s first domestic match in 12 years
Plane collides with helicopter midair near Washington, DC
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