In the seven months since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Wall Street’s major stock indexes have been taken on quite the ride.
The president’s unveiling of his tariff and trade policy on April 2 spawned the fifth-biggest two-day percentage decline in the benchmark S&P 500(^GSPC 1.52%) in 75 years, as well as hurled the Nasdaq Composite(^IXIC 1.88%) into a full-fledged (but ultimately short-lived) bear market.
President Trump delivering his State of the Union address. Image source: Official White House Photo.
But tariffs represent just one of the ways the Trump administration can potentially influence equities on Wall Street.
According to reports and recent statements made by a member of Trump’s cabinet, the federal government is pondering equity stakes in some of the world’s leading semiconductor companies, including Intel(INTC 5.64%), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing(TSM 2.58%) (commonly known as “TSMC”), Micron Technology(MU 1.82%), and Samsung Electronics(SSNL.F 9.01%). While the rationale behind this idea might be intriguing on paper, it runs the risk of setting a dangerous precedent on Wall Street.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick proposes converting CHIPS Act grants into equity
Before diving further into the proposed details, some background is sorely needed.
Three years ago, in August 2022, President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act (commonly known as the “CHIPS Act”) into law. This law authorizes grants from the federal government to encourage the domestic manufacture of semiconductor chips, as well as to promote biotechnology and clean-energy technology innovation within the U.S. More than $52 billion was set aside by the CHIPS Act to support the construction and/or expansion of chip fabrication plants in the U.S., as well as advanced semiconductor research and development.
During President Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in March, he referred to the CHIPS Act as a “horrible, horrible thing,” and encouraged lawmakers at the time to defund the program. But his tune may have changed, courtesy of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Lutnick laid out something of a take-it-or-leave-it style proposal that would convert CHIPS Act grants into stock equity for the federal government. Said Lutnick:
The Biden administration literally was giving Intel for free, and giving TSMC money for free, and all these companies just giving them money for free. Donald Trump turns that into saying, “Hey, we want equity for the money. If we’re going to give you money, we want a piece of the action.”
Lutnick clarified his statements by noting that these equity stakes wouldn’t provide the U.S. government with any voting power in these businesses. Instead, it would be all about the American people getting a stake in the businesses U.S. funds are supporting.
Trump has reportedly favored the idea of the U.S. government being given equity stakes in exchange for CHIPS Act funds, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind.-VT) also voicing his support for such a move. “Taxpayers should not be providing billons of dollars in corporate welfare to large, profitable corporations like Intel without getting anything in return,” extolled Sanders.
Government ownership of stocks can be a slippery slope
Though there’s a logical argument to be found in the Trump administration’s proposal to transform these grants into equity stakes, there are also reasons for concern.
Looking to the past as a predictor of the future, there have been previous instances where the federal government took equity stakes in public companies. However, these prior occurrences correlate with periods of historic economic instability.
For instance, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) gave the federal government the green light to take equity stakes in struggling financial institutions during the Great Recession. Additionally, select airline companies issued stock warrants to the U.S. Treasury during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 as partial compensation for the financial assistance they received. Equity stakes on a for-profit basis, as proposed by Lutnick, would be a new and potentially dangerous precedent.
Although the Commerce Secretary told viewers these would be nonvoting equity stakes, the Trump administration nevertheless passes the laws and fiscal policy that can directly impact chip manufacturers. While the federal government might not be voting on executive compensation packages, it’ll have a direct and undeniable influence on the stock(s) it owns. This is effectively the same debate of whether members of Congress should be able to own individual stocks while passing laws that directly impact said stocks… just taken to another level.
For example, a solid argument can be made that President Donald Trump’s tariff and trade policy is far more powerful than a 10% voting share in Intel, or a single-digit percentage voting share in TSMC, Micron, or Samsung. Pardon the necessary pun, but Trump has previously used chip companies, including Nvidia, as bargaining chips to negotiate trade deals. There would be nothing to stop the president or members of his administration from using these bargaining tools to influence corporate strategy and decision-making.
Furthermore, adjusting the funding strategy for the CHIPS Act three years after its passage might encourage chip fabricators to keep their distance from the U.S. government. While subsidies of $6.6 billion, $6.2 billion, and $4.75 billion were awarded to TSMC, Micron, and Samsung, respectively, in 2024, none of these three companies necessarily need this funding to build/expand their chip fabrication presence on U.S. soil. If they had known that an equity stipulation was a possibility, they may not have agreed to a dime in funding.
Even Intel, which has struggled mightily under the weight of increasing competition and the high costs of organically building out its foundry division, may not have opted for government funding if it would have resulted in a forced equity stake. Over the trailing-12-month period, Intel has generated more than $10 billion in cash flow from its operations.
Though discussions are ongoing and nothing is set in stone, as of this writing in the late evening of Aug. 20, the Donald Trump administration potentially becoming shareholders of some of Wall Street’s leading semiconductor stocks likely wouldn’t be a development to cheer.
Ellie Kildunne’s lovely bit of skill sets up Jess Breach to score her second try for England against USA during the opening game of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup at the Stadium of Light.
Marvel fans say this blockbuster was their best movie of 2025 and you’ll soon be able to stream it at no extra cost
Disney+ will soon be streaming one of the best comic book movies of the year at no extra charge.
The film is currently available to rent or buy at home, though you’ll still have to pay up to £13.99 on platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video and Sky Store.
Thankfully, there’s not long to wait until Disney+ users will be able to stream the film whenever they want without paying anything on top of their monthly subscription.
Comic book fans have called it one of Marvel Studios’ best blockbusters in years – and, no, it’s not the recently released The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Instead, we’re talking about Thunderbolts*, which is set to debut exclusively on Disney+ on Wednesday, 27th August.
Starring Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Sebastian Stan, the film follows an unlikely team of heroes and villains from across the Marvel universe who reluctantly team up to protect the Earth from a dangerous and unpredictable new threat.
Superhero fans have called Thunderbolts* Marvel’s best movie in years(Image: MARVEL STUDIOS)
Pugh returns as Yelena Belova, the new Black Widow, an elite mercenary who is struggling to find her place in the world when the enigmatic Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) entrusts her with an important but suspicious new mission.
Following a period of disappointment for the superhero franchise, both box office and critical, Marvel fans were pleasantly surprised when Thunderbolts* burst onto the big screen back in April.
One five-star Google review described the film as an “absolute gem of the superhero genre”.
“If you’re looking for a fresh, high-octane adventure with a unique twist, Thunderbolts is exactly what you’ve been waiting for,” they went on to promise.
“This story is a masterclass in reimagining the traditional superhero team-up, featuring a lineup of antiheroes, former villains, and morally ambiguous characters who are forced to work together for a common cause.”
Someone else gushed: “Thunderbolts* was an incredible surprise. This movie fixes so many of the problems that recent MCU projects have suffered from.
“It actually feels like one director was in charge of this, not a committee of executives. The humor also feels natural, not forced.
Florence Pugh shines as Marvel’s new Black Widow Yelena Belova(Image: MARVEL STUDIOS)
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Disney+ has added La Liga football to its line-up, with fans able to stream the games with a Disney+ subscription from £4.99
“Which makes everything better. It doesn’t feel like this movie was reworked and reshot a thousand times. The characters are also great. Every actor is doing their absolute best and their chemistry is great.”
Another die-hard fan raved on X: “Had the time of my life with #thunderbolts! One of the best mcu projects in recent years.
“The movie does an outstanding job of exploring its themes surrounding mental health. I absolutely love [the] team and their dynamic, I cared so much about all of them. Easy 10/10.”
And a final viewer admitted: “Shocked how good THUNDERBOLTS* is. Putting emphasis on the character work and practical action makes this feel like the old Marvel that had us for a decade plus.
“Wish we’d gotten this sooner. Helps that this dysfunctional team has chemistry too.”
Will you be checking out Thunderbolts* for the first time or giving the film a much-deserved rewatch next week?
Thunderbolts* will be available to stream on Disney+ from Wednesday, 27th August.
In April of 2006, I watched a posse of politicians gather at Skid Row’s Midnight Mission to introduce, with great fanfare and unbridled confidence, a 10-year plan to end homelessness in Los Angeles.
That didn’t work out so well.
Twelve years later, in his 2018 State of the City address, Mayor Eric Garcetti made a full-throated vow to quit fooling around and get the job done.
Los Angeles knows how to weather a crisis — or two or three. Angelenos are tapping into that resilience, striving to build a city for everyone.
“We are here to end homelessness,” he said.
Mission not accomplished.
We have a habit of setting lofty goals and making grand promises in Los Angeles and in California.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Better to have politicians and experts who study the pressing issues of the day and go out on a limb rather than shrug their shoulders.
“It’s hard to do anything if you don’t have a vision,” said Jessica Bremner, a Cal State L.A. urban geography professor. Transit, housing and infrastructure needs won’t materialize without that vision, she added. “Nothing will move.”
Agreed. And all of us, not just politicians, want to believe there’s a better version of our community — a brighter future.
But there is a big difference between a vision and a hallucination, and we’ve had some of both in recent years.
Here’s a sampling:
A mobile phone user looks at an earthquake warning application. After the Northridge quake, the state passed a law requiring seismic upgrades of hospitals by 2030. As of 2023, nearly two-thirds had yet to complete the required improvements.
(Richard Vogel / Associated Press)
In 2022, California set a goal of eliminating the sale of gas-powered vehicles after 2035 — which would dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions — and reaching carbon neutrality by 2045.
After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the state did more than set a goal. It passed a law requiring hospitals to upgrade seismic safety by 2030.
Los Angeles, under Garcetti, championed Vision Zero in 2015. The goal? Eliminate traffic deaths by 2025. Not reduce, but eliminate.
Steve Lopez
Steve Lopez is a California native who has been a Los Angeles Times columnist since 2001. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist.
In 2020, the city embraced SmartLA 2028, a plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and gas-powered vehicles and build “a data-driven connected city, which addresses the digital divide and brings fresh ideas, including tele-health, clean tech and a switch to mass transit.”
In 2021, the California Master Plan for Aging set “five bold goals” to increase affordable housing and improve health, caregiving and economic security for older adults and those with disabilities by 2030.
In anticipation of L.A.’s hosting of the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, Metro introduced its “Twenty-eight by ‘28” initiative in 2018, outlining more than two dozen transit objectives.
The DTLA 2040 plan, adopted by the city in 2023, would add 70,000 housing units and 55,000 jobs over the next 15 years.
So how’s it all going?
The good news: There’s been a lot of progress.
The bad news: Where to begin?
Surely you’ll fall over backward when I tell you that funding shortages, politics, evolving priorities, lack of coordination, haphazard and disjointed planning, and less than stellar leadership have stymied progress on many fronts.
On homelessness, thousands have been housed and helped thanks to big initiatives and voter-approved resources. But as an observer once described it, we’ve been managing rather than solving the crisis and essentially bailing a leaky boat with a teaspoon. And now the agency at the helm is in disarray.
People experiencing homelessness pack their tents and belongings during the cleanup of an encampment on Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
On climate change, California deserves a big pat on the back for at least acknowledging the crisis and responding with big ideas. But the Trump administration, which is likely to hold steady up to and beyond the point at which Mar-a-Lago is underwater, has all but declared war on the Golden State’s good intentions, eliminating funding for key projects and challenging the state’s authority.
The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with Trump, Congress and fossil fuel companies in opposing the state’s ambitions. Meanwhile, a grim analysis last year, which can’t be blamed on Trump, said the state would have to triple the pace of progress to reach its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target.
As for the law requiring seismic upgrades of hospitals by 2030, as of 2023, nearly two-thirds had yet to complete the required improvements and many had asked for amendments and extensions.
L.A.’s Vision Zero, meanwhile, which promised the redesign of high-accident locations and multiple other safety upgrades for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, has been a singular embarrassment.
Rather than an elimination of traffic deaths, the number has surged, and an audit released earlier this year serves as an indictment of local leadership. It cited lack of accountability along with “conflicts of personality, lack of total buy-in for implementation, disagreements over how the program should be administered.”
“Incredibly disappointing,” said Michael Manville, a UCLA professor of urban planning. “The city remains incredibly dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians.”
Manville didn’t have very high grades, either, for Metro’s 28×28 foray.
“It’s a joke at this point,” he said, although even though he noted that some progress is undeniable, citing in particular the expected completion of the Purple Line extension to the Westside in time for the Olympics.
One morning in June, I stood on Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima with L.A. City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. She was looking to the north, in the direction of an empty promise.
“This is the home of the future San Fernando Valley Light Rail,” Rodriguez said. “It was supposed to be one of the 28 by 28, and we’re now looking at probably 2031 to 2032 for its completion … in a community that has a majority dependence … on public transit.”
We also visited the site of a proposed Sylmar fire station for which there was a groundbreaking ceremony about two decades ago. Rodriguez said with the adjacent hills turning brown as fire season approaches, Sylmar is long overdue for the station, but the city is hobbled by a massive budget deficit.
“Now I’ve just got to get the money to build it,” Rodriguez said.
An image from video shows the aftermath of a traffic collision involving three vehicles on the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway near Wilshire Boulevard. Former Mayor Eric Garcetti championed Vision Zero in 2015. The goal? Eliminate traffic deaths by 2025.
(KTLA)
Sometimes it seems as if the big goals are designed to redirect our attention from the failures of daily governance. Sure, there’s a 10-year wait to get your ruptured sidewalk fixed, but flying taxis are in the works for the Olympics.
And one convenient feature of long-term goals is that when 2035 or 2045 rolls around, few may remember who made the promises, or even recall what was promised.
In Professor Bremner’s vision of a rosier L.A. future, there would be more buses and trains on the lines that serve the Cal State L.A. transit station. She told me she talks to her students about the relationship between climate change and the car culture, and then watches them hustle after night classes to catch a bus that runs on 30-minute intervals or a train that rolls in once an hour.
As for the other big promises I mentioned, SmartLA 2028 lays out dozens of laudable but perhaps overly ambitious goals — “Los Angeles residents will experience an improved quality of life by leveraging technology to meet urban challenges. No longer the ‘car capital of the world’, residents will choose how they wish to get around LA, using a single, digital payment platform, with choices like renovated Metro rail and bus systems or micro transit choices, such as on-demand LANow shuttles or dockless bicycles.” But in the 50-page strategy document, the word “challenges” is mentioned quite a bit, and I worry that this particular reference could be the kiss of death:
“City of Los Angeles departments have varying funding sources, missions, and directives, which can inhibit unified, citywide Smart City technology initiatives.”
It’s a little too soon to know whether the DTLA 2040 goals will rank as vision or hallucination, but downtown is the logical place for high-density residential development and construction cranes are already on the job. As for the Master Plan for Aging, there’s been progress but also uncertainty about steady funding streams, particularly given current state budget miseries, and there’s no guarantee the plan will be prioritized by future governors.
“Goals are critical,” said Mark Gold, director of water scarcity solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “But they need to be followed up with implementation plans, with budgets, funding mechanisms, milestones and metrics.”
“That is nowhere close,” said Gold, but two other goals might be within reach. One is to have 70% of L.A.’s water locally sourced by 2035, the other is for 80% of county water to be local by 2045, using increased stormwater capture, recycled wastewater, groundwater remediation and conservation.
When he ran Heal the Bay, Gold implemented an annual report card for ocean water quality at various beaches. Maybe we ought to use the same system every time a politician takes a bow for introducing a bold, far-reaching goal.
Without the measuring stick, Gold said, “you end up looking back and saying, ‘remember when we were going to do this and that and it never happened?’ You have to continuously revisit and grade yourself on how you’re doing.”
Plans for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics are linked to a fleet of buses to transport people to and from venues like SoFi Stadium to avoid a traffic meltdown. The plan includes a $2-billion ask of the Trump administration to lease 2,700 buses to join Metro’s fleet of about 2,400.
(Deborah Netburn / Los Angeles Times)
While it’s true, Manville said, that “L.A. seems to be better at kicking off grand plans than seeing them through, that’s not unique to Los Angeles.”
He cited “Abundance” as one of several recent books making the case that “lots of cities in blue states can’t seem to get out of their own way.”
The failures of virtuous Democrats are indeed on full display in California and beyond. But the other side of the aisle is not without its own sins, beginning with cult-like denial of climate change and, speaking of empty promises, undying devotion to a man who said he would end the war in Ukraine before he took office and bring down grocery prices on Day One.
Would you rather live in a state crazy enough to still think it can build a bullet train and outlaw carbon, or in one of the many hurricane-battered states crazy enough to think this is a swell time to get rid of FEMA?
If you’re reaching for the stars, making it to the moon isn’t a bad start.
The Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter didn’t swing at the first two pitches he saw from San Diego Padres reliever Mason Miller — a fastball that registered at 102 miles per hour for a ball and an 89-mph slider — with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday night in Phoenix.
The Cuban-American batter then fouled off the next four pitches, three of which were fastballs thrown between 101 and 104 mph. Miller’s seventh pitch of the at-bat was another scorcher, but Gurriel made contact and this time kept the ball in fair territory.
It traveled 439 feet and landed in the left-field stands for a two-run home run. Miller’s pitch was clocked at 103.9 mph, making it the fastest pitch to be hit for a home run since MLB started pitch tracking in 2008.
“It’s something that just happened,” Gurriel said after the game through an interpreter.
Miller said of the pitch: “Location could have been better, for sure. Ultimately, the result is what it is. I’m not going to sit here and regret what pitch I threw. Just got it out over the plate, a little bit high.”
Gurriel’s blast, which left the park at 107.1 mph, tied the game at 5-5. Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, they couldn’t keep up the momentum against their National League West rivals and eventually lost 10-5 in 11 innings.
“The real meaning was in the time of the game and what it meant to the team to tie the ballgame. That was the most important thing,” Gurriel said of his historic homer. “I mean, unfortunately, it didn’t turn into a win, but that was the most exciting thing.”
It was Gurriel’s second home run of the game — he also hit a two-run homer off Padres starter Yu Darvish in the first inning — and his 14th of the season. Before Tuesday, Gurriel had not hit a home run since July 1.
Gurriel is the ninth player known to hit a home run off a ball thrown at 102 mph or faster and only the second player to do so off a pitch thrown faster than 103 mph. In September, Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs went yard off a 103.2-mph pitch.
That pitch also happened to be thrown by Miller, who was with the Athletics at the time before being acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline last week. In his second appearance for San Diego, Miller pitched one inning, giving up one hit and a walk with two strikeouts. One of his pitches was clocked at 104.2 mph, the fastest ever tracked for a Padres pitcher.
“It’s a weapon,” Miller said of his fastball after Tuesday’s game. “But you still need to put together an at-bat for the guy, and work with him, as far as his swings and his approach in there.”
1 of 2 | An image from NOAA’s advanced GOES-16 satellite of the thunderstorm helped verify the record size of a megaflash lightning bolt on October 22, 2017. Photo by NOAA
Aug. 5 (UPI) — A massive lightning bolt that stretched from eastern Texas to just outside of Kansas City, Mo., has been officially recognized as the largest recorded flash by the World Meteorological Organization.
The lightning bolt was generated by a major cluster of thunderstorms that swept over the Great Plains on Oct. 22, 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday. Researchers used advanced satellite technology to capture the flash’s enormous span, and they hope it will help them better understand how lightning affects people.
Despite the bolt having a horizontal distance of 515 miles, it was not identified in the original analysis of the thunderstorm and researchers took note of it during a recent re-examination, according to NOAA.
The World Meteorological Organization’s Committee on Weather and Climate Extremes used NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, the most advanced satellite technology available, to verify the length of the flash and recognize it as a new record, according to a press release from the organization.
Researchers had previously used data collected by ground-based technology to measure lightning flashes, according to the press release. The use of satellite technology allowed researchers to observe a larger area.
“Over time as the data record continues to expand, we will be able to observe even the rarest types of extreme lightning on Earth and investigate the broad impacts of lightning on society,” Michael J. Peterson, a researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Severe Storms Research Center and member of the committee, said in the press release.
The lightning bolt’s length is about the same distance between Paris, France, and Venice, Italy, according to the World Meteorological Organization. It would take about eight to nine hours to cover the same distance by car and about 90 minutes for a commercial plane.
The previous record was for a lightning bolt that spanned 477 miles across parts of the southern U.S. on April 29, 2020.
The Great Plains region is known for its large thunderstorms that also give rise to lightning “megaflashes” that extend over expansive distances or have longer durations. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said in a statement that while “lightning is a source of wonder,” it is also a deadly hazard.
“These new findings highlight important public safety concerns about electrified clouds which can produce flashes which travel extremely large distances and have a major impact on the aviation sector and can spark wildfires,” Saulo said.
Trump imposed tariffs on dozens of countries in advance of his August 1 deadline to strike trade deals.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order reimposing “reciprocal tariffs” ranging from 10 percent to 41 percent on US imports from dozens of countries and foreign locations.
Separately, Trump also signed an executive order late on Thursday that increased tariffs on certain Canadian goods, with the White House accusing Ottawa of failing to “cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs” entering the US.
In a statement on Thursday titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates”, the US listed some 69 trading partners and their respective “adjusted” tariff rates.
US-bound exports from some of Washington’s major trading partners – including Australia and the UK – will be subject to the baseline rate of 10 percent.
Other major trading partners – including India at 25 percent and Taiwan at 20 percent – have had higher rates imposed as slow-moving trade deal negotiations continue.
Trump cited the “continued lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships” in a statement on the White House website announcing the reimposition of the tariffs.
“I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 by imposing additional ad valorem duties on goods of certain trading partners,” he said.
The White House also published a fact sheet on the increase in Canada’s tariff rate. In the release, Trump lamented “Canada’s continued inaction and retaliation” on addressing the “flow of illicit drugs” into the US across its northern border.
“President Trump has found it necessary to increase the tariff on Canada from 25% to 35% to effectively address the existing emergency,” the White House said, adding that the new rates go into effect on August 1.
The fact-sheet said goods that qualify for preferential treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) would not be subject to tariffs.
Soon after returning to office in January, Trump declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), citing a “public health crisis caused by fentanyl and illicit drugs” flowing into the US from Canada.
The US is also set to implement new rules of origin to determine tariff rates on trans-shipped goods in the coming weeks, the Reuters news agency reports, citing an unnamed senior Trump administration official.
Transhipped goods are those moved between vessels at an intermediate destination during transit to their final destination. The technicalities of the rules are being worked out, the official added.
Details about the agreement, which US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social, are limited
United States President Donald Trump said he has reached a trade deal with the Philippines, charging it 19 percent tariff rate for goods it exports to the US, while US goods will pay zero tariffs.
The president announced the new agreement on Tuesday on his social media platform Truth Social shortly after his meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr at the White House.
“We concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform after welcoming Marcos to the White House.
The 19 percent tariff rate was just below the 20 percent threatened by Trump earlier this month, but above the 17 percent rate set in April when Trump announced what he called reciprocal tariff rates for dozens of countries. It matches the 19 percent rate announced for Indonesia and bests Vietnam’s slightly higher rate of 20 percent.
The US had a deficit of nearly $5bn with the Philippines last year on bilateral goods trade of $23.5bn.
Marcos, the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump in his second term, told reporters at the start of the meeting that the US was his country’s “strongest, closest, most reliable ally”.
Trump said the two Pacific allies would also work together militarily but gave no details.
Philippine Assistant Foreign Secretary Raquel Solano said last week that trade officials have been working with US counterparts seeking to seal a “mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial” deal.
Protesters gathered near the White House as Marcos arrived, demanding the Philippine leader address the pleas of Filipino Americans and migrant workers who have made multiple requests for support amid US immigration raids.
Trump underscored the importance of the US-Philippine military relationship, saying, “They’re a very important nation militarily, and we’ve had some great drills lately.”
Marcos, who arrived in Washington on Sunday, met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday. During his trip, he will also meet US business leaders investing in the Philippines. Philippine officials say Marcos planned to stress that Manila must become economically stronger if it is to serve as a truly robust partner to the US in the Asia Pacific region.
Looming pressure on China
During the Oval Office event, Trump said he may visit China for a landmark trip “in the not-too-distant future” and noted the Philippines had distanced itself from Beijing after his election last November.
“The country was maybe tilting toward China, but we un-tilted it very, very quickly,” Trump said.
The US president has sought to lower tensions with Beijing in recent weeks after pausing a tit-for-tat tariff war that has upended global trade and supply chains. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday he would meet with Chinese officials in Sweden next week.
No comment was immediately available from Marcos, who did not speak to reporters before leaving the White House grounds.
A new Freedom Flotilla ship, the Handala, has departed from Italy for an attempt to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and deliver essential aid. The last vessel to make the journey, the Madleen, was seized by Israeli forces in international waters in June.
Lionel Messi sets a new MLS record as first player to score multiple goals in four straight league games.
Lionel Messi scored twice in the first half of Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Wednesday, continuing a run of form unprecedented in Major League Soccer (MLS).
The 38-year-old Argentinian star has scored two goals in each of his last four MLS games to become the first MLS player to score multiple goals in four straight games.
He launched the record streak in late May with two goals in a 4-2 win over Montreal, followed by two in a 5-1 victory over Columbus.
Miami then paused their MLS campaign to compete in the Club World Cup – where Messi scored one goal in four matches and Miami were eliminated in the round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain.
Javier Mascherano’s team returned to MLS action on Saturday with a 4-1 victory at Montreal – also prompted by a brace from eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.
In all, Messi has 14 goals in 15 MLS games, putting him two behind leading scorer Sam Surridge, who has appeared in six more games for Nashville than Messi has played this season.
“Obviously, Leo is a special player,” Mascherano said. “For me, he’s the best player that has played this sport in history. It’s unbelievable how he continues doing things that maybe many years ago we thought that we cannot see at this moment.”
Messi put Miami up 1-0 in the 27th minute at Gillette Stadium, taking advantage of a Revolution miscue and firing a left-footed shot from the heart of the area.
The Argentinian star doubled the score 11 minutes later, charging onto a long through ball from Sergio Busquets and curling a left-footed shot beyond the reach of Slovenian goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic.
Messi strikes the ball at goal during the MLS regular season match between New England Revolution and Inter Miami CF at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 9, 2025 [Joseph Prezioso/AFP]
“They have played for many years so just when they see each other they connect and they know what they think,” Mascherano said of the Busquets-Messi connection. “In the second goal, Busquets understands when and where Leo wants the ball. It’s fantastic for us.”
Veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari also starred for Miami, coming up with six saves before Spaniard Carles Gil managed to put one by him, picking off Tadeo Allende in the 79th minute and rifling in a shot from outside the box.
With the victory, Miami climbed from sixth to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. On 35 points, they are seven points behind leaders FC Cincinnati, but with three fewer matches played after their Club World Cup break.
Their jam-packed July schedule continues on Saturday against Nashville, one of three matches in the next 10 days.
Mascherano said New England’s late goal meant he couldn’t afford to take Messi out.
“We know that at some point we have to find the moment to rest him,” he said.
Sinner started the match as the heavy favourite after a week of serene progress.
The 23-year-old had dropped just 17 games and spent only five hours and 23 minutes on court – less time than the entirety of his epic French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz – on his way to reaching the fourth round.
But it was a different story against the experienced Dimitrov – the first seeded player Sinner has come up against so far.
Dimitrov was alert, adaptable and quick, returning everything Sinner threw at him in a dominant display, and a break of serve at the first opportunity stunned a crowd expecting to watch another demolition job.
It proved to be decisive in the opener as Dimitrov produced a magnificent serving display, saving the sole break point he faced before closing out the first set.
Sinner looked nervy and, with Dimitrov going an immediate break up in the second set, struggled to find any momentum to get back into the contest.
Love Island fans think they’ve cracked Dejon’s ‘petty’ Casa Amor strategy, claiming he’s deliberately stirring the pot and setting the other boys up to take the fall for drama he’s quietly orchestrating
Love Island fans work out Dejon’s ‘petty’ gameplan as he sets other boys up(Image: ITV/Love Island)
Love Island fans have worked out Dejon’s ‘petty’ gameplan in Casa Amor to make him look better than all of the other boys. Since the show kicked off at beginning of June, Dejon has been coupled-up with Meg as they remain the strongest couple in the villa.
Just days before Casa Amor kicked off, the smitten pair proved that they were stronger than ever after Dejon shot down Irish bombshell Billykiss after she confronted him for not exploring any other options in the villa and sticking with Meg the whole time.
Dejon told Billykiss that he had zero interest in getting to know her or anyone else for that matter because Meg was the only one for him. And it looks as though Dejon is sticking to his guns as he set the other boys up for failure within minutes of entering Casa Amor.
He wasted no time in suggesting that the islanders play a cheeky game of truth or dare before daring the other boys to kiss the girls they fancy the most. The game even brought about a confession from the sweetest boy in the villa, Tommy, who revealed that he was interested in getting to know the new girls – despite the fact that he had shared his devotion to Emily hours before.
Dejon’s tactics didn’t go unnoticed by eagle-eyed viewers who called out his ‘sneaky’ actions on X. One viewer penned: “Dejon we all know your PETTY plan to make you look better and more loyal than all the rest of boys, but it ain’t working mate.”
“Dejon just gives f**kboy energy to the core. I don’t believe for a second that he actually likes Meg! Nobody likes Meg,” another quipped. Someone else echoed: “I just do not trust Dejon one bit. I don’t think he really is who he’s making out to be on TV.”
After suggesting the game of Truth or Dare, things quickly heated up fast as Ben dived in with a bold three-way kiss, including Harry’s ex, Emma.
Harry then soon came face to face with his ex girlfriend Emma, who greeted him with a cheeky: “Surprise!” He later confirmed the ‘E’ tattoo on his wrist is, indeed, for her.
As the Islanders chatted about their types, Yaz said she needs emotional depth in a partner. Emma didn’t miss a beat, leaning toward Harry and saying: “Well that’s you out.”
After the shock of her entrance, Harry and his ex Emma finally caught up, and he said: “I don’t need you to come and tell me off.” But Emma has no plans to stay quiet as she called him out on his bad behaviour with Helena.
“It’s disgraceful though… like, how are you still doing the same thing?” she said. “The way you’ve been moving with Helena honestly… you two deserve each other… two snakes.”
Love Island host Maya Jama shut down ‘fix’ rumours after fans claimed the producers are ‘too involved’ in what happens in the programme
07:26, 01 Jul 2025Updated 07:26, 01 Jul 2025
Maya Jama sets record straight on Love Island ‘fix’ rumours amid fan complaints(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Love Island host Maya Jama has hit back at claims producers are ‘too involved’ in what happens in the show. The ITV2 star, who is the face of the popular dating programme, claimed that the show is “real” but producers do step in to “encourage” the islanders to have specific talks with each other.
During her appearance on The Chunkz Show, she insisted she gets results about who gets dumped from the villa at the same time as all the other contestants. Maya admitted: “I’ve never said the wrong name, but there are cameras constantly around and they like the dramatic pauses.
Maya said the producers only ‘encourage’ the stars to chat(Image: YouTube/The Chunkz Show)
“There is a lot of me saying something and then it waits. It’s funny with the new Islanders, where they’re not used to me saying something and then pausing for ages and they’re all looking around like ‘is she frozen?’.
“I feel so awkward for them because they’re just standing there in their little outfits.” She went on to tell host Chunkz that the producers don’t get involve but ‘encourage’ the stars to talk to each other.
“I don’t know if it’s illegal or what but they can’t tell them what to do,” Maya said. “The ’most they can do is encourage them to have a little chat, but it has to be real because it’s reality.
Fans complained about the new heart rate challenge(Image: ITV)
“I do this technique where I don’t let them tell me who’s going until I’m stood in front of them in my ear because I don’t want to stare at the person or give away.”
She added: “Literally as I say it, I find out one second before anyone else.” Meanwhile, fans recently had another complaint when it came to a fan-favourite challenge of the show.
After the recoupling came the Heart Rate Challenge but fans were left fuming when they realised an iconic part of the show had been changed. Instead of sitting around the firepit, the Islanders were sat in a row on chairs.
The Islanders were over the moon when Shakira read out a text that said: “Islanders, it’s time to get each others’ pulses racing in tonight’s Boys vs Girls challenge. #HeartthrobMode #BootyandBeats”.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans complained about the change. One said: “this might be the worst heart rate challenge in history… why are they sitting on wooden chairs.”
Another responded: “Why the f**k are they in these chairs and not around the fire pit this show is losing it’s traditions.”
“I just know trying to dance on them on those plastic chairs is so uncomfortable and awkward,” as a fourth wrote: “I think I’m gonna die of cringe somehow them being on chairs makes this worse.”
Lakers superstar LeBron James will once again make NBA history by playing in his 23rd NBA season.
James exercised his player option for $52.6 million to play for the Lakers during the 2025-26 season, his agent and CEO of Klutch Sports Rich Paul told The Times on Sunday morning.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, had been tied with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in the NBA at 22. This will be James’ eighth season with the Lakers.
James, 40, is 50 games away from breaking Hall of Famer Robert Parish’s record for the most games played in the regular season.
James averaged 24.4 points per game last season, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds.
Fellow Laker Dorian Finney-Smith reportedly declined his $15.3-million player option and will pursue free agency, a person with knowledge of his decision told The Times. Finney-Smith, who is coming off a strong season with the Lakers, is expected to be pursued by multiple teams. He could still return to the Lakers. ESPN was first to report Finney-Smith’s decision.
Last week, Austin Reaves declined the team’s maximum offer of four years for $89 million, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Reaves, 27, still has two years left on his deal, for $13.9 million next season and $14.9 million in the 2026-27 season, and he holds a player option for the last year of his deal.
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and teammate Austin Reaves react to a referee’s call during a 2025 NBA playoff game against Minnesota.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
He was third on the Lakers in scoring last season, averaging career-highs in scoring (20.2), assists (5.8), rebounds (4.5) and minutes per game (34.9). He shot 46% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range.
With the James and Smith player option questions resolved Sunday, the Lakers are focused on filling out their roster. They added an athletic wing player when they acquired Adou Thiero in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who drafted him with the 36th pick in the second round.
The most pressing need for the Lakers remains a center, and they’ll have to look into free agency or via trade to acquire one.
The Lakers have the taxpayer mid-level exception of about $5.65 million to spend.
“As I said at the end of the year, we know one of the things we have to address is the center position and that’s clearly going to be one of our focuses as we begin the free-agency period,” Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, told Spectrum SportsNet after the second round of the draft Thursday. “… “So, we’re looking forward to just putting in the hard work and making sure we take care of all the needs on the roster to give [Lakers coach] JJ [Redick] the tools he needs for this team to be great next season.”
The Department of Homeland Security says the gang-riddled Caribbean country is safe enough for Haitians to return.
The United States government has announced it will terminate special protections for Haitian immigrants.
In a statement issued Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that, starting on September 2, Haitians would no longer be able to remain in the country under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation.
TPS allows nationals from countries facing conflict, natural disaster or other extraordinary circumstances to temporarily remain in the US. It also gives them the right to work and travel.
The designation is typically made for periods of six, 12 or 18 months, but that can be extended by the DHS secretary.
But under the administration of President Donald Trump, temporary protections like TPS have been pared back, as part of a broader push to limit immigration to the US.
“This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary,” a DHS spokesperson said in Friday’s statement.
Haiti first received the TPS designation in 2010, when a devastating earthquake killed more than 200,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless – more than a 10th of the population. The designation has been routinely extended and expanded, particularly as gang violence and political instability worsened in recent years.
Since his first term in office, from 2017 to 2021, President Trump has sought to strip TPS for Haitians, even as conditions have deteriorated in the Caribbean island nation.
Today, Haiti faces a protracted humanitarian crisis, with more than 5,600 people killed by gangs last year and 1.3 million displaced. Armed groups now control up to 90 percent of the capital, and food, water and medical services are extremely difficult to come by.
The US Department of State has placed a travel advisory on Haiti, listing it as a Level 4 country, the highest warning level.
Level 4 signifies “do not travel”, as there are life-threatening conditions in the designated area. The State Department advises Americans to avoid Haiti “due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care”.
The DHS statement, however, notes that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem “determined that, overall, country conditions have improved to the point where Haitians can return home in safety”.
“She further determined that permitting Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States,” the statement adds.
An estimated 260,000 Haitians have TPS. The statement advises that those affected can either pursue another immigration status or return home.
But Haitians are not the only group to face the revocation of their temporary immigration status.
In early May, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to revoke TPS for 350,000 Venezuelans living in the US.
Later in the month, the high court also ruled that Trump can revoke the two-year “humanitarian parole” that allowed 530,000 people to legally remain and work in the US. The affected humanitarian parole recipients included Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans, all of whom face instability and political repression in their home countries.
Trump officials have also moved to end TPS for 7,600 Cameroonians and 14,600 Afghans. But critics note that fighting continues to rage in Cameroon, and in Afghanistan, the Taliban government is accused of perpetrating widespread human rights abuses.
Cardi B, entering the newest phase of her rap career, has just one question in mind: “Am I the Drama?”
That’s the title for the Grammy winner’s long-anticipated sophomore album, which she unveiled Monday on social media. The “Bodak Yellow” artist, 32, announced “Am I the Drama?” will drop Sept. 19, seven years after she made her splashy debut with 2018’s “Invasion of Privacy.”
The aptly dramatic “Am I the Drama?” cover art features Cardi B in an abstract red body suit and matching fishnet tights grabbing the heel of one of her sky-high platform pumps. The image also features a raven resting on her shoe and even more of them swarming around her.
Cardi B hinted at her album and its raven motif Sunday in a theatrical teaser as she reflected on “seven years of love, life and loss” and trading in grace for hell.
“I learned power’s not given. It’s taken,” the Bronx native says. “I’m shedding feathers and no more tears. I’m not back. I’m beyond.”
Cardi B broke out with “Bodak Yellow” almost a year before she released “Invasion of Privacy” in April 2018. Times critic Mikael Wood in his review commended the rapper for her relatability — “through her words and delivery … the songs make you feel like she’s speaking directly to you.”
At the 2019 Grammy Awards, Cardi B won a top honor and made history while doing so: She became the first woman to win the rap album category as a solo artist.
Cardi B continued to gain popularity over the following years for hits including “I Like It” with J Balvin and Bad Bunny, and “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion. The latter, and Cardi B’s recent singles “Up” and “Outside,” will be among the 23 songs on the new album, according to the tracklist preview on Spotify.
“Am I the Drama?” will arrive as Cardi B also marks new milestones in her personal life.
Earlier this year, the “Hustlers” actor made her romance with NFL star Stefon Diggs official after parting ways with Migos rapper Offset. She also became a mother for a third time in September when she welcomed her daughter Blossom Belles, with Offset. They also share 6-year-old daughter Kulture and 3-year-old son Wave.
The Vatican announced Friday that Pope Leo XIV will canonize Italian teen Carlo Acutis, who died from cancer almost 20 years ago, in a ceremony on the first Sunday of September. Acutis will be become the first millennial saint. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI | License Photo
June 13 (UPI) — An Italian teenager dubbed “God’s Influencer” is to become the first saint from the millennial generation Sept. 7, after Pope Leo XIV announced the date of his canonization in the Vatican on Friday.
British-born Carlo Acutis, a keen computer gamer who died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15, will be declared a saint by Leo in a St. Peter’s Square ceremony, after the Holy See verified two miracles attributed to him and in recognition of his use of Internet technology to spread the Catholic faith.
Approved back in July under the previous pontificate of the late Pope Francis, Acutis will be canonized along with another candidate recognized by Francis, Pier Giorgio Frassati, who died in 1924 at age 24.
“This morning, Pope Leo XIV presided over the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Canonization of the Blesseds, announcing that these Italian young men will be inscribed in the Register of Saints on the first Sunday of the month [of September],” the Vatican said in a social media post.
Acutis, a typical jeans and sneakers-wearing teen who has emerged as a poster boy for the church and helped to attract a new generation of younger adherents, was beatified in 2020 after a Brazilian boy unable to eat normally due to a birth defect was allegedly cured after his mother prayed to Acutis.
The second miracle in May 2024 involved a Costa Rican student with a severe, life-threatening head trauma from a cycling accident in Florence, which resolved after her mother prayed to Acutis at his tomb in Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis.
The Pontiff’s Office for Liturgical Celebrations also named seven other candidates, who are to be be canonized on the third Sunday of October.
On Monday night, Summer McIntosh won the 200-meter individual medley at the 2025 Canadian swimming trials to set her second world record in just three days.
She had already achieved one world record at the trials in Victoria.
McIntosh won the 200-meter individual medley in 2 minutes, 5.7 seconds. The previous world record of 2:06.12, set by Hungary’s Katinka Hosszú, had stood for 10 years.
After shaving a second off her previous best time on the backstroke leg, McIntosh was still a tenth of a second off Hosszú’s previous record pace at the final turn. But McIntosh crushed the freestyle leg in 29.65 seconds, another personal best, to finish in world-record time.
“It’s been one of those records that’s always been in the back of my mind since trials two years ago,” the 18-year-old Toronto native said afterward. “I’ve been knocking on the door on this one. I’ve just tried to chip away, chip away at it. To finally do it, it’s kind of like ‘Wow, I’ve finally got that done.’”
Two days earlier, McIntosh had reclaimed the world record in the 400 freestyle. She first set the mark with 3:56.18 in 2023, but was bested the same year by Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus’ 3:55.38. But on Saturday, McIntosh was back on top of the world after swimming a 3:54.18.
“That last 100, I’m usually really, really hurting. But I flipped at the 200, and I was just cruising,” McIntosh said. “I knew I was having a strong swim and I could tell by the crowd and the way they were cheering that I was probably close to the world record, so I really tried to push that last part for them.”
In between those two historic swims, McIntosh also improved on her Canadian record in the 800 freestyle, with a time of 8:05.07. U.S. swimming star Katie Ledecky holds the world record in that event after finishing in 8:04.12 at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last month.
McIntosh won four medals at the Paris Olympics last year — three golds (200 butterfly, 200 and 400 IM) and one silver (400 freestyle). She holds the world record in the 400 IM; she swam it in 4:24.38 at last year’s Canadian swimming finals.
With three more days of competition, is there a chance she’ll grab a fourth world record before the event is over? Maybe. The 400 IM is scheduled for Wednesday.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s daughter Gracie McGraw has clarified her coming out journey.
On Monday (2 June), the eldest child of the country music icons celebrated the start of Pride Month with a post on her Instagram story.
“EVERYONE GET MORE GAY NOW. HAPPY FREAKING PRIDE. I love being queer,” she wrote.
Shortly after uploading the joyous message, an array of media outlets interpreted Gracie’s post as a coming-out announcement, resulting in them reporting it as such.
However, it didn’t take long for the 28-year-old to shut down the claims and reveal that she’s been out and proud.
“It has come to my attention that some tabloids have taken an Instagram story I posted yesterday and have used it as clickbait, saying I’ve come out. Let me be VERY clear here… I have been an out and proud queer, bisexual woman, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she wrote.
“I have and will always be very vocal about my support of LGBTQIA+ rights and the community, but thank you very much to these tabloids for shedding light that it’s pride month!!!”
Instagram: @graciemcgra
Gracie went on to deliver an inspiring message to other LGBTQIA+ people who may not have the support, love or understanding from their families.
“Just know that there is a beautiful community out there that loves you and cares about and for you!! Check on your people and keep safe out there. Give love to each other. GM,” she concluded.
While Tim and Faith have not commented on Gracie’s posts, they have expressed their love and support for their daughter in the past.
In 2020, Tim gushed about his eldest daughter’s acting career in LA, telling PEOPLE: “She makes me proud every day because she’s such a strong, independent young lady who speaks her mind. She makes me proud every day of the way she lives her life.”
Instagram: @graciemcgra
While Gracie has been openly queer for some time now, there are a handful of public figures who have recently come out.
Check out all the celebrities who’ve come out as LGBTQ+ in 2025 (so far) here.
In a world trying to erase LGBTQIA+ stories, we keep writing them. Join our mission as shareholders in Gay Times and help us fight for your rights. Find out more at investors.gaytimes.com.
The 12-person crew, which includes climate activist Greta Thunberg, expects to take seven days to reach Gaza.
International nonprofit organisation Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) says one of its vessels has left Sicily to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, after a previous attempt failed due to a drone attack on a different ship in the Mediterranean.
The 12-person crew, which includes Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Irish actor Liam Cunningham and Franco-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, set sail on the Madleen from the port of Catania on Sunday, carrying barrels of relief supplies that the group called “limited amounts, though symbolic”.
The voyage comes after another vessel operated by the group, the Conscience, was hit by two drones just outside Maltese territorial waters in early May. While FFC said Israel was to blame for the incident, it has not responded to requests for comment.
“We are doing this because no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity,” Thunberg told reporters at a news conference before the departure. The Swedish climate activist had been due to board the Conscience.
She added that “no matter how dangerous this mission is, it is nowhere near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the lives being genocised”.
The activists expect to take seven days to reach their destination, if they are not stopped.
The FCC, launched in 2010, is a non-violent international movement supporting Palestinians, combining humanitarian aid with political protest against the blockade on Gaza.
It said the trip “is not charity. This is a non-violent, direct action to challenge Israel’s illegal siege and escalating war crimes”.
United Nations agencies and major aid groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza’s roughly two million inhabitants.
The situation in Gaza is at its worst since the war between Israel and Hamas began 19 months ago, the UN said on Friday, despite a resumption of limited aid deliveries in the Palestinian enclave.
Under growing global pressure, Israel ended an 11-week blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing extremely limited UN-led operations to resume.
On Monday, a new avenue for aid distribution was also launched: the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the United States and Israel, but with the UN and international aid groups refusing to work with it, saying it is not neutral and has a distribution model that forces the displacement of Palestinians.
The FCC is the latest among a growing number of critics to accuse Israel of genocidal acts in its war in Gaza, allegations Israel vehemently denies.
“We are breaking the siege of Gaza by sea, but that’s part of a broader strategy of mobilisations that will also attempt to break the siege by land,” said activist Thiago Avila.
Avila also mentioned the upcoming Global March to Gaza – an international initiative also open to doctors, lawyers and members of the media – which is set to leave Egypt and reach the Rafah crossing in mid-June to stage a protest there, calling on Israel to stop the Gaza offensive and reopen the border.
