Author: Rasmita Jena

On Thursday in Cape Town, South Africa, health groups and charities were shocked and angry when they heard the Trump administration decided to cut 90% of foreign aid contracts from USAID. This means that important programs that help people with food, health, and emergency assistance around the world will lose funding, leaving millions in danger.

One group, InterAction, said this decision will hurt many vulnerable people, leading to hunger and disease. They warned that “women and children will go hungry, and families will struggle.” Instead of keeping people safe, this could create more problems like instability and migration.

The U.S. government is stopping about $60 billion in aid because they believe it doesn’t help American interests. This means thousands of contracts with NGOs will end, which many say is a huge blow to American foreign aid.

Liz Schrayer, a leader of a non-profit organization, said that this decision could allow countries like China, Russia, and Iran to gain more power and influence around the world.

In South Africa, health organizations mentioned that many programs aimed at treating HIV will end, affecting thousands of people. USAID plays a large role in fighting diseases like HIV and tuberculosis, and the cuts can put these programs at serious risk.

Critics, including Trump and his advisor Elon Musk, argue that foreign aid is wasteful and supports a liberal agenda. They are making deep cuts to these programs quickly, and many organizations have received letters saying their funding is being terminated because it doesn’t match U.S. priorities.

After the cuts, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced a waiver program to save some funding, but many essential services still lost support.

Many USAID workers received just a short time to clear their workspaces amid the cuts. This rapid change has left many programs and the people they help in a difficult position.

In a surprising move, President Donald Trump fired Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the top leader of the U.S. military, along with five other high-ranking officials. This decision stirred up a lot of talk because people admired Brown for his service. He was only the second African American to hold this important position in U.S. history.

When Trump confirmed Brown as the Air Force chief of staff in 2020, he celebrated the decision on social media. But when he fired Brown and the others on February 21, he was much quieter about it. Critics worry that this move mixes politics into the military, which is usually nonpartisan.

Republican senators mostly defended Trump’s right to make these changes. Sen. Mike Rounds said he thought Brown had done a great job but acknowledged Trump’s ability to choose his team. Sen. Thom Tillis compared this situation to when President Barack Obama made military changes.

Gen. Brown, along with Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the Navy, and other top officials, was dismissed in a rare shakeup. Some Republicans backed the president, saying he has the right to change military leaders.

Others, like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, criticized the firings and said it showed that political loyalty mattered more than skill. Brown’s dismissal was especially noted because he had spoken out about race in the military after the murder of George Floyd.

A bipartisan group of House members asked for clear rules about firing military leaders, emphasizing the importance of keeping the military apolitical. Sen. Susan Collins expressed her view that Brown and the others had been doing well in their roles. In contrast, some, like Rep. Derrick Van Orden, approved of the firings, saying it was time for a new start at the Department of Defense.

Trump announced that retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine would replace Brown. While Caine had a solid military background, he didn’t meet every requirement to be chairman, but Trump can overlook those rules. Some see this as a way to bring in new perspectives.

Democrats, however, worry this could hurt recruitment and retention in the military, as it suggests the president’s political views matter more than talent and experience. Sen. Richard Blumenthal expressed strong concerns about the message these firings send.

After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, French President Francois Mitterrand reassured the US, saying that Europe was far from having its own defense. There were too many obstacles: the UK was hesitant, Ireland was neutral, and reunited Germany seemed lost on what role it should play.

Fast forward nearly 40 years, and things are starting to change in Germany with a new leader, Friedrich Merz. He wants Europe to take defense more seriously, especially since the US, under President Donald Trump, seems less reliable to help against threats like Russia. “America First” is pushing Europe to work together on defense, much like how Mitterrand once helped set the groundwork for the euro in exchange for Germany’s reunification.

Although Merz’s new coalition is just getting started, he’s pushing for Germany to spend big—up to €200 billion (about $210 billion) —to strengthen its defense. He’s sounding alarms about the urgent need for action, noting that time is running out. This could lead Germany to change its old ways of being careful with money and focus more on spending for security.

Rethinking its defense spending could lead to new partnerships, especially in areas like sharing nuclear capabilities with France. Experts say that a strong partnership between Germany’s financial resources and France’s defense goals could emerge from this new thinking.

This shift is particularly important now as Germany and France tackle challenges like economic slowdown, rising right-wing politics, and the need for more unity in Europe. Leaders like Mario Draghi have urged Germany to take action amid growing concerns over security and trade competitiveness.

Merz’s approach could also strengthen ties with countries like Poland, which has become a major defense spender in Europe. Together, France, Germany, and Poland could create a united front against external pressures.

However, some people still worry about Germany returning to a more powerful role in Europe, especially after previous leaders were criticized for strict economic policies. But there is a sense of optimism that Europe is starting to move forward.

The son of Dong Yuyu, a Chinese journalist in prison, is asking for his father’s release after he was sentenced to seven years for spying. Dong Yuyu was taken by the police in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. His son, Dong Yifu, spoke at the National Press Club in Washington and said his dad plans to appeal his conviction. He argued that the meetings with the diplomat were about journalism, not spying.

“It’s about press freedom and human rights,” said Dong Yifu. China’s Foreign Ministry has not responded to requests for comments on this case.

Dong Yuyu used to be a top editor at Guangming Daily, a newspaper that has become less open to new ideas over the years. He wrote about democracy and political reform, but those topics are now discouraged by the government. Dong Yuyu had also studied at Harvard University and in Japan.

His arrest shocked many in China, especially journalists and diplomats, because it’s normal for reporters to meet with diplomats when gathering news. His son mentioned that in court, it was revealed that eight meetings with Japanese diplomats were used as evidence against his father.

In November, a Chinese court sentenced him to seven years for espionage. The former U.S. Ambassador, Nicholas Burns, stated that the conviction was unfair.

Japan’s Assistant Foreign Secretary, Masashi Mizobuchi, said that all meetings at the Japanese Embassy in China are standard diplomatic work. The Japanese government expressed concern that the ruling would harm friendly exchanges between people in China and Japan.

Despite being in prison, Dong Yuyu is staying healthy. His son said he does 200 push-ups and leg raises every day, but he only gets a few hours of sunlight each year and is not allowed to see his wife. Dong Yuyu can meet with his lawyer once a month, who brings him letters from his wife. His father also wrote a 45-page letter for his appeal.

Recently, the U.S. State Department called for Dong Yuyu’s immediate release. Reporters Without Borders, an organization promoting press freedom, reported that China has more than 100 journalists in prison and often accuses them of espionage to silence them.