Latest news with #sub-SaharanAfrican
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
The 1600: R.I.P. U.S.A.I.D.
x Mandel NGAN / AFP/Getty Images The Insider's Track Good morning, How is it these short weeks always feel longer than normal weeks? Just think... under my administration, we'd all be on the back nine of our federally mandated Freedom Weeks holiday right now... So nearly 100 emails later, I think I have responded to everyone who wrote in to boo/cheer my rant against the Boomers. The emails were actually not as bad as I feared. Thank you guys for mixing it up with me. Keeps things interesting. Today I was going to discuss the latest developments with the tax bill, which has somehow managed to balloon by hundreds of billions of dollars in the hands of the Senate. They're supposed to be the fiscally responsible chamber of Congress! Politico has a good read this morning examining how this legislation has changed, if you're interested. But something else happened yesterday that got virtually no attention which I wanted to highlight. U.S.A.I.D. is officially D.E.A.D. As of July 1, the international aid organization has ceased its job of doling out foreign assistance, and whatever remains of the gutted agency is being folded into State. Marco Rubio made the announcement by way of a post on Substack. Yes, the State Department is on Substack. (Aside: this White House is putting on a masterclass in political communications strategy. The media doesn't like to talk about it because it reminds people how irrelevant we've become when the administration can get out its message without needing to go through us. But Trump has rewritten the playbook for presidential comms, and whoever comes next will have to operate under the rules of this new world). Back to Marco. His post on the end of U.S.A.I.D., titled Making Foreign Aid Great Again, is worth the quick read. His thesis is essentially that the agency got too bloated, with a "near-infinite taxpayer budget" and little to show for it. The piece is very revealing for how the admin thinks America's role in the developing world should be. Here's the line that really stuck out to me: On the global stage, the countries that benefit the most from our generosity usually fail to reciprocate. For example, in 2023, sub-Saharan African nations voted with the United States only 29 percent of the time on essential resolutions at the UN despite receiving $165 billion in outlays since 1991. That's the lowest rate in the world. Over the same period, more than $89 billion invested in the Middle East and North Africa left the U.S. with lower favorability ratings than China in every nation but Morocco. This idea that our generosity needs to be "reciprocated" in the form of UN votes is new. Where the hell did that come from? Seriously? And could it be that the reason the US has such unfavorables in the Middle East and North Africa is less about the aid we give them and more about the wars we can't stop involving ourselves in? As a normal person, I don't look at every way my tax dollars are spent as a zero-sum "what did I get in return" proposition. I don't sit around counting how many times Botswana voted differently from the US to determine whether we should provide them with HIV meds they wouldn't otherwise get. It's just a very cold, Randian way of looking at the world. Having a robust foreign aid operation is about soft power and influence. But it's also just morally the right thing to do when you're the richest, most powerful country to ever exist. Is there waste and abuse? Sure, there always is. Did U.S.A.I.D. suffer from mission creep? Sure. We joked back when they first started gutting it about all the ridiculous programs the agency was funding (promoting financial literacy for women in Afghanistan was my personal favorite). But terminating the entirety of America's foreign humanitarian workforce, as the shuttering of U.S.A.I.D. effectively does, is a moral abomination in my opinion. Most Americans won't even notice, but it will have real-world impacts. A former U.S.A.I.D. executive wrote in the NYT this week about how we spent $2B in 2022 to respond to the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, and in doing so probably saved 2 or 3 million lives. Our aid there translated to $6 a year in taxes for the average US household—or less than I paid for that iced coffee over the weekend, which I didn't even finish. The WaPo has a devastating piece of reporting about how doctors in Sudan are already seeing children—babies!—die because they can't get antibiotics that were coming from the US. You can hem and haw about why other countries in Africa aren't helping their neighbors, or why other big developed nations are so much less generous than us. But the fact is we always have been. And we did it without asking for anything in return or trying to justify it as an expenditure. That means something. Or at least it did. The Rundown With only days remaining before the 90-day pause on President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs expires, the administration has yet to unveil even a fraction of the trade deals that were promised at the outset. Members of his cabinet initially aimed to secure "90 deals in 90 days," but are now poised to fall short of this goal, having only secured one bona fide deal, a single set of preliminary agreements, while hinting that a handful more are on their way. Read more. Also happening: Trump-Musk: Elon Musk has appeared to ease his feud with President Trump after praising his foreign policy achievements. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO said Trump should get "credit where credit is due" after the White House announced that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. Here's the latest. Iran nuclear decision: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending his country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, state media reported. "We are aware of these reports," an IAEA spokesman told Newsweek. "The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran." Read more. This is a preview of The 1600—Tap here to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
Morocco World
23-06-2025
- Morocco World
Morocco Seizes 92.9 Kilograms of Cocaine in El Guerguerat
Rabat – Morocco's police, in collaboration with customs at the Guerguerat border crossing, foiled an international drug trafficking on Sunday, seizing 92.9 kilograms of cocaine. A security source said that border inspection and search operations enabled security services to discover a drug shipment that had been meticulously concealed in the cavities of the fuel tank of a Moroccan-registered international freight truck coming from a sub-Saharan African country. During the security operation, police arrested a 25-year-old suspect for his alleged involvement in the drug trafficking operation. Police opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the case and identify all individuals involved in the case. Moroccan police have been active in thwarting many similar operations across the country. In May, Moroccan police thwarted a drug operation, seizing 3.85 tons of cannabis that was concealed in two utility vehicles during simultaneous operations near Oued Zem, a city 156 kilometers from Casablanca. In 2024, police processed 92,346 drug-trafficking-related cases, arresting 119,692 individuals during a dozen security operations throughout the year. The arrested suspects included 287 foreigners. During the same year, police also seized 123 tons and 971 kilograms of cannabis resin, 1.94 tons of cocaine, and 16.53 kilograms of heroin. Tags: combat drug traffickingdrug trafficking
Ya Biladi
23-06-2025
- Ya Biladi
Nearly 93 kg of cocaine hidden in fuel tank seized at El Guerguerat border
A joint operation by Moroccan police and customs officers at the El Guerguerat border crossing, south of Dakhla, on Sunday, June 22, thwarted an international drug trafficking attempt and led to the seizure of 92.9 kilograms of cocaine. Border control checks and inspection procedures uncovered the cocaine hidden in concealed compartments inside the fuel tank of a Moroccan-registered international freight truck arriving from a sub-Saharan African country. The truck's 25-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the smuggling operation. According to a press release, a preliminary investigation has been launched under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor's office to determine the full circumstances of the case, identify all those involved, and trace any national or international links to the criminal network. This operation is part of ongoing and intensified efforts by Moroccan security services at the El Guerguerat crossing to combat international drug trafficking and crack down on all forms of transnational crime.
Morocco World
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Casablanca Authorities Crack Down on Unauthorized Churches
Marrakech – Local authorities in Casablanca have taken action against the spread of unauthorized churches operating illegally in apartments and commercial spaces, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit announced on Thursday. The minister's statement came in response to a written parliamentary question from Justice and Development Party (PJD) representative Abdessamad Haiker, who raised concerns about the proliferation of these informal worship spaces. 'Local authorities in Casablanca have implemented several measures, recognizing the need to balance protection of religious freedom with the risks that unlicensed places of worship pose to public order,' Laftit stated in his official response. Joint inspection committees have visited locations being used illegally in several neighborhoods, including Oulfa, Hay Hassani, Sidi Maarouf, and Sidi El Khadir. These teams have instructed occupants to comply with applicable legal requirements. Tenants were informed that these spaces 'are not intended for religious activities,' the minister said, noting that property owners were also contacted and asked to ensure their tenants adhere to rental contract terms. These communications with property owners have already resulted in the regularization of several locations previously used for such activities, according to the Interior Ministry. Additionally, authorities launched an awareness campaign targeting foreign Christian residents, warning them about the risks of practicing religious rituals in unsuitable spaces. The issue was thrust into the spotlight following reports on social media about underground spaces allegedly being used as unauthorized 'churches,' particularly in working-class neighborhoods. These reports created concern among local residents. In his parliamentary question, Haiker expressed worry about the lack of clear information regarding these spaces. He questioned their legality and whether those operating them had obtained necessary permits. Such phenomena could 'spread anxiety and a lack of spiritual security among citizens,' the PJD representative warned, calling on the relevant ministries to disclose planned measures to address these issues and ensure compliance with laws governing religious practices in Morocco. The phenomenon of unlicensed churches has become widespread in the Hay Hassani area, according to converging reports. Local sources indicate that property owners have been renting their premises to individuals from sub-Saharan African countries, who convert them into primary locations for religious practices without proper authorization. The ministry confirmed that additional inspections will be conducted in the coming weeks, while continuing dialogue and awareness efforts with the affected communities. Some reports suggest that several of these 'informal churches' are located in basements or discreet premises, sometimes set up in precarious conditions. Read also: Moroccan Christians 'Hope for a Future Civil Code That Includes All Moroccans' Tags: Casablancachurches in morocco
Fibre2Fashion
10-06-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Ghana, US discuss AGOA renewal, tariffs, trade balance
Ghana's Trade, Agri-business and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare recently met senior US officials in Washington, DC, to address critical trade policy issues affecting both sides. They discussed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Ghana's local content policy, US import regulations, outstanding debts to US firms and the revival of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). Ghana's Trade, Agri-business and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare recently met senior US officials in Washington, DC, to address critical trade policy issues. They discussed the AGOA, Ghana's local content policy, US import regulations, outstanding debts to US firms and the revival of the TIFA pact. She is scheduled to meet USTR officials in the next few weeks to continue consultations. The minister stressed the importance of AGOA—set to expire in September 2025—in attracting US investment, particularly, in Ghana's growing garment and textile industry. Enacted in 2000, AGOA offers duty-free access to over 1,800 products from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. The high-level meeting followed protectionist measures announced under the United States' revived 'America First' trade policy. Both sides agreed on the need for constructive engagement to balance Ghana's development goals with the expectations of foreign investors, and highlighted the importance of regulatory clarity and compliance with safety and environmental standards, a domestic news agency reported. The minister is scheduled to meet officials of the office of the US trade representative in the next few weeks to continue consultations. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
