Displaying items by tag: USA

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee’s law banning gender transition surgeries and hormone treatments for minors, ruling 6-3 that the law does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The decision in Skrmetti v. United States establishes a precedent allowing similar legislation in over 20 states to remain in effect. Christian leaders have welcomed the ruling as a decisive step in protecting children. Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel called it a “victory for children everywhere,” arguing that experimental procedures should not be allowed under the guise of equality. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council praised the affirmation of FRC’s “SAFE Act” model. Brent Leatherwood of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission emphasised that the state has a duty to protect children from harmful and irreversible decisions. However, progressive voices such as Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush of Interfaith Alliance criticised the ruling as religious overreach. The case marks a pivotal moment in defining the boundary between child protection and personal medical autonomy in U.S. law.

The critical Aukus defence pact, agreed by Australia in 2021 with the USA and UK, to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, faces uncertainty as Donald Trump’s administration reviews its alignment with the ‘America First’ agenda. Valued at over $230 billion, Aukus promises Australia a strategic leap in military capability. However, some US officials are sceptical about the value of sharing its premier defence technology, and have cast doubt on allies ‘pulling their weight’. Australia's leaders are publicly calm, but anxieties are growing. Some warn that the deal was always fragile, while others urge Australia to reassess its dependence on the USA. With the Pentagon citing domestic submarine shortages and economic priorities, questions loom over whether Australia will ever receive the promised Virginia-class subs. Despite the turbulence, the alliance's strategic value in countering China remains. Experts argue that Australia could still defend itself independently, given its geography and resources, but emotional ties to the USA and fear of abandonment persist in national defence thinking.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, has condemned Donald Trump’s uninvited deployment of the National Guard to quell unrest in Los Angeles, calling it an illegal escalation and ‘brazen abuse of power’. The unrest followed protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting illegal immigrants. Newsom argued that California could have managed the protests without federal intervention and accused Trump of using force theatrically, inflaming tensions. He warned that such actions threaten democracy nationwide. Newsom also criticised the Trump administration’s indiscriminate deportations, which target hardworking immigrant families and foster fear. ‘Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting the vulnerable but do not stop there,’ he cautioned. Linking Trump’s actions to broader attacks on American institutions, from the judiciary to the press, he called for peaceful resistance. Urging citizens to reject fear and silence, Newsom ended with a call to defend constitutional freedoms.

Elon Musk has sharply criticised Donald Trump’s multi-trillion-dollar tax and spending bill, calling it a ‘disgusting abomination’ and condemning the Republicans who supported it. Passed by the House in May, the bill includes expansive tax cuts, which Musk argued will increase the US budget deficit to $2.5 trillion and impose unsustainable debt on Americans. The tech billionaire, who has just ended his short tenure with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressed disillusionment with Washington’s entrenched bureaucracy and the resistance to his cost-cutting agenda. He had originally aimed to slash federal spending by $2 trillion, but this was reduced first to $1 trillion and later to just $150 billion. DOGE’S controversial cuts, particularly to humanitarian aid, drew criticism and raised questions about actual taxpayer savings. The White House has dismissed his objections, but Musk, who served the legal limit of 130 days as a ‘special government employee’, urged Americans to vote out the politicians who backed the bill in the next election.

Tauren Wells, Grammy-nominated artist and pastor, is challenging Christians to rethink joy - not as fleeting emotion, but as intentional focus rooted in the unchanging character of God. In his debut book Joy Bomb, Wells explores biblical happiness, inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, where ‘blessed’ translates to ‘happy’. Wells maintains that holiness and joy are deeply connected, saying, ‘God is holy, and God is joy’. In 2024, Wells and his wife launched Church of Whitestone in Austin, aiming to build authentic community over crowd size. He sees ministry as a new assignment, not a career shift, maintaining his identity in Christ while continuing to make music. His upcoming album Let the Church Sing reflects his evolving theology shaped by Bible college and pastoral life. Joy Bomb aims to guide readers, especially those struggling with anxiety or despair, towards lasting joy through Christ - not through circumstance, but through God’s presence. ‘Joy,’ he says, ‘is spelled J-E-S-U-S.’

Colton Burpo, whose near-death experience when aged three inspired the best-selling book and film Heaven Is for Real, continues to share his testimony over two decades later. At nearly four, Burpo's appendix ruptured after being misdiagnosed for five days, leading to emergency surgery. During the operation, he believes he had a supernatural encounter - witnessing his parents praying from outside his body, then finding himself on Jesus’s lap, comforted by angels. His vivid recollections of heaven and meeting deceased relatives moved millions and sparked deeper conversations about the afterlife and faith. Now 25, a husband, father, worship pastor, and electrician, Burpo sees his experience not just as a vision of what is to come, but as a call to mission. He focuses on living a life that honours Christ and encourages others to seek salvation. He continues to share the hope of heaven with new generations.

Donald Trump has paused a proposed 50% tariff on EU goods, extending the negotiation deadline to 9 July after a phone call with EC president Ursula von der Leyen. She requested more time to reach a deal, which Trump agreed to, calling the EU ‘willing to negotiate’. While both sides seek a resolution, the USA remains firm on maintaining a 10% base tariff, rejecting the EU’s recent offer to eliminate industrial tariffs and boost cooperation in AI and energy. Trump’s stance stems from concerns over the EU’s significant trade surplus and regulatory barriers. Meanwhile, the EU has approved retaliatory tariffs worth billions, set to begin on 14 July if talks fail. The escalating tensions risk sparking a costly trade war, which the IMF warns could shrink GDP on both sides. EU and US officials are set to meet next month in Paris to seek resolution. In preparation for these, the EU has requested firms to give details of their dealings with US companies: see

North Korea has strongly condemned the US plan to develop a futuristic ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system, warning it could trigger a nuclear arms race in space. The system, promoted by Donald Trump to counter next-generation threats such as hypersonic and cruise missiles, is viewed by Pyongyang as a provocation that would undermine its nuclear deterrent. North Korea’s foreign ministry described the plan as arrogant and dangerous, while China has called it a threat to global stability, saying the USA is ‘obsessed’ with its own security. Analysts note the system could compel North Korea to advance its missile capabilities. While many experts agree that US defence infrastructure needs updating, critics point to the potential geopolitical fallout and high costs - estimated at up to $500 billion long-term. Strategic tensions over space militarisation continue to grow as nations grapple with balancing national defence and global security.

A federal court has blocked Donald Trump’s broad use of tariffs, ruling that the Constitution grants Congress - not the president - authority to regulate foreign commerce. The decision challenges Trump's use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping import taxes, a cornerstone of his ‘America First’ agenda. Two lawsuits, one by small businesses and another by a coalition of US states, sparked the ruling. The court also blocked tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, imposed under immigration and drug control claims. However, tariffs on specific goods like steel and cars were not addressed. Markets responded positively, with global stocks rising and the dollar strengthening. If the ruling is upheld, affected businesses may receive tariff refunds with interest. Legal experts suggest the decision may constrain executive power over trade, sending a strong constitutional message. The White House has vowed to appeal, calling the ruling a judicial overreach. In another development, the Trump administration has asked the supreme court to overturn a judge’s ban on deporting migrants without giving them a chance to seek legal relief: see Breaking news: the ban on tariffs has been temporarily paused by an appeal court.

Donald Trump’s administration has ordered US embassies to halt new student visa appointments as it prepares to expand social media vetting of international applicants. The move is part of a broader crackdown on US universities, which Trump accuses of harbouring left-wing and antisemitic sentiment amid pro-Palestinian campus protests. Embassies are directed to cancel unscheduled interviews, with warnings of ‘significant implications’ for visa processing. Critics say this threatens the rights and futures of international students, who often pay higher fees and significantly fund the universities. The administration has frozen millions in university funding, revoked thousands of visas, and moved to deport foreign students - many actions now under legal challenge. Harvard University, a prime target, recently had its ability to host international students suspended, though a federal judge blocked the decision: for a view on how much its international students contribute, see Critics argue the social media screening policy infringes on free speech, while Trump insists it protects national security and combats extremism.