Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday the United States was cancelling 83 percent of programs at USAID, as the Trump administration guts spending not aligned with its “America First” agenda. Rubio said the remaining 1,000 programs would be administered by the State Department, delivering a seemingly fatal blow to USAID — where most workers have been placed on leave or fired since January. Rubio on Monday notably thanked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which billionaire Elon Musk is leading in a drive to cut federal spending and jobs. President Donald Trump, who has called for the humanitarian agency to be shut down, signed an executive order in January demanding a freeze on all US foreign aid to allow time to assess overseas expenses. Trump and his allies have argued that foreign assistance is wasteful and does not serve US interests, but aid groups argue much of the assistance supports US interests by promoting stability and health overseas. The State Department had announced last month its intention to cut 92 percent of USAID contracts, identifying 5,800 grants to be eliminated. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) distributes humanitarian aid around the world, with health and emergency programs in around 120 countries, and critics warn that slashing its work will affect millions of people.
Little Koa’s cute smile charms – please click the following website – doctors, nurses and visitors alike – but behind his brave face, his future hangs in the balance. We say a prayer for him every day when we’re having dinner and we call him on the phone. Koa’s three older brothers – all of primary school age – have been counting the days until their brother can return home. While Mr Kermode said Koa’s situation has improved since his first surgery, the little boy initially showed no signs of making a recovery. It’s hard, because we’re always so used to being together, and now there’s only ever one parent at home, and the other parent’s always at hospital with Koa,’ Mr Kermode said. As a result, the four-year-old is not allowed to go home between his ongoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments so his parents have taken turns at his bedside every night for three months. After surgery – brain surgery is a big deal, you know – he came out of that and was either asleep or, you know, people get agitated from surgery for like, many weeks,’ Mr Kermode said. But we’re closer than ever. In November last year, Melbourne parents Natalie Walker, 48, and Ben Kermode 49, noticed their youngest son was beginning to lose his balance, throw up, and could no longer hold a steady gaze. Mr Kermode told Daily Mail Australia the syndrome has left Koa unable to sit up, talk, eat or walk. Doctors told Koa’s parents that their little boy was now suffering from Postoperative Posterior Fossa Syndrome (PFS). Then one of his therapists got him to smile, and I went, “Oh, look, there’s Koa,” because he didn’t look like himself before that. The couple rushed him to a children’s hospital where doctors told them the terrible news that Koa had a life-threatening brain cancer known as medulloblastoma. Swift surgery managed to remove the tumour, but then Koa began to show signs of a life-changing syndrome. The fast-growing tumour starts near the brainstem in the cerebellum and can spread to other areas of the brain and spinal cord.
However, at such a young age, the syndrome presents challenges to a child’s typical development.
But then suddenly we saw that there’s our guy, he’s still in there. As time has gone on – because he still can’t talk – he just smiles at everyone. The treatment options for Koa are developing at a rapid stage; he’s likely to be included in a groundbreaking trial to test the efficacy of an existing diabetes drug on managing the impacts of radiation and chemotherapy throughout childhood. Some people who suffered PFS as children still experience balance and speech issues well into adulthood, a doctor from Melbourne’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre told the family. Radiation and chemotherapy also can have severe impacts on young children, including negative impacts on endocrine function, growth and hormonal development, and academic and cognitive social development. The science could change the lives of the nearly 100 Australian kids who have brain and spinal cord tumours removed each year. However, at such a young age, the syndrome presents challenges to a child’s typical development. But Koa’s family are committed to leaving no stone unturned in seeing Koa return to a physically healthy a condition as possible. Koa’s parents believe his can-do attitude will help him make a strong recovery, but there are still tough times ahead. I don’t know,’ Mr Kermode said. PFS sufferers typically regain motor-neurological control and the ability to speak. In the worst cases the treatments can contribute to the premature deaths of children. So the hope that I have in my heart is that he’s able-bodied enough to proactively be able to start school next year, and exactly what that looks like?
The family have also following an extensive plan of traditional therapeutic recovery methods. He just somehow worked out early on that he wanted to be someone like a paramedic or a fireman or someone who’s helping people out. Mr Kermode and Ms Walkers’ close friend Danni Briglia posted a fundraiser online, aiming to raise money to support the family. The science is evolving, we want to be ready for anything,’ Mr Kermode said. He’s always asking about these people in uniforms. We went with it, and some friends organised it for us. Very consistent with his personality. Mr Kermode wants to see his son be able to live out his dream of becoming a ‘community helper’, drawn in by the allure of assisting people in emergencies and the swanky attire that accompanies the jobs. But friends and family have since offered to chip in for Koa’s rehabilitation, and chemotherapy treatments, and their three older children ‘who need love and attention at home’ as well. We got help from local friends and family, and then friends were telling us to do a GoFundMe. And initially, we thought, “Oh, it’s fine. We’ll be fine without it”,’ Mr Kermode said. He’s got a range of outfits that he gets dressed up into in practice. The family first only approached close friends for emotional support in the ordeal. And I think what we’ve seen since then is like this widening of this circle of love and support for Koa. We just kept hearing that people wanted to help, and this was a way to help.
The Real Housewives of Miami alum Marysol Patton will sell between $2.3M-$3.5M worth of her late mother Elsa’s belongings on June 23 through Florida-based auction house Kodner. I think she was a more important part of that show than people realized. She was very sick. There’s over 300 items in total, many of which are marine and nautical-themed thanks to the retired publicist’s father who was an avid yacht builder. My brother and I kept the pieces we really cherish, but so many other pieces were sitting unused. There are several vintage fur coats, capes, and shawls -including a mink piece estimated to bring around $50-$150. The most affordable of the 14 pieces is a vintage 14-carat gold (visit this website) ring with a marquise-cut emerald and round brilliant-cut diamond that’s a steal at around $200-$300. I think Miami as it was on Bravo really suffered from Mama Elsa not being around in season three,’ executive producer Andy Cohen admitted on the November 5th episode of podcast Everything Iconic. My parents were big collectors of antiques, art and jewelry and had so many pieces across their three homes,’ the 54-year-old newlywed told Page Six in a statement on Thursday. The problem with the third season was that the ratings were declining as it went on and they went down for the reunion, which is usually the opposite of what happens. The second most expensive item is a sparkly platinum necklace featuring 131 round brilliant-cut diamonds, which is estimated to cost between $200K-$250K. My mother had a real love of them! I personally feel some of the most amazing jewels are the emeralds – my mother had a real love of them, and the collection was amazing,’ Marysol said. Fans of Mama Elsa can easily afforede the $50-$150 items including a set of vintage fans, costume jewelry, and vintage bags like a green ‘possibly replica’ Chanel clutch. Mama Elsa passed away, age 84, in 2019 just 15 months after her husband of 55 years, Donald Patton died and they left behind a treasure trove of items up for auction. Curiously, the most expensive piece available is from 2020 – a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5740/1G-001 watch – estimated to bring in between $200K-$300K. Patton was especially enamored with emeralds, including a platinum ring featuring a 25-carat stone with two 3.5-carat diamonds worth $100K-$125K. The 53-year-old presenter continued: ‘She was very sick.
