UNITED NATIONS — In a significant fiscal development, the Trump administration proudly announced it has achieved over $1 billion in budget cuts at the United Nations within just six months. The administration hailed these reductions as a clear sign that an institution often viewed as resistant to change is finally starting to embrace reform.

The most recent achievement was marked on June 30, when all 193 member countries of the U.N. came together to approve a peacekeeping budget of roughly $5.1 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. This figure represents a significant decrease of about $550 million, or 9.7%, compared to the previous year.

Adding to this is a 15% reduction in the U.N.’s regular budget, which was approved in December. U.S. officials highlight that these agreements cumulatively surpass $1 billion in cuts to assessed U.N. budgets, describing it as an unprecedented level of fiscal restraint.

Assessed budgets rely on mandatory contributions from member states, calculated primarily based on the economic size of each nation.

“On June 30th, with U.S. leadership, all 193 countries came together again for the second time in six months,” U.S. Ambassador for U.N. Management and Reform Jeff Bartos told News Media. “We’ve achieved over a billion dollars of savings in six months, which is unprecedented. Any one cut would be unprecedented. The totality of the reforms is monumental.”

The agreement comes as the United Nations faces mounting financial pressure and prepares for a leadership transition in 2027, with Secretary-General António Guterres set to leave office at the end of his second term. At the same time, the Trump administration has made reform a central pillar of its U.N. strategy, arguing the organization has become overly bureaucratic and inefficient.

In response to questions from News Media, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that the peacekeeping budget was reduced by roughly $550 million and the regular budget by 15%, describing both as “unprecedented reductions.”

Bartos argues the reforms reflect sustained pressure from the Trump administration and months of negotiations led by the U.S. Mission.

“The new budget, this reformed budget, the enhanced efficiency changes the culture of how the U.N. looks at peacekeeping,” Bartos said. “Every dollar has to achieve impact on the ground.”

He pointed to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan as an example, saying the United States worked to streamline the mission’s mandate before reducing its budget accordingly.

Another reform highlighted by the administration changes how the U.N. handles unused budget credits.

Until now, U.N. financial rules required the organization to return unspent funds to member states even if those contributions had never actually been paid, a practice critics said worsened the organization’s recurring liquidity crisis.

The General Assembly voted on June 30 to introduce, on a four-year trial basis, a new methodology under which unspent funds will be returned only when backed by cash actually received.

Bartos said the change could save the organization more than $1 billion over the next three years. That projected figure is separate from the more than $1 billion in budget reductions already approved over the past six months.

He called the change another example of “common-sense” reform and said it could save the organization more than $1 billion over the next three years.

The United Nations likewise welcomed the change, though officials noted it had been a longstanding priority of Secretary-General António Guterres.

“I have been pushing for this reform for almost a decade,” Guterres said after the vote. He described the previous system as a “Kafkaesque cycle” in which the organization was expected “to give back cash that did not exist.”

Dujarric said the reform would allow the U.N. to manage resources “in a more predictable and responsible way” while helping ensure operational continuity, particularly for peacekeeping missions.

Bartos insists the latest budget agreements are only the beginning.

Among the administration’s next priorities are reforms to staff compensation, employee benefits and the U.N. pension system, areas he argues consume resources that could otherwise support humanitarian operations and peacekeeping missions.

“We’re going to continue to see us push whether it’s on benefits, whether it’s on staff compensation, whether it’s on the pension system,” Bartos said. “There’s massive numbers of additional reforms that our team is working on right now.”

He also suggested reform will remain a central issue as member states begin selecting the next secretary-general.

“We’re going to select the next secretary-general,” Bartos said. “That reform momentum that has been growing over the last 15, 18 months … you’ll see that continuing in 2027 with the new secretary-general.”

Duane Ward, widely celebrated as one of the Toronto Blue Jays’ finest relief pitchers, passed away at 62, as announced by the team on Sunday morning. Ward played a crucial role in the team securing consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.

The Blue Jays revealed that Ward succumbed to natural causes shortly after arriving in Toronto on Friday. He was in the city for the unveiling of a statue honoring Joe Carter and the World Series victories, but sadly, he did not make it to the Saturday event.

Born in New Mexico, Ward set a remarkable franchise record in 1993 with 45 saves in a single season, which also saw him achieve his only All-Star selection.

“The Toronto Blue Jays profoundly mourn the loss of Duane Ward, whose legacy as one of the most skillful and cherished relievers is deeply etched in our history,” read the team’s heartfelt statement.

Ward delivered outstanding performances during the 1992 World Series clash against the Braves, securing two wins and two holds. He pitched 3 ⅓ flawless innings, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out six batters.

He had four saves during the ’93 postseason, including two in the World Series against the Phillies. He earned the win in the clinching Game 6 after Carter’s iconic three-run, walk-off home run.

After he was drafted No. 9 overall by the Braves in 1982, Atlanta traded Ward to Toronto during his first MLB season in 1986 and he spent the rest of his career with the Blue Jays.

He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020.

“Duane will be deeply missed by our fans, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family,” the Blue Jays said. “Duane will always be a cherished part of the Blue Jays family, and we will forever be grateful for his contributions to our organization and to baseball in Canada.”

Ward finished his career with a 3.28 ERA, 121 saves and 679 strikeouts in 462 appearances.

Imagine the possibilities, what could have been?

In a different scenario, yesterday’s clash between England and France might have been the World Cup final. However, it served as the play-off for third place instead.

Ultimately, the match delivered excitement and thrills fit for a final. It was chaotic yet captivating.

Typically, the third-place play-off lacks energy, often less interesting than watching paint dry due to both teams’ lack of enthusiasm. Yet, yesterday defied that norm completely.

With no pressure to bear, the teams exhibited thrilling performances, netting a combined total of 10 goals. England emerged victorious with a 6-4 scoreline. The spectacle was unparalleled at the World Cup—a truly remarkable experience.

England banged in four in the first half, showing the shackles were off against a pretty strong France side. But then they showed their defensive frailties, with the French managing to pull it back to 4-3.

Then it got even crazier, with the teams trading goals even deep into injury time. Bukayo Saka bagged a hat-trick, while Kylian Mbappe added to his monster tally, making it 10 goals for the tournament.

An insane game.

CHICAGO — In a memorable scene at Wrigley Field, former Chicago Cubs star Anthony Rizzo snagged a piece of history, as he retrieved the ball from current first baseman Michael Busch’s solo home run during the Cubs’ 6-2 triumph over Minnesota. This event unfolded in the iconic right-field bleachers where legends are often celebrated.

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Although Rizzo missed catching Busch’s 12th home run of the season in the air, he adeptly stretched behind to pick it up off the concrete. He triumphantly lifted the ball high for the crowd to see, holding a young boy on his shoulders in a heartwarming gesture.

Prior to the game, Rizzo, a revered three-time All-Star who spent a decade with the Cubs, participated in the unveiling of the “Champions Gate.” This 31-foot wide arch on Wrigley Field’s western side marks the 10th anniversary of the team’s 2016 World Series victory, a momentous occasion in Cubs history.

Meanwhile, Busch was unaware of the former Cubs icon’s involvement with his home run ball until catcher Miguel Amaya, who contributed two RBIs with a double in the second inning, passed on the news.

Reflecting on the moment, the significance wasn’t lost on the 28-year-old Busch. The scene of a former slugging first baseman recovering the home run ball of the current one resonated deeply. Busch, who hit 34 homers last year, stood in awe of Rizzo’s record, with the elder first baseman having notched 242 home runs during his tenure with Chicago and a total of 303 over his career.

“I thought that was super, just like mind-blowing,” Busch said. “Who knows how things work out, but I thought that was pretty cool.

“Just the 2016 team, what they did for this city and the championship that they brought was obviously a big deal,” Busch added. “You could just tell from the fans how much they were loved and how much joy they brought to the city. And then Rizzo was kind of a cornerstone for them.”

Rizzo hit .292 with 32 homers and 109 RBIs in the 2016 regular season, then went on to add three homers and 10 RBIs in the postseason as the Cubs ended a 108-year championship drought.

Team owner Tom Ricketts, 2016 manager Joe Maddon and Rizzo addressed the crowd in a ceremony that included some 20 players from team. Maddon and the players returned to the field before the game and right-hander Kyle Hendricks threw a ceremonial first pitch.

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