Trump signs executive order banning transgender athletes in women's sports
Washington: US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sports, stating that it marks the end of the "war on women's sports."
Surrounded by female athletes and children at the White House, Trump declared, "We will not allow men to beat up, injure, and cheat our women and girls. From now on, women's sports will be only for women."
The order directs government agencies to withhold federal funds from schools that permit transgender athletes in women's sports. "It is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, endanger their safety, and violate their privacy," the executive order states.
Trump also announced plans to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its rules on transgender athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been directed to push the IOC for policy changes, while Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem has been instructed to deny visas to "men fraudulently identifying as women athletes" seeking to compete in the Games.
Since his return to office on January 20, Trump has aggressively targeted transgender rights through a series of executive orders. These include reversing policies on transgender military service and restricting gender transition procedures for individuals under 19.
During the 2024 election campaign, Trump repeatedly attacked Democrats on transgender rights, branding his opponent Kamala Harris as a supporter of "they/them ideology." The Republican-led House of Representatives had earlier passed a bill restricting transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports, aligning with conservative concerns over fairness in competition.
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Union minister Hardeep Puri's daughter moves Delhi HC over allegations of links with Epstein
New Delhi (PTI): Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri's daughter has moved the Delhi High Court for the removal of "false" and "defamatory" social media content linking her to convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The lawsuit by Himayani Puri is likely to be heard in the high court this week.
In her lawsuit seeking Rs 10 crore as damages and an order to restrain several entities from disseminating defamatory content, Himayani Puri said there was a "coordinated and malicious online campaign" to link her to Epstein and his crimes.
She also sought an unconditional apology and retraction from the defendant entities.
"Commencing on or around 22.02.2026, a series of false, misleading and defamatory posts, articles, videos and digital material were published, disseminated and amplified across social media and intermediary platforms including inter alia X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, digital news portals and other web-based publications," the plea said.
Himayani Puri asserted that she is an accomplished finance and investment professional, who is being targeted solely because she is Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri's daughter.
According to her lawsuit, the defendants disseminated "baseless imputations" that Himayani Puri maintained direct or indirect business, financial or personal network links with Epstein.
The allegations are entirely false, malicious and devoid of factual foundation, the plea said.
