US Foreign Aid Overhaul, ICC Sanctions, and Iran's Rejection of Talks

Good Morning,

The Trump administration has moved to dismantle USAID by freezing its funding, ordering mass staff reductions, and attempting to transfer its remaining programs to the State Department, prompting a lawsuit from federal workers’ associations arguing the move is illegal without congressional approval, President Donald Trump authorized economic and travel sanctions against individuals involved in ICC investigations of US citizens and allies like Israel, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed negotiations with the US as unwise and dishonorable.

Top Stories

● Trump administration plans to slash all but a fraction of USAID jobs, officials say (AP)

● Trump imposes sanctions on International Criminal Court (Reuters)

● Iran supreme leader says US talks ‘not intelligent, wise or honorable,’ upending push to negotiation (AP)

● Amazon plans to spend $100 billion this year to capture ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ in AI (CNBC)

● Why a Bangladesh mob burned down home of independence icon Mujibur Rahman (AJ)

United States and Canada

● Trump administration sues Chicago in latest crackdown on ‘sanctuary’ cities (AP)

● Netanyahu gifts Trump golden pager celebrating Lebanon attacks (AJ)

● Trump to meet Japan's Ishiba as China trade war simmers (Reuters)

● Trans women barred from female sports as governing body NCAA follows Trump (AJ)

● Search on for plane with 10 on board that went missing off Alaska (CBS News)

● Trump Signs Order to Fight ‘Anti-Christian Bias’ (NYT)

Latin America

● US seizes Venezuelan government plane in Dominican Republic (Reuters)

● Panama’s president denies making a deal that US warships can transit the canal for free (AP)

● A referendum on crime? What to know about Ecuador’s presidential election (AJ)

● More Kenyan police arrive in Haiti to shore up security mission after US funding limbo (Reuters)

Africa

● Four Pakistani migrants repatriated after West Africa boat tragedy (AN)

● Ramaphosa responds to U.S. funding freeze, rejects "bullying" (AN)

● At least 10 soldiers in Niger are killed in an ambush, the army says (AP)

● Puntland offensive deals blow to Islamic State in Somalia (Reuters)

● Morocco foils 78,685 migrant attempts to reach Europe in 2024 (Reuters)

● Tunisia jails opposition politicians and journalist as crackdown on political dissent resumes (AN)

Middle East

● A Russian spy ship caught fire off Syria’s coast, officials say. Here’s audio of its broadcasts (AP)

● US has set 'red line' that Hezbollah not join Lebanese govt, envoy says (Reuters)

● Iran condemns new U.S. shipping-related sanctions (Reuters)

● Trump administration imposes first Iran sanctions since taking office (AJ)

● Historic landmarks in Iraq’s Mosul are reopening as the city heals from Islamic State devastation (AP)

● Israel army conducts strike in Lebanese territory on two military sites (Reuters)

Indo-Pacific

● China blasts US as Panama quits Belt and Road Initiative (AJ)

● Hong Kong to file complaint with WTO on US tariffs (AP)

● US service member, three contractors killed in Philippines aircraft crash (Reuters)

● Fitch says Pakistan faces big external financing risks despite economic progress (Reuters)

Europe

● North Koreans ‘disappear’ amid heavy Russian casualties in Ukraine war (AJ)

● Greece declares state of emergency on Santorini following quakes (Reuters)

● Hungary’s Orbán says he will do away with pro-democracy and rights groups receiving U.S. aid (AP)

● Russia raises domestic asset seizure stakes with grain trader, Moscow airport grab (Reuters)

● Latest gangland shooting in Brussels leaves one person dead (Reuters)

● Kosovo elections will decide who will lead stalled talks with Serbia and manage a battered economy (AP)

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