USAID staff placed on leave. The agency’s worldwide staff—with few exceptions—will be placed on administrative leave Friday night and will soon return to the United States, a notice posted on its site said. Earlier this week, Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio interim administrator of the agency; Rubio told lawmakers it could be downsized or eliminated. A Monday report from the Congressional Research Service said congressional approval is required to abolish or consolidate the agency.
Mixed signals on Iran. Trump yesterday ordered the U.S. Department of Treasury to prepare “maximum pressure” economic sanctions on Iran but added, “I hope that [the order]’s not going to have to be used.” Later, he said “I would love to be able to make a great deal” with Iran to improve bilateral relations; however, Tehran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
Scrutiny of EU-Rwanda minerals deal. Sixty-four nongovernmental organizations—most from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—yesterday joined calls for the European Union (EU) to cancel a critical minerals pact with Rwanda over Kigali’s backing of a rebel group. The February 2024 deal facilitates EU access to metals and rare earth elements. Beyond objections to M23 violence, multiple UN reports say Rwanda also uses the rebels to extract minerals from within the DRC. Some EU member states such as Belgium have already called to end the agreement.
Funds for Haiti mission frozen. The United States until now has been the largest contributor to a UN-endorsed multilateral security mission in Haiti. Led by Kenyan troops, it aims to help Haitian police regain control of gang-run areas. Amid a wider halt on foreign aid under the Trump administration, Washington froze $13.3 million of unspent money for Haiti in a mission trust fund, a UN spokesperson said yesterday.
Thai leader in China. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to discuss economic ties as well as Chinese concerns about human trafficking on the Thailand-Myanmar border. In January, a Chinese actor traveling in the region was abducted and forced to work in a telephone scam center. Chinese and Thai law enforcement agencies have carried out joint operations in the area.
Migrants flown to Guantánamo Bay. A U.S. military flight brought nine to ten migrants to be detained at the U.S. base, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said. A small number of undocumented migrants have already been held in a facility there. It is unclear whether the detainees will have access to legal representation.
From NATO chief to finance czar. One of Norway’s top hands in trying to avert potential trade tensions with Trump will be the recently-departed head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg served as Norway’s prime minister before running the international military alliance for a decade. From his experience at NATO during Trump’s first term, he said Norway’s ticket to avoiding tariffs is engagement.
