☕ The end of USAID

Good morning!

We’ll keep a close eye today on President Donald Trump’s major bills that are continuing to be discussed on the floors of the Senate. The finish line is still unclear, despite over 20 straight hours of debate.

It’s high stakes - the legislation includes new Medicaid reform, increased border security funding and changes to overtime pay. Trump has demanded the bill be sent to his desk by July 4 - so the countdown is on.

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Some headlines from this morning:

• UK police have launched criminal investigations into the bands Bob Vylan and Kneecap following their controversial Glastonbury performances on Saturday. Vylan frontman Bobby Vylan opened the BBC-broadcast set chanting "death to the IDF," while Irish group Kneecap led crowds in profane chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Detectives are reviewing footage to determine if the statements violated UK laws against inciting violence or public disorder, though neither band has been arrested. The U.S. State Department separately revoked Bob Vylan's tour visas, citing the IDF comments as potential security threats ahead of their planned American dates this fall.

• Bryan Kohberger will plead guilty Wednesday to murdering four University of Idaho students to avoid the death penalty, prosecutors announced. Kohberger agrees to admit killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at their Moscow home in November 2022 in exchange for four consecutive life sentences without parole. Prosecutors informed victims' families that Kohberger would abandon his not-guilty plea and waive all appeals, though some relatives condemned negotiating a deal without their input. The plea agreement requires judicial approval at Thursday's hearing, ending Idaho's highest-profile murder case in decades.

• President Trump lifted most U.S. sanctions on Syria Monday, fulfilling promises to interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa after December's regime change. The White House said the move supports "Syria's path to stability and peace" following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, ending 13 years of civil war. The lifted sanctions allow American companies to resume oil purchases and banking transactions, though restrictions remain on Assad's inner circle and entities linked to Syrian intelligence. The EU announced similar measures Monday.

• Over 50,000 people have been evacuated as wildfires continue to burn across Turkiye. It comes amid heatwave conditions across large parts of Europe. According to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) fires are threatening homes and lives in dozens of areas, forcing thousands to temporarily relocate to safety. Turkish authorities have announced emergency disaster relief payments of around $AU6,200 per household. Meanwhile, crews in France have been working to bring fires under control in 40 degrees plus. Authorities in several countries,s including Germany, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands, have issued health alerts and warnings as temperatures continue to climb.

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The Israeli Defense Forces killed at least 30 people in a strike on a cafe in northern Gaza overnight, according to witnesses and local medical officials.

It follows an announcement that the army has “learned lessons” from a review of a U.S.-Israeli aid model.

In an update last week, the United Nations said IDF soldiers had killed at least 410 Palestinians trying to get food and supplies. The U.S. has also flagged a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be closer to reality. Here’s the latest.

Latest attacks

The IDF attacked Gaza City and Jabalia overnight, both located in the northern part of the strip.

It sent out an evacuation alert ahead of the strikes for neighbourhoods in the north, including the Jabalia refugee camp. IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a statement on social media that the area would turn into an “active combat zone” as the army worked to “destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations in those areas”.

Palestinians had previously been allowed to return to northern Gaza during a ceasefire earlier this year.

Yesterday, the military struck a seaside cafe, reportedly a popular gathering spot for locals. Authorities from the nearby Al-Shifa Hospital told The New York Times the IDF killed at least 30 people by striking the cafe. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has yet to comment directly. The IDF also bombed four schools where displaced Palestinians had been sheltering, killing at least another 28. According to data cited by the UN, more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023.

Aid centers

After a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down earlier this year, Israel instituted an aid blockade to Gaza. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu partially lifted the blockade in May following international criticism.

The World Health Organisation has said Gaza’s 2.1 million people are facing prolonged food shortages.

Aid is currently being distributed by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a non-government organisation with U.S. and Israeli support.

The UN reports at least 410 killings at aid sites, while the Gaza Health Ministry says nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed.

Last week, Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported testimonies from IDF soldiers saying they were told to target anyone accessing the sites. Israel initially denied this is the case, but said it would investigate. Speaking to reporters last week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the GHF model is “killing people”. Overnight, UK representative at the UN Security Council Fergus Eckersley said the sites are “supposed to be saving lives” but are “leading to mass casualties”.

Investigation

The IDF has launched an investigation into the GHF sites, aimed at “minimizing friction with the population, and ensuring that the aid reaches its intended recipients.”

It said it was making changes “based on lessons previously learned”. The IDF says it is at these aid centers to divert deliveries away from Hamas. Israeli outlet The Times of Israel has quoted an IDF statement taking responsibility for some of the civilian deaths. TDA and other international outlets have been unable to independently verify the statement.

Ceasefire

On Friday, President Trump suggested a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas could be achieved “within a week”.

In follow-up comments over the weekend on Truth Social, Trump said: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”

Of the hostages taken on 7 October 2023, 50 are believed to remain in Gaza, more than half of whom are confirmed dead. Multiple attempts at a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have failed.

A U.S-led ceasefire proposal was sent to both sides in May. It stalled after Hamas proposed what Trump envoy Steve Witkoff called “totally unacceptable” amendments to the deal accepted by Israel, including a permanent end to the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widely expected to visit the White House next week, where it’s believed he and Trump will discuss the progress of the ceasefire deal.

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officially closed today after 63 years, with its remaining operations absorbed into the State Department following massive funding cuts ordered by President Trump's administration. Here's what you need to know.

What happened?

USAID—America's primary foreign aid agency—shut down after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut 83% of its funding earlier this year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new agency called "America First" will replace some USAID functions, though details remain unclear.

The closure affects programs that provided clean water, food aid, and medical assistance to 133 countries worldwide.

New study

A new study in The Lancet medical journal estimates USAID programs prevented 91 million deaths over the past two decades, including 30 million children. Without continued funding, researchers warn 14 million additional deaths could occur by 2030, including 4.5 million children under five.

Reactions

Former presidents from both parties criticized the shutdown. "Sooner or later, leaders on both sides of the aisle will realize how much you are needed," Barack Obama told remaining USAID staff yesterday.

George W. Bush, whose AIDS relief program through USAID is credited with preventing 25 million deaths, called the closure "a travesty and a tragedy."

Trump has repeatedly called USAID wasteful, saying it was run by "radical left lunatics" and contained "tremendous fraud."

What’s next

All overseas USAID employees must return to the U.S. by September under Rubio's March order. The new "America First" agency will have "more oversight and serve the national interest more faithfully," according to Rubio, though specific programs haven't been announced.

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