Good morning, everyone!
Today, we will look at the unfolding situation in the Middle East and U.S. politics.
Let’s get to it.
Africa
-Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said U.S. travel bans on West African countries are a barrier to striking deals with the Trump administration on energy and rare earth minerals.
Earlier this month, Washington imposed full or partial travel restrictions on a dozen countries and is reportedly considering additional bans that would encompass nearly all of the West African region.
-Nigerian President Bola Tinubu visited Benue state in the country’s north-central region after an attack by a gunman killed over one hundred people.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it comes amid local conflicts over access to water and land.
-A man shot by a Kenyan police officer is in intensive care after participating in protests in Nairobi. The demonstrations have rocked the capital city, in addition to Mombasa—the country’s second-largest city, after a blogger and teacher died in police custody earlier this month.
-Annual inflation in South Africa held steady at 2.8% in May, below the central bank’s target range of 3% to 6%.
-The Bank of Namibia held its key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday, stating that it sought to protect the local currency.
Central banks have aimed to spur growth through rate cuts amid global economic and geopolitical turmoil.
Other Links:
Firms led by US military veterans deliver aid in Africa and Gaza, alarming humanitarian groups - AP
Nigeria to introduce real-time tracking for oil export shipments - Reuters
Gaza march activists say participants in Egypt beaten, detained - Reuters
Mali starts construction of Russia-backed gold refinery - Reuters
Family of Zambia's ex-president Lungu halts return of his body - BBC
Americas and the Caribbean
-Canada and India agreed to exchange ambassadors in a bid to ease bilateral tensions.
In 2023, the Canadian government accused New Delhi of involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil. India has denied the charge.
-Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called for overhauling the United Nations-backed security mission in Haiti.
-Panamanian authorities arrested the leader of the banana workers’ union, accusing him of planning a six-week strike against Chiquita Brands that saw road blockades and widespread unrest.
The work stoppage ended days ago after a deal ended the labor dispute.
-The Central Bank of Chile held its key interest rate steady at 5%, citing global economic upheaval and geopolitical tensions.
-Guyana President Irfaan Ali will chair a meeting of the United Nations Security Council today in New York.
-Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is expected to begin house arrest today.
Kirchner—one of the most influential and controversial politicians in the country—served two terms as president from 2007 to 2015, as well as stints as first lady, vice president, and senator.
She was convicted by a court in 2022 over fraud allegations related to public projects in Patagonia.
Other Links:
New charges accuse Bolsonaro of running spy ring from Brazil’s presidential palace - The Guardian
Brazil auctions off several Amazon oil sites despite environmentalists and Indigenous protests - AP
Huawei and ByteDance plan major investments in tech sectors in Brazil - South China Morning Post
Milei Cools Argentina Wholesale Inflation to Lowest Since 2020 - Bloomberg
In Mexico, Thousands Ran for Office, Few Voted and One Party Dominated It All - The New York Times
Asia/Indo-Pacific
-Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was “deeply worried” over the unfolding situation in the Middle East and urged Israel and Iran to de-escalate.
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