October 2, 2025
Showdown and Maneuver
Good morning, everyone!
Today, we will look at the U.S. government shutdown, developments in the Middle East, and other news spanning the globe.
Let’s get to it.
Africa
-In an address commemorating Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, President Bola Tinubu said the “worst is over” following a tumultuous economic slump caused by a series of economic reforms.
-Annual inflation in Ghana eased to 9.4% in September, the lowest level since August 2021.
-Namibia projects a slump in its tourism industry after a week-long fire ravaged over a third of its largest game reserve.
-Youth-led protests continued in Morocco on Wednesday.
-The International Monetary Fund and the Ivory Coast reached an agreement on Tuesday, with the lender agreeing to disburse $843 million to the West African country.
Other Links:
Activists from Sudan, Myanmar, Pacific Islands, and Taiwan receive human rights award - AP
South African opposition leader Julius Malema is found guilty on gun charges - AP
DRC: Joseph Kabila’s death sentence sends shockwaves through Goma - Africa News
Ethiopia church scaffolding collapses, killing 30 - BBC
South African factory mood improves in September, Absa PMI shows - Reuters
Americas and the Caribbean
-The United States and Brazil are looking to arrange a meeting between President Donald Trump and Brazilian Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, according to Bloomberg News.
The report comes amid tense bilateral relations between Washington and Brasília.
-The Caribbean nations of Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines inked an agreement to allow for the free flow of travel between their citizens.
