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Happy Birthday America 🇺🇸

🇺🇦 Ukraine Faces Record Strikes, US Weapon Cuts

Russia launched a record 550 drones and 11 missiles against Ukraine overnight, with 72 penetrating air defenses and hitting almost every district of Kyiv, killing at least one woman and wounding 23 people just hours after a “disappointing” call between Trump and Putin. More - BBC 

The massive attack coincided with the White House announcing cuts to weapons deliveries to Ukraine "to put America's interests first," potentially including Patriot interceptors and ammunition that Ukraine desperately needs for air defense. Ukraine warned the weapons halt would "encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror," while the Kremlin welcomed the reduced arms flow as helping end the conflict faster. More - BBC

🇺🇸 Trump Sets August Tariff Start

President Trump said his administration will begin notifying trading partners Friday of new US tariffs ranging from 10-70% effective August 1, five days before his July 9 deadline for trade deals. Trump plans to send "10 or 12" letters Friday with additional notifications over subsequent days, stating countries will "start to pay on Aug. 1" as he prefers "simple deals" over complicated negotiations. The top tier of his tariff range exceeds his initial April proposals that maxed at 50%, while talks with major partners including Japan, South Korea and the EU remain unfinalized. More - Bloomberg

🚢 Bloomberg’s Tariff Tracker lists all current tariff rates and any exceptions

Africa Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

🇩🇿 Algeria, 🇦🇴 Angola, 🇧🇯 Benin, 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso, 🇧🇮 Burundi, 🇨🇲 Cameroon, 🇨🇫 Central African Republic, 🇹🇩 Chad, 🇰🇲 Comoros, 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic Of The Congo, 🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea, 🇪🇷 Eritrea, 🇸🇿 Eswatini, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇬🇦 Gabon, 🇬🇳 Guinea, 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau, 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇱🇸 Lesotho, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇲🇼 Malawi, 🇲🇱 Mali, 🇲🇷 Mauritania, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇳🇪 Niger, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇸🇸 South Sudan, 🇸🇩 Sudan, 🇹🇬 Togo, 🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇪🇭 Western Sahara, 🇿🇲 Zambia, 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇧🇼 Botswana, 🇨🇻 Cape Verde, 🇬🇭 Ghana, 🇱🇷 Liberia, 🇳🇦 Namibia, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone, 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe, 🇹🇿 Tanzania, 🇬🇲 The Gambia

Regional News Summary

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed a historic peace agreement in Washington, D.C., aimed at ending decades of conflict between the two nations. The deal, brokered by the United States, has been described as a significant breakthrough in regional diplomacy, with President Trump calling it a "new chapter of hope." This agreement is expected to attract investment to the region, which has suffered from years of violence resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. The peace deal has garnered support from the African Union and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who welcomed it as a crucial step towards stability in the region [SOURCE - Breitbart].

However, skepticism remains among residents in Goma, where concerns about the deal's implementation and the potential for ongoing violence persist. The agreement is anticipated to have significant implications for regional trade and investment, particularly given the DRC and Rwanda's rich natural resources, including cobalt and copper [SOURCE - BBC].

In related developments, the Congolese army has taken aggressive measures against perceived threats, destroying a plane carrying food and medicine, claiming it was being used by rebels [SOURCE - BBC]. Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly has approved a $5.4 billion peacekeeping budget for 2025-2026, underscoring the ongoing need for international support in the region [SOURCE - Scoop].

In Algeria, a significant judicial ruling has raised concerns about press freedom, as a French sports journalist was sentenced to seven years in prison. This case has sparked controversy and highlighted the ongoing challenges facing journalists in the country [SOURCE - BBC].

Turning to economic developments, CCI Worldwide Logistics has launched a new service called "Trans Africa," with an estimated investment of $14 million aimed at enhancing intra-African trade. This initiative is expected to bolster trade within the continent [SOURCE - Economic Times]. Additionally, the Chinese ambassador to South Africa has encouraged the youth to seize tariff-free trade opportunities, emphasizing the benefits of cooperation between the two nations [SOURCE - The Citizen].

In South Africa, the fintech company Lesaka is set to acquire Bank Zero, a move expected to increase competition in the digital banking sector [SOURCE - Yahoo Finance]. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's Starlink plans to invest approximately $130 million in South Africa, aiming to enhance the country's digital infrastructure [SOURCE - BizNews].

In Kenya, deadly protests have erupted, resulting in multiple civilian casualties and nearly 500 arrests. The unrest has raised serious concerns about public safety and the government's response to civil disobedience [SOURCE - BBC]. Meanwhile, Czech troops are set to join a counterterrorism training mission in the country [SOURCE - Radio.cz].

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deepen, with many citizens resorting to eating weeds and plants to survive amid ongoing conflict. This dire situation has been exacerbated by cuts to USAID funding, which have had fatal consequences for vulnerable populations, particularly children [SOURCE - ABC News]. Additionally, a tragic gold mine collapse has resulted in the deaths of 11 workers, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety regulations in the industry [SOURCE - Yahoo News].

In Zambia, inflation has dropped to 14.1%, providing a glimmer of hope for the economy. The government is seeking approval for an additional $1.4 billion in budget spending to further stimulate growth [SOURCE - TimesLive]. Meanwhile, the Chisamba 100MW Solar Plant is expected to revolutionize the electricity landscape in the country [SOURCE - Zambia: News Diggers!].

Weekend Diversions

This thread on X lays out in agonizing detail a series of avoidable missteps that led to an enormous environmental shipping disaster off Sri Lanka. Bart Gonnissen on X 

The BBC show he references is here

Wired has an in-depth look at the Scattered Spider hacking group, which is proving to be highly sophisticated when it comes to using social engineering to gain access to accounts and systems. A Group of Young Cybercriminals Poses the ‘Most Imminent Threat’ of Cyberattacks Right Now - Wired.com

Have a great weekend!

Carpe tomorrow!