Good morning

🇵🇸 Israel Intensifies Gaza City Campaign

Israeli forces control 40% of Gaza City as round-the-clock bombing reduces entire neighborhoods to rubble, killing 44 people Thursday including a family of five in a tent strike, with UNICEF calling it a "city of fear" trapping nearly one million residents. Military spokesperson said the operation will "continue to expand and intensify" as satellite images show over 52 Israeli vehicles forcing displacement toward the west, while hospitals overflow with casualties and al-Shifa's morgue floor is strewn with white-shrouded bodies. US Secretary of State Rubio blamed France and other countries planning Palestinian state recognition for Israeli West Bank abuses, as the US sanctioned three Palestinian rights groups for supporting ICC war crimes investigations against Netanyahu, while EU official Teresa Ribera called Gaza a "genocide" and criticized the bloc's inaction as the death toll surpassed 64,000. More - Al Jazeera

🇹🇭 Thailand Names Third PM in Two Years

Business tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul became Thailand's third prime minister in two years after his Bhumjaithai party broke from the Shinawatra-led coalition following Paetongtarn Shinawatra's court dismissal for ethical violations over Cambodia border dispute handling. The 58-year-old dealmaker's rise deals a significant blow to the powerful Shinawatra dynasty that has dominated Thai politics since 2001, with Thaksin fleeing to Dubai for medical treatment ahead of a court hearing that could return him to jail. Anutin's 69-seat party governs only with backing from the progressive People's Party, which demanded elections within four months and constitutional amendments, leaving the staunchly royalist leader with tied hands to navigate Thailand's latest political crisis amid a pattern of court interventions and military coups removing multiple administrations. More - BBC

Africa Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

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

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe, 🇹🇿 Tanzania

Regional News Summary

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to be a focal point of global rivalries, particularly between the United States and China, due to its vast mineral resources. As demand for critical minerals and rare earths surges, the DRC has become a battleground for resource dominance. In response to China's growing influence in the rare earth market, the Trump administration has announced plans to invest billions in U.S. rare earth production, aiming to reduce China's grip on this vital sector. This shift could significantly alter the global balance of power in the rare earth market, with implications for the DRC's role in the international economy [SOURCE - Lowy Institute].

Amidst these geopolitical tensions, peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel movement are set to resume in Qatar, as the humanitarian situation in eastern DRC deteriorates, leading to widespread displacement and suffering. The DRC's prosecutor has also sought capital punishment for the former president over alleged ties to rebel groups, highlighting the complex political landscape [SOURCE - SANA].

In a broader context, the rivalry among global powers has sparked a new commodity boom, with countries like Japan entering the race for access to Africa's resources to fuel their economic growth [SOURCE - King World News].

Meanwhile, Algeria is strengthening its defense ties with India, as General Anil Chauhan, India's Chief of Defence Staff, held talks with senior military leadership in Algeria. This collaboration is significant as Algeria plays a key role in African security dynamics [SOURCE - The Hindu].

As the global energy landscape evolves, OPEC+ is considering unwinding production cuts, which could significantly impact Algeria's oil sector, a major player in the cartel [SOURCE - Rigzone]. Concurrently, China's military influence in Africa is growing, with reports indicating that it is arming 44 countries, potentially affecting Algeria's strategic calculations [SOURCE - RT].

In South Africa, the economy is undergoing significant changes, with the Reserve Bank aiming to transition the country to a cashless society, a move that could reshape the financial landscape [SOURCE - The South African]. However, the automotive sector faces challenges, as Ford South Africa prepares to lay off over 470 workers amid a broader crisis in the motor industry [SOURCE - Yahoo Finance].

In Nigeria, the government has secured long-term contracts for gas supply, a crucial step for boosting the energy sector and diversifying the economy [SOURCE - Times Live]. However, the country is grappling with security concerns, including a deadly attack in Zamfara state that resulted in over 100 abductions [SOURCE - Japan Today].

Sudan is facing a staggering humanitarian crisis, with 30 million civilians in need of assistance as the conflict continues to escalate. The situation is particularly dire in Darfur, where recent shelling by the Rapid Support Forces has resulted in numerous casualties [SOURCE - The Hindu]. Human rights groups are urging the UN to take action to protect civilians facing starvation and other emergencies [SOURCE - Human Rights Watch].

In Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema's administration is making strides in economic development, although challenges remain, particularly regarding the Constituency Development Fund and mining pollution issues [SOURCE - Zambia News Diggers!]. The government is also promoting small and medium-sized enterprises as a backbone of the economy [SOURCE - Zambia News Diggers!].

Weekend Diversions

If you're excited about robots, you’ll like this Wired article on the advances Boston Dynamics has made with respect to only needing a single model to control a robot. This Robot Only Needs a Single AI Model to Master Humanlike Movements | Wired. And if you want to see a robot doing a wide range of tasks, the Figure.ai news page won’t disappoint (If you are worried about The Terminator, you’ll maybe want to skip these.)

There’s a lot of debate as to whether the US Navy deployment off Venezuela is simply drug interdiction or a precursor to regime change. Luckily, some recent articles in Foreign Policy magazine really dig into the details.

• Deploying U.S. Vessels to the Caribbean Is a Show of Force | Ryan C. Berg and Eric Farnsworth.

• Trump’s Gunboat Diplomacy Enters Uncharted Waters | Christopher Sabatini

Have a great weekend!

Carpe tomorrow!