Good morning.

🧑‍⚖️ Judges Halt, Reinstate Tariffs

A federal appeals court granted Trump a temporary reprieve from a lower court ruling that blocked his sweeping tariffs, but the White House now faces slower, more complex alternatives if the legal challenge ultimately succeeds. The administration could pursue tariffs through Section 232 investigations or other authorities, but these would take months to implement rather than the immediate impact Trump sought through emergency powers. The original ruling would have reduced effective US tariff rates from nearly 27% to below 6%, marking one of Trump's biggest setbacks as he races to deliver results before midterm elections. More - Bloomberg

🇵🇸 Hamas Rejects Ceasefire Terms

Hamas dismissed a Trump administration ceasefire proposal as ensuring "continuation of killing and famine" in Gaza, saying it fails to meet key demands including ending the war and withdrawing Israeli troops. While Israel reportedly agreed to the 60-day deal that would exchange 28 hostages for 1,236 Palestinian prisoners, Hamas officials said it lacks commitments for permanent cessation and full aid access. The group will respond by Saturday amid conflicting reports about earlier negotiations. More - Al Jazeera

Africa Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

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

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇦🇴 Angola, 🇧🇼 Botswana, 🇨🇻 Cape Verde, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇳🇦 Namibia, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone, 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe, 🇬🇲 The Gambia

Regional News Summary

The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to grapple with alarming human rights abuses, particularly in South Kivu, where army-backed militias have been implicated in the mistreatment of civilians. A recent report from Human Rights Watch underscores the urgent need for protective measures for vulnerable populations in the region, while an international jurist organization has also condemned the actions of these armed groups [SOURCE - Human Rights Watch].

Meanwhile, the DRC is on the verge of securing a minerals deal with the United States, which could have profound implications for its economy [SOURCE - SABC News].

In Zimbabwe, the political landscape remains tense as the possibility of a coup looms amid deteriorating economic conditions. War veterans have rallied behind Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa's resignation, further heightening political tensions [SOURCE - The Zimbabwe Mail].

On the economic front, Zimbabwe has reported a significant increase in steel exports, with nearly 100 tonnes shipped in the first four months of the year [SOURCE - The Zimbabwe Mail]. Additionally, the UK has lifted sanctions on Zimbabwean security chiefs, a move expected to bolster relations between the two nations [SOURCE - The Zimbabwe Mail].

In Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has received the endorsement of the ruling party for the 2027 elections, even as the country faces escalating insecurity, particularly from the Islamic State in the northeast [SOURCE - SABC News]. The resurgence of Boko Haram has compounded these security challenges, with recent reports indicating a tragic incident where herdsmen slaughtered 42 Christians in Taraba State [SOURCE - Morning Star News].

In Ethiopia, a severe healthcare crisis has emerged as striking health workers have been arrested, prompting international outrage and calls for their release from organizations like Amnesty International [SOURCE - ET HealthWorld]. This situation has raised concerns about the government's commitment to upholding human rights and ensuring access to essential services.

Meanwhile, Somalia is intensifying its military operations against the al-Shabaab militants, launching "Operation Heroic Might" to reclaim strategic territories. This offensive comes amid ongoing humanitarian crises, with millions facing food insecurity due to the persistent conflict [SOURCE - Al Jazeera].

Lastly, the cholera outbreak in Sudan has escalated, claiming over 170 lives in just one week, exacerbated by the ongoing civil war that has left many civilians vulnerable [SOURCE - BBC]. The U.S. has announced plans to impose sanctions on Sudan, citing the use of chemical weapons, further complicating the humanitarian situation [SOURCE - UPI].

Weekend Diversions

This Wired article explains how North Korean workers pose as IT workers from elsewhere to infiltrate US and European firms. This scheme generates much-needed hard cash for Pyongyang, but also raises a broader question of how to verify the identities of employees in a remote workforce. Wired - North Korea Stole Your Job

MIT’s Technology Quarter has a really deep dive into AI’s energy demands. (Spoiler - it’s enormous!) MIT Technology Review - We did the math on AI’s energy footprint. Here’s the story you haven’t heard.

I’ll be on the Appalachian Trail this weekend, which reminded me about Michael Wardian’s — aka The World’s Greatest Ultrarunner and Nicest Person — extreme approach to remote work. Fast Company - I ran the Appalachian trail while working remotely. Here’s what it taught me about work-life balance

Have a great weekend

Carpe tomorrow!