Myanmar Earthquake. New Details on Ukrainian Minerals Deal, Arctic Cooperation Offer and N Korea’s S

Andrew Sheves Good morning.

Breaking - Massive Earthquake Hits Myanmar

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar earlier today, causing widespread damage. Strong tremors were felt in neighboring Vietnam and Thailand, and at least one building collapsed in Bangkok. Myanmar is closed to foreign press making reporting difficult but the BBC has a Live Feed here

🇺🇦 US Demands First Rights to Ukraine’s Reconstruction Investments

The US is seeking control over future Ukrainian infrastructure and mineral investments through a revised partnership deal demanding “right of first offer” on all projects. If accepted, Washington would gain unprecedented economic influence in Ukraine, potentially complicating Kyiv’s EU membership bid and requiring Ukraine to repay all previous US military aid before receiving income from joint investments. President Zelenskiy indicated the agreement needs “detailed study” while emphasizing continued support for US cooperation. More - Bloomberg

🇷🇺** Russia Offers Arctic Cooperation**

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to cooperate with Western partners on Arctic economic ventures despite intensifying geopolitical tensions in the region. During a major speech Thursday, Putin acknowledged US President Trump’s “serious” intention to acquire Greenland while voicing concern about NATO’s expanding northern presence through Finland and Sweden. Putin emphasized Russia’s commitment to developing Arctic infrastructure and the Northern Sea Route while building military capabilities to protect Russian sovereignty in the resource-rich region. More - Al Jazeera

💥 North Korea Unveils AI-Controlled Suicide Drones

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected new suicide drones reportedly equipped with artificial intelligence, according to state media KCNA. Analysts suggest the technology likely benefited from Russian assistance, highlighting the deepening military relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow. Kim also unveiled what appears to be North Korea’s first airborne early-warning aircraft, with South Korean officials noting it would take time to evaluate its effectiveness and that components may have Russian connections. More - BBC

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, 🇬🇳 Guinea, 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau, 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇱🇸 Lesotho, 🇱🇷 Liberia, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇲🇼 Malawi, 🇲🇱 Mali, 🇲🇷 Mauritania, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇳🇪 Niger, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇸🇸 South Sudan, 🇸🇩 Su

Carpe tomorrow!