India / Pakistan fighting continues, UK trade deal double, and US-China talks this weekend. Plus weekend diversions
Andrew Sheves Good morning.
(Headlines from me today, not the AI.)
🇮🇳 🇵🇰 Fighting between India and Pakistan continues with reports of multiple strikes into both countries, including missile and drone strikes. The situation remains precarious and fast-moving with potential for escalation. Al Jazeera has a live tracker here
Graphic: Al Jazeera
🇬🇧 The UK was in a deal-making mood, striking trade deals with India [BBC] and the USA [BBC]. Notably, this was the first deal with President Trump following the imposition of tariffs last month, although the UK has been pursuing a trade deal with the US since Brexit.
🇺🇸 🇨🇳 Trade talks between the US and China begin this weekend in Switzerland, although no one expects any substantial movement. President Trump did tease markets, telling investors to ‘buy stocks now’ which many have interpreted as a signal that he plans to ease tariffs on China. A ‘goodwill’ gesture prior to talks would allow Trump to ease pressure on the US without seeming to be pulling back from tariffs, although there is the possibility that this was also a prerequisite from Beijing for starting direct meetings. [More - Bloomberg]
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, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇳🇪 Niger, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇸🇸 South Sudan, 🇸🇩 Sudan, 🇹🇿 Tanzania, 🇬🇲 The Gambia, 🇹🇬 Togo, 🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇪🇭 Western Sahara, 🇿🇲 Zambia, 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
More Stable
No countries were more stable over this period
Unchanged
🇦🇴 Angola, 🇧🇼 Botswana, 🇨🇻 Cape Verde, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇳🇦 Namibia, 🇸🇳 Senegal, 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe
Regional News Summary
The DRC is currently at the center of regional peace efforts, with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo meeting Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to discuss the ongoing crisis. This comes as regional blocs prepare to convene to address the situation, highlighting the urgency for diplomatic solutions in a nation grappling with conflict and instability [[SOURCE - The Washington Post]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/05/06/congo-rwanda-peace-trump-rubio/?utm_source=news.
Carpe tomorrow!