Trump’s agenda in Beijing. Trump plans to discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and call for the release of jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week, he said yesterday. The Iran war is also likely to feature prominently in the talks. The United States announced sanctions yesterday on twelve individuals and entities accused of helping Iran ship oil to China.
France’s Africa investments. French and African investors are planning $27 billion worth of projects across African countries, French President Emmanuel Macron said today at a France-Africa summit in Nairobi. More than $16 billion will come from French firms and more than $10 billion from African entities. Kenyan President William Ruto said Africa’s new partnerships with France should be built on “win-win engagements” rather than “dependency.”
Haiti’s uncertain election calendar. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said in a radio interview yesterday that Haiti was not secure enough to hold elections in August as planned. He suggested narrowing the candidate field before a vote is held. The country has been led by a series of interim officials since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse; the August elections would have been the first since 2016.
EU sanctions on Israeli settlers. European Union (EU) foreign ministers approved sanctions yesterday on Israeli settlers accused of committing violence against Palestinians, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on social media. For months, former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had blocked the sanctions package. His successor Péter Magyar, who was sworn into office over the weekend, signaled he would support it.
Ukraine corruption probe. The country’s national anti-corruption agency announced yesterday it had charged former presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak with involvement in a more than $10 million money laundering scheme. Yermak resigned from his position in November after anti-corruption officials searched his home. He told journalists in Kyiv yesterday he would comment when the investigation is complete.
Spain’s call for an EU military. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called for the establishment of an EU military to keep the continent “free from coercion.” Albares, who made the remarks in an interview with Politico published yesterday, added that Europeans should be less dependent on U.S. choices in order not to be coerced via tariffs or military threats. He argued the move would not weaken NATO.
Impeachment probe into Ramaphosa. South Africa’s lower house of parliament said yesterday it will create a committee to reinvestigate whether allegations that President Cyril Ramaphosa concealed foreign currency at a private property warrant impeachment. South Africa’s top court recommended further investigation of the charges last week. Ramaphosa vowed yesterday to challenge a parliamentary report on the allegations and said he would not resign.
Draft U.S.-Ukraine defense deal. The countries are in talks about a potential defense deal under which Kyiv would export military technology to the United States and partner with U.S. firms to manufacture drones, three unnamed sources told CBS News. Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram this week that twenty countries were working on potential drone agreements with Kyiv.
