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West Africa ECOWAS at 50: Jihadist violence, coups and more
The Economic Community of West African States faces growing threats from terrorism, climate changes, military coups and poverty, said its most senior official on Wednesday, as leaders celebrated 50 years since the formation of the bloc in Nigeria. This year, jihadist violence in Nigeria, the Sahel, Burkina Faso and Mali has increased. These nations recently left ECOWAS to protest sanctions after military coups. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said: "We face the biggest challenges today, terrorism and climate change, unconstitutional changes in government, poverty, and economic disparities." He expressed confidence that the challenges would be overcome. ECOWAS was founded on May 28th 1975 with the aim of promoting regional economic integration, cooperation in security, human rights and democratic governance. Five decades after the founding of the group, Burkina Faso and Mali have both disassociated themselves from it, claiming that their interests are no longer served. These countries have created their own Alliance of Sahel States, a confederation and cut diplomatic and military ties with Western powers. They also sought to work more closely with Russia. Touray stated that ECOWAS will continue to try and cooperate with the three nations. Analysts in the security and political fields said that curbing insecurity is crucial to ECOWAS' ability to achieve its prosperity promises and lift millions out of poverty. Beverly Ochieng is a senior analyst with Control Risk, based in Dakar, Senegal. She said: "If there's no security, you can't guarantee a robust economic environment in the region." Analysts also criticized ECOWAS's silence when leaders amend constitutions in controversial ways to extend their ruling, leading citizens to applaud military coups. The opposition parties pointed to the example of Togo’s leader Faure gnassingbe who, after being granted the powerful new role of president of the Council of Ministers without a fixed term limit, was able to extend his rule indefinitely. MacDonald Dzirutwe reported from Lagos, Ope Adetayo from Abuja and Bate Felix edited the article.
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BTG sells Eletronuclear stake to Brazil utility Eletrobras
Three sources familiar with this deal said that Brazilian electric company Eletrobras tapped investment firm BTG Pactual for advice on the sale its remaining stake in the state-run nuclear energy generator Eletronuclear. After its privatization in 2020, Eletrobras no longer controlled Eletronuclear. However, it remained as a minority shareholder with 36% voting shares and 68% total capital. Eletrobras et BTG have declined to comment. The proposed sale was part of an agreement reached last month that increased the government's presence on Eletrobras' board, and allowed the utility to reduce their exposure to nuclear business. Eletronuclear is responsible for the operation of Brazil's nuclear power plants in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. The two reactors have a combined capacity of 1,990 Megawatts. The Angra 3 Project, a 1,405MW new unit, has also been stalled by difficulties in obtaining government approval. Eletronuclear faces economic and financial difficulties, since the revenue generated by its plants is not enough to cover its high costs. Specialists have also said that the national nuclear chain is also affected by a lack of planning. Globally, nuclear energy is gaining popularity as a cleaner and more reliable alternative to fossil fuels. The U.S., Europe and other markets are looking to restart or launch nuclear power projects in order to meet the increasing energy demand of artificial intelligence data centres. (Reporting and editing by Richard Chang; Luciana Magnhaes)
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Cummins India's quarterly profit drops as rising costs offset the price increases
Cummins India announced a lower profit for the fourth quarter on Wednesday as rising costs offset price increases it made to some of its generators. The company is a subsidiary of U.S. truck-engine maker Cummins Inc. Its profit was 5.30 billion rupees (about $62.1 million), which is 1.7% less than the 5.39 billion rupees it made a year earlier. Analysts attribute the company's increased sales of 6.4%, to 24.14 billion rupies, to higher prices during the quarter. This is especially true for its CPCB generator sets. About 40% of the sales are CPCB4+ generators, which comply with India's Federal Pollution Control Board's latest emission standards. Cummins India’s total expenses increased 9.2%, to 19.88 billion Rupees. This was primarily due to an increase of 16.8% in raw material prices. In February, the company said that it expects demand to grow in all sectors including power cars and tower cars for railways as well as construction. Cummins Inc, the parent company, has also withdrawn its annual forecast. This is in line with other automakers who are reevaluating their expectations due to the uncertainty created by President Donald Trump's new tariffs. The shares of Cummins India were flat on Wednesday, ahead of the results.
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After a glacier collapse, a Swiss village is evacuated after being hit by a torrent of ice and rock.
Authorities said that a huge chunk of a Swiss glacier broke off Wednesday afternoon, causing a torrent of ice and rocks to hit a mountain village that was evacuated earlier in the month because of the danger of a landslide. Matthias Ebener is a local authority spokesperson who said that no human casualties were reported. The rockslide was particularly damaging to the buildings and infrastructure of Blatten, an approximately 300-person village that had been evacuated from May 19, after geologists identified a risk of imminent avalanche rock and ice. The Swiss broadcaster SRF reported that the slide had destroyed houses and buried large parts of the village in the Loetschental Valley in southern Switzerland. Since ordering residents to leave, Swiss authorities have been closely monitoring the slopes of Blatten. A video widely shared on social media captured the moment the glacier partially fell, creating a cloud of rock and debris that rolled down the mountainside into the village. (Reporting and editing by Dave Graham.)
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Palestinian sources claim that Israeli forces have killed a third Palestinian in West Bank within 24 hours.
Israeli forces killed a Palestinian on Wednesday in the West Bank, according to the local health minister. This is the third Palestinian reported dead by Israeli forces within 24 hours. There has also been an increase in settler attacks against Palestinian villages in the occupied territories. The Palestinian Authority reported that Jewish settlers had also increased their efforts to gain new footholds on the West Bank. They said they had set up tents at seven different locations over the past 10 days, in an unprecedented burst. Since the Gaza War, Jewish settlements have accelerated in West Bank, the territory that Palestinians want for their future state. Violence has also increased there. Ahmed al-Sedda said that Jassem Ibrahim was killed by Israeli troops who stormed into his house in Jit village after midnight. He described a blood-stained pillow, mattress and blanket in his bedroom. The Palestinian official news agency WAFA said that this was in response to the death by Israeli forces on Tuesday of a Palestinian man aged 20 during a raid conducted in Jericho. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, Israeli forces killed another Palestinian in Nablus city on Tuesday. Israel's Military did not respond to a comment immediately. During the months-long military operation in the West Bank settler attacks against Palestinian villages have increased, while the new construction has accelerated during the right-wing Netanyahu government. SLOGANS RACIST Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that in their latest attack, Jewish settlers set fire to several vehicles and daubed racist messages on homes in Rammun village, east of Ramallah. Residents in the village Qaryout, near Nablus said that settlers threw stones at homes and set cars ablaze on Tuesday. Another attack took place on Tuesday near Ramallah in the village al-Mughayyir, where Palestinian crops were destroyed. The number of attacks spiked in early this month, after Palestinian militants killed a pregnant settler in the West Bank. Since 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza, the three main Palestinian territories that they want to form the future core of their state. Most countries view settlements as illegal. Israel denies this, citing the historical and Biblical links of the Jewish people with the area. Amir Daoud is a Palestinian Authority official that monitors settlement activities. He said settlers have pitched tents at seven different locations in the past 10 days - five in Ramallah, Jericho, and Nablus. He said: "This is a continuous and unprecedented escalation." Israel launched its biggest operation in the West Bank this year since the Second Intifada or uprising two decades ago. According to the U.N., the operation in northern cities Jenin and Tulkarm has caused more than 40,000 Palestinians to be displaced.
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Sources say that OPEC+ may decide to raise July prices this week after discussing 2027 baselines.
OPEC+ will discuss a mechanism to set baselines for production in 2027 at a Wednesday meeting, delegates reported. Separate talks scheduled for Saturday may agree on a further accelerated increase of oil output for July. Since a few years, the group, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, such as Russia has been discussing the new baselines, or production levels, from which each member can make cuts or increase. Baseline issues can be controversial, because some countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and others, have increased their oil producing capacity, arguing for higher quotas. Other members, such as Africans, have experienced a decline. Two delegates stated that the 22-member group may adopt on Wednesday a mechanism for establishing the baseline assessment of 2027. Sources said that the Wednesday meeting would not affect output policy. Eight OPEC+ member countries who are gradually increasing output will meet on Saturday and could agree to a July output increase of 411,000 barrels a day, just as they did in May and in June, according to the delegates. Due to the sensitive nature of the subject, all sources declined to provide their names. OPEC+ agreed to three levels of production cuts starting in 2022. Two are in effect until the end 2026, and the eighth member is unwinding the third. The production policy could theoretically include the 2027 baselines when all current output reductions expire. In April, oil prices dropped to a 4-year low below $60 per barrel as OPEC+ announced it would increase its production in May. Meanwhile, tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump raised fears of global economic weakness. Since then, it has recovered to around $65. Sources told us earlier this month that, on top of a July output increase, the eight countries may also unwind the rest of the latest cut by the end October. Reporting by Alex Lawler and Ahmad Ghaddar; Editing by Emelia S. Sithole-Matarise and Kirsty Donovan
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Trade chief: EU and US to discuss steel, chips, planes cooperation
Maros Séfcovic, European Commissioner for Trade, said that the European Commission and the United States are discussing possible cooperation in such sectors as aerospace, semiconductors, critical minerals, and steel. Sefcovic said that he spoke to his U.S. counterparts on an every-other-day basis to try to reach a deal limiting tariffs. Another call is due to take place on Thursday. "What we're looking at is first and foremost all the tariff lines. What can we do? How can we approach the market from this new perspective?" He told a news conference. Sefcovic stated that he discussed with U.S. secretary Howard Lutnick possible areas of transatlantic cooperation which would benefit both parties, naming aviation and semiconductors as well as steel, dependencies, especially for critical minerals, and steel. He said: "I am absolutely convinced that two of the largest trading partners in the world... simply need to find the best possible framework for trade and investment." We are working on this. "The intensity is high and I hope this will lead to the fair and balanced outcome in the end," said he. The European Commission (EC), which oversees the trade policy of the EU's 27 member states, has said that it believes the trade talks with the United States have gained new momentum this week, after President Donald Trump dropped the threat to impose tariffs of 50% on EU imports. This was after Trump's phone call with Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the Commission. They agreed to speed up talks. The EU wants an end to the 25% tariffs on cars and steel, and Trump should drop his "reciprocal tariff", which was initially set at 20% but is now held at 10% for a 90-day break until July. Washington is determined to reduce its goods trade deficit, which was nearly 200 billion euros ($226billion) last year. However, it has a large, but smaller, surplus in the services sector. ($1 = 0.8843 euro) (Reporting and Writing by Federico Maccioni, Editing by Mark Porter).
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BMW, Mercedes, VW seek tariff relief in return for US investment, Handelsblatt reports
The Handelsblatt reported that German automakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen were in discussions with the U.S. Department of Commerce about a tariff agreement which would include a mechanism for offsetting imports and exports. The report cited company sources to say that in exchange for tariff relief the companies would be able to invest billions of dollars in the United States. The report did not provide a specific amount. According to Handelsblatt, the goal is to reach a deal as early as July. BMW refused to comment. Mercedes and Volkwagen were not available to comment when contacted. Handelsblatt declined to comment. Following the report, shares of carmakers rose. BMW was up 3.1%; Volkswagen 2.2%; and Mercedes 1.8%. Germany's automakers, already struggling to cope with the protracted downturn in German industry as well as stiff competition from overseas, are now facing a new challenge. Fighting to stem The impact of import tariffs under U.S. president Donald Trump There is some optimism among executives. Volkswagen subsidiary, the largest auto exporter from the U.S. Recently, it was reported that there could be some movement in the next few months. BMW said that progress could be expected in July. Mercedes has also responded to the threat of tariffs with plans to Add production The GLC SUV is produced in Tuscaloosa Alabama. Reporting by Christina Amann, Victoria Waldersee and Rachel More Writing by Madeline Chambers Editing by Madeline Chambers
Russia implicates Ukraine of attempting to attack Kursk nuclear reactor with drone
Russia implicated Ukraine on Friday of attempting to assault the Kursk nuclear power station overnight in what it called an act of nuclear terrorism, days before the head of the U.N. atomic guard dog is due to check out the website.
The Ukrainian defence ministry did not right away react to an ask for talk about the allegation, the second that Moscow has made in 2 days.
The nuclear plant lies in the Kursk region of western Russia, where strong combating has raved because Ukrainian forces released a surprise attack on Aug. 6.
Russian state news company TASS estimated an unnamed source as stating the drone was shot down near a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. Reuters might not separately confirm information of the supposed event.
TASS estimated Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying it was an act of nuclear terrorism that required an instant response from the U.N. watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Firm.
The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, is due to visit the power station next week. He has appealed for optimum restraint to avoid a nuclear mishap.
Russian President Vladimir Putin initially accused Ukraine on Thursday of attempting to attack the facility, and stated Moscow had actually informed the IAEA. He did not supply information or proof of a Ukrainian attack.
Ukraine's lightning Aug. 6 incursion into Kursk, the biggest into Russia by a foreign power considering that World War Two, saw thousands of Ukrainian troops punch through Russia's western border, capturing Moscow by surprise.
Intense combating around 30 km (18 miles) from the nuclear plant has raved ever since as Russian soldiers fight to dislodge the Ukrainian soldiers who have actually sought to combine and expand the territory they control.
The plant has four reactors, of which two are functional. Construction of two more reactors started in 2018.
Russian state nuclear firm Rosenergoatom stated on Friday that system number 4 at the plant would be disconnected from the grid on Sunday for what it called arranged preventive upkeep lasting 59 days. It stated the work would involve modernisation and extending the life span of devices.
(source: Reuters)