2 presidents just fell

Welcome back to edition two!

I'm honestly thrilled you're here. Building this newsletter has been a wild ride—late nights pulling together stories from Lagos to Lima, chasing down the news that actually matters to us. Last week, so many of you reached out sharing which stories resonated, and it reminded me why I started this: we deserve a news source that sees us, celebrates us, and keeps us informed about our world. If you're finding value here, please forward this to a friend who'd appreciate it too. They can sign up here. Let's grow this community together.

Now, let's dive into what's happening across the Global South this week.

Warm wishes,

Deepa

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Madagascar's President Ousted Amid Youth-Led Protests: Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has been ousted by an elite military unit (CAPSAT) following weeks of youth-led "Gen Z" protests over economic hardship and corruption. Rajoelina reportedly fled the country, attempting to dissolve parliament, but lawmakers proceeded with impeachment. CAPSAT has declared itself in charge, suspended key democratic institutions, and promised elections within two years. Why it matters: This marks another instance of political instability in the island nation, with regional implications for democratic governance and the growing influence of youth movements. (More)

Peruvian President Ousted as Crime Surge Fuels Instability: Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was impeached and removed from office by Congress following a surge in violent crime, including a high-profile shooting at a concert, and widespread public dissatisfaction. The ouster came after parties that previously supported her withdrew backing amid her low approval ratings and perceived inaction against rising extortion and contract killings. The new interim president has vowed a "war against crime." Be smart: This highlights how escalating insecurity can rapidly destabilize political leadership in Latin America. (More)

US-China Trade War Escalates with New Tariffs and Mineral Restrictions: The US and China are escalating their trade dispute, with President Trump threatening 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and imposing export controls on critical software. This follows China's new export restrictions on rare earth minerals and related technologies, essential for defense and tech industries. Both nations accuse each other of protectionism and weaponizing economic policies. Why it matters: The deepening trade war between the world's two largest economies risks global supply chain disruptions and has significant geopolitical ramifications. (More)

Nigeria's CBN Cuts Interest Rate for First Time in Five Years: Nigeria's central bank lowered its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 27%, marking the first rate cut since 2020 to support economic growth amid easing inflation. (More)

Venezuela's Bolívar Continues Steep Devaluation Amidst High Liquidity The Venezuelan bolívar has lost over 250% of its value in 2025, with the official exchange rate reaching a new historic high of 191.36 bolívares per US dollar, driven by currency scarcity and unbacked monetary emission. (More)

Liberia Secures Unprecedented IMF Budget Support Amid Economic Stabilization Liberia's economy shows signs of stabilization with inflation dropping to 5.6%, and the country has secured unprecedented direct budgetary support from the IMF, with $12.5 million allocated to social sectors. (More)

AI Police Patrols in Dubai: Micropolis and the Dubai Police have officially deployed autonomous police patrol vehicles at Global Village. The electric vehicles are equipped with AI technologies and advanced sensors for facial recognition and license plate detection, aiming to enhance security operations and response times. (More)

Ghana Advances 5G Ambitions with Nokia Partnership: Ghana's Minister of Communications met with Nokia to discuss expanding digital infrastructure, including 5G deployment, fiber-to-the-home, and data center development, reinforcing the nation's commitment to digital transformation. (More)

Google to Invest $15B in Indian AI Data Centres: Google announced a US$15 billion investment to build out its AI data centre capacity in Andhra Pradesh, its largest AI hub investment outside the US. (More)

Santos Brasil's Investments Pay Off with 36% Revenue Surge: Santos Brasil reported a 36% revenue increase to US$530.6 million in 2024, driven by strategic investments in port capacity and a 22% year-on-year surge in container throughput. (More)

Algeria Boosts Renewable Energy with Reduced Tariffs in 2026 Budget: Algeria's 2026 Finance Bill proposes a 5% reduction in customs duties on inputs for photovoltaic solar panel manufacturing to support national production and energy security. (More)

Oman Invests $20 Million in US Semiconductor Firm to Enhance Global Presence: Oman's Investment Authority (OIA) is investing $20 million in US-based Movandi, a specialist in semiconductors and smart connectivity solutions, to bolster Oman's position in advanced technologies. (More)

Colombia's Fiscal Institutions Need Rebuilding Amidst Record Deficits: Colombia faces a structural fiscal crisis, with its deficit projected to reach 8% of GDP this year, a historic high, due to systemic failures in fiscal institutions and a lack of public understanding of fiscal discipline. (More)

Nigeria's Economic Reforms Show Early Signs of Stabilization, But Public Skepticism Lingers: President Bola Tinubu's administration's reforms, including scrapping fuel subsidies and unifying the naira, have increased external reserves and cleared civil servant arrears, though public skepticism remains due to elevated living costs. (More)

Libya's Frozen Assets: A Complex Battle Amidst Internal Division and International Guarantees: Libyan parliamentarians are lobbying the UN to unfreeze billions of dollars in frozen assets, but institutional division and calls for unification complicate efforts for asset release. (More)

Tunisia Seeks €54 Million for Solar Projects: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering two senior credit lines totaling €54 million to finance two solar projects in Tunisia, with a combined capacity of 298 MW. (More)

Namibia Awards N$191 Million Contract for Water Infrastructure Upgrade: The Central Procurement Board of Namibia has awarded a N$191 million contract to Adaptive Building Land Construction CC and China State Engineering Corporation for the replacement and upgrade of water pipelines in southern Namibia. (More)

China Petroleum Seeks Road Transport Services for Refined Oil in Qinghai: China National Petroleum Corporation Kunlun Logistics Co., Ltd. Qinghai Branch is seeking bids for refined oil road transport services for 2026, with an estimated pre-tax value of 24.77 million RMB. (More)

Tanzania Engages U.S. on New Visa Bond Requirement: The Tanzanian government is in diplomatic discussions with the United States regarding a new pilot program requiring Tanzanian nationals to post a refundable bond of $5,000 to $15,000 for short-term business and tourist visas, effective October 23, 2025. (More)

🎧 MUTANT by Guedra Guedra: The Marrakech-based producer has been fusing traditional sounds of the SWANA region with global electronic music. He says, “I wanted to challenge the way electronic music often treats non-Western sounds, to reverse the gaze and give full agency to these rhythms, voices, and textures.” (More)

“Lip Sync Assassin” by Jon Galvez: The 24th annual Spanish Film Festival, Película>Pelikula, returns to Manila from October 10-16, showcasing over 20 acclaimed films, including Filipino short films like Lip Sync Assassin which won multiple awards at the CinePride Film Festival. (More)

Maahi's 'Talab' EP Comes with a Micro-Drama Series: Pop artist Maahi is venturing into acting with his debut EP, 'Talab,' which is accompanied by its own micro-drama series, blending music and visual storytelling. (More)

Nobel Laureate's Journey from Refugee Camp to Climate Solutions: Omar Yaghi, a U.S.-Jordanian scientist of Palestinian descent, won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for pioneering metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with potential to combat climate change, his journey beginning in a refugee camp in Jordan. (More)

Desert Lions Turn Maritime Hunters: Namibia's desert lions have begun hunting Cape fur seals along the Atlantic coast, becoming the world's only known maritime lions, showcasing incredible resilience in the challenging Skeleton Coast environment. (More)