🌎 The Donroe Doctrine

Happy New Year. Hope you recharged over the holidays.

While we were away, the global order kept fracturing. Iran's regime faces mass protests and brutal crackdowns. Cuba's economy is collapsing after losing its Venezuelan oil lifeline. China, Russia, and Iran launched joint naval exercises in South African waters. On a lighter note: China's 'Are You Dead?' app is making everyone laugh.

Glad to be back in your inbox.

Warm wishes,

Deepa

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Trump's "Donroe Doctrine" Reshapes Global Order: The Trump administration's assertive, unilateral foreign policy is upending the post-WWII global order, prioritizing raw power over international law and alliances. Why it Matters: This shift is forcing nations worldwide to reassess their relationships with the US, creating geopolitical uncertainty as allies and adversaries scramble to adapt to a superpower acting without traditional constraints. (More)

Iran Faces Existential Test Amid Mass Protests: Mass protests, fueled by a currency collapse and widespread hopelessness, have erupted across Iran, presenting the most significant challenge to the clerical regime in years. The regime, weakened by recent military setbacks, has responded with a brutal crackdown and internet blackout, with reports of hundreds, possibly thousands, killed. (More)

Cuba on Brink of Collapse After Maduro's Ouster: The US-led ouster of Venezuela's president has severed Cuba's lifeline of subsidized oil, pushing the island nation's economy toward total collapse. The bottom Line: This exacerbates existing shortages and a mass exodus, with the potential for energy infrastructure failure within weeks, intensifying an existential crisis for the communist government. (More)

China, Russia, Iran Launch Joint Naval Exercises in South Africa: China, Russia, and Iran have commenced joint naval exercises in South African waters, described as a "BRICS Plus" operation with Brazil, Egypt, and Ethiopia observing. This military cooperation solidifies an emerging geopolitical bloc of US rivals, challenging the global security architecture and reinforcing the trend toward a multipolar world amid heightened tensions with the Trump administration. (More)

Morocco Launches National AI Strategy Targeting $10 Billion GDP Boost: Morocco's "AI Made in Morocco" strategy aims to add $10 billion to its GDP and create 50,000 AI-related jobs by 2030, including investments in AI centers and talent development with Mistral AI. (More)

Amazon's Project Kuiper Secures Nigerian License: Nigeria has granted Amazon's Project Kuiper a seven-year license to operate satellite internet services from 2026, introducing significant competition to Starlink in the low-Earth orbit broadband market. (More)

HIVE Digital Technologies Deploys AI Cloud Platform in Paraguay: HIVE Digital Technologies is deploying one of South America's first Tier III AI BUZZ Cloud platforms in Paraguay, powered by renewable hydroelectricity to serve academic, enterprise, and healthcare sectors. (More)

Mercosur and EU Finalize Landmark Trade Agreement: The Mercosur-European Union trade agreement, covering 800 million consumers and a combined $22 trillion GDP, was formally signed in Paraguay, underscoring its importance for increased exports and investment. (More)

Nigeria and UAE Ink Comprehensive Economic Partnership: Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), eliminating tariffs on over 13,000 products to significantly expand market access and investment flows between the two nations. (More)

Guinea's Simandou Iron Ore Project Commences Shipments: Guinea's globally significant Simandou iron ore project, backed by $200 billion in projected investments, has commenced shipments, marking a new era for the country's economic transformation and its role in the global iron ore market. (More)

US Dollar Drops, Gold Rallies Amid Fed Independence Concerns: Political pressure on the US Federal Reserve, including a criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell, has raised concerns over central bank independence, causing the dollar to fall and gold prices to hit a record high. JPMorgan warns such interference could lead to higher inflation and interest rates. (More)

Venezuelan Bolívar Plummets 507%, Hyperinflation Looms: Venezuela's official exchange rate depreciated by 507% in 12 months, reaching 321.03 bolívares per dollar by January 2026. Economist José Guerra warns this rapid devaluation puts the country on the brink of hyperinflation, with the parallel market rate already exceeding 400 bolívares. (More)

Colombia's Central Bank Signals Rate Hikes Amid Inflation: Colombia's 2025 inflation reached 5.10%, exceeding the central bank's target, prompting calls for a higher policy rate. With a 23% minimum wage increase for 2026 expected to fuel inflation further, analysts forecast potential rate hikes of 250-300 basis points. (More)

Brazil Initiates Test Phase for Landmark Tax Reform: Brazil's government launched a digital platform for businesses to begin reporting test rates for its new consumption tax system, allowing companies to adapt before full implementation. (More)

Niger's Uranium Shipment to Russia Stalled: A shipment of 1,000 tons of uranium concentrate sold by Niger's military junta to Russia's Rosatom is stuck at Niamey airport amid security risks and international pressure, with the overland transfer halted. (More)

Yemen Consolidates Military and Political Power: Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council announced the formation of a Supreme Military Committee to unify armed forces and dissolved the Southern Transitional Council, framing the moves as necessary to consolidate the state and counter the Houthi coup. (More)

🇺🇬🇹🇿 US Imposes Costly Visa Bonds on Ugandans, Tanzanians: Effective January 21, 2026, US B1/B2 visa applicants from Uganda and Tanzania will require a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 to deter overstays. Why it matters: This policy creates a substantial financial barrier for citizens of these nations, potentially curtailing tourism, business, and family visits. (More)

US & EU Rules for African Visas: The US has nearly doubled its list of restricted nations to 39, adding four more African countries to a full travel ban and imposing partial restrictions on 12 others. Simultaneously, EU Schengen visa rejection rates for African applicants have risen to 26.6%, with further restrictions expected. (More)

UK Proposes Longer Residency Path for Care Workers: Proposed UK immigration rule changes would extend the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five to 15 years for care workers, impacting over 21,000 Zimbabweans on Health and Care Worker visas. Be smart: Critics warn this will worsen staffing shortages and increase exploitation. (More)

Lebanon Prepares RFP for Global Electronic Betting Platform: The Lebanese Ministry of Finance and Ministry of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence are preparing to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of a world-class electronic betting platform. (More)

Rodrigues Launches $170 Million Airport Expansion Tender: Airports of Mauritius Co. Ltd (AML) has issued an international call for tenders for the construction of a new 2.1 km runway and associated facilities at Plaine Corail Airport, with offers due by April 8, 2026. (More)

Nigeria Seeks Private Partners for $460 Million Fibre Network Rollout: Nigeria is establishing a new fibre infrastructure company, backed by $460 million from the World Bank, and is seeking private sector partners for a joint venture to deploy 90,000 km of broadband fibre. (More)

📚 The Journey of an 11-year-old Christian girl by Nonofo Reetsang: Discover the inspiring debut novel from Botswana's 11-year-old literary sensation, Nonofo Reetsang, an award-winner at the Botswana Literature Awards. (More)

📺 O Agente Secreto: This Brazilian thriller made history by winning the Golden Globe for Best Non-English Language Film, with Wagner Moura becoming the first Brazilian to win Best Actor in a Drama at the Golden Globes. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, it has collected over 50 international awards. (More)

🎧 Mohashoshan by Shonar Bangla Circus: For psychedelic rock fans. A massive sophomore double album from one of the most influential bands on the modern Bengali rock scene. They blend rock with surrealist literature, creating a theatrical musical experience that transcends traditional band performances. (More)

Prevent Ingrown Hairs on Darker Skin: Individuals with deep skin tones and curly hair are susceptible to ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Gentle exfoliants like azelaic acid and salicylic acid can help, while Nd:YAG laser is recommended for safe, long-term hair removal on darker skin tones. (More)

California Fortifies Tortillas to Combat Birth Defects: California now requires corn masa to be fortified with folic acid to reduce neural tube birth defects, addressing a health disparity as Latina women historically have lower folic acid intake from traditional diets. (More)

China's Viral 'Are You Dead?' App Offers Solo Living a Darkly Humorous Safety Net: A minimalist app named 'Are You Dead?' has topped China's paid app charts, addressing anxieties among those living alone by emailing an emergency contact if a user misses two daily check-ins. This simple, darkly humorous solution offers a subtle safety net. (More)

Moroccan Fossils Push Back Human Ancestry by Hundreds of Thousands of Years: New fossil discoveries in Morocco, dating back 773,000 years, suggest the human lineage diverged earlier than previously thought, challenging existing models of ancestry and reinforcing Africa's pivotal role in humanity's origins. (More)

Zebras Take a Stroll Through Downtown Bulawayo: Commuters in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, were met with an extraordinary sight as two zebras casually roamed along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street, causing a delightful stir and temporary traffic disruption. (More)