Non Grata
Good Morning -
Time to call timeout. Take a chill pill and relax. The world is so tense, tempers are flaring like a bad case of hemorrhoids. Can’t we all just get along?
Trending 📈
Israeli air strikes have toppled the cease-fire agreement with Hamas in the Gazan war. Early morning strikes have claimed the lives of hundreds of Palestinians and injured scores more. This is clearly a setback in peace talks as Israel is putting pressure on Hamas to bring home the rest of the hostages.
As warfare ramps up in Gaza, talks are underway in Qatar between Congolese and Rwandan leaders to reach an immediate ceasefire in Eastern DRC. The conflict in this region has been raging for months with a convoluted and confusing set of characters that are wreaking havoc and no discernable endgame. let’s hope the talks in Qatar end the fighting.
The U.S. sent the South African ambassador packing and gave him 72 hours to leave the country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rage posted to X stating that Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was a “race-baiting politician” and was no longer welcome in the United States.
This row between countries has gotten bigger since Trump and Musk scolded South Africa for its “racist” policies against whites. We are curious if the new US administration actually knows the history of racial strife in South Africa- or do they even care? Stay tuned because we are sure there will be more drama in this intercontinental diss session.
📈 In more political beef - Rwanda has cut political ties with Belgium over -”neo-colonial delusions”. Paul Kagame’s administration has been frustrated by Belgium, as they claim that the European nation has been undercutting and undermining the current conflict situation in Eastern Congo. Belgian diplomats have been given 48 hours to “kick rocks” (leave the country). Belgium has said it will retaliate in kind and has expressed disappointment in the decision coming out of Kigali.
Business 💸 💹
Against protest from Taiwan - South Africa has renamed Taiwan's de facto embassy on its official website from "Taipei Liaison Office" to "Taipei Commercial Office," categorizing it under "international organizations represented in South Africa."
This move is perceived as an effort by South Africa to strengthen ties with China amid recent diplomatic tensions with the U.S. under the Trump administration.
Earlier, South Africa had requested Taiwan to relocate its embassy from Pretoria to Johannesburg, further indicating a shift in diplomatic stance.
Finance 🪙 💹
[AI Summary]
💰Gold has recently surpassed the $3,000 per ounce mark for the first time, marking a significant milestone in its historical price trajectory.
Why is gold taking off?
Geopolitical Tensions: Escalating conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, have heightened global uncertainty, prompting investors to seek refuge in safe-haven assets like gold.
Trade Wars and Economic Concerns: Ongoing trade disputes, especially those involving major economies, have fueled fears of a global economic slowdown, increasing gold's appeal as a protective investment.
Monetary Policy and Interest Rates: Anticipations of monetary policy easing and potential interest rate cuts by central banks have reduced the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, thereby boosting its attractiveness.
Central Bank Purchases: Central banks, particularly in emerging markets, have been augmenting their gold reserves, contributing to increased demand and supporting higher prices.
Since we are talking about precious materials, diamonds are known as a girl's best friend and a rappers side peice, and Botswana got the memo. They are targeting young and rich Americans with big natural … Gems. They are taking to social media- TikTok and IG to allure rich Americans with a sense of luxurious and flashy lifestyle. Botswana is Africa’s leader in Diamond production and they are using social platforms to grow their business and spur economic growth.
Tech 🧑💻 📲
Google acquires Wiz - Google just dropped a cool 32 billion dollars (you read that right) on Wiz a cloud security start-up. This is the biggest transaction in Google’s history, making their then huge purchase of YouTube (1.65 Billion in 2006) seem like peanuts. The acquisition aims to help Google compete with other tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft in the cloud-computing race. Until this purchase, the largest acquisition was Motorola Mobility which was snagged for a mere 12.5 Billion in 2012. Somebody has a lot of cash to throw around.
Real Estate 🏦 🏘️
Archaeologists have unearthed the legendary capital of the ancient Kaabu empire in Guinea-Bissau, and they're sharing their groundbreaking findings through the vibrant melodies of traditional griot songs! Nino Galissa, a seventh-generation griot and descendant of the empire's last emperor, has masterfully woven the archaeological discoveries into his music, blending the rich oral traditions with cutting-edge research.
This innovative collaboration not only brings history to life but also honors the timeless role of griots as custodians of African heritage. By merging song and science, the team ensures that the story of Kaabu resonates powerfully with local communities, making the past both accessible and exhilarating.
Small Chop 🗞️🍲
Oooh La La - did you guys see Tyla recently? The sexy South African was recently spotted in Paris during Fashion Week. She attended Chanel’s show and stunned in a hot pink mini-skirt with a matching strapless top, can you say - show stopper? Her Chanel skirt suit was reminiscent of the heyday of the famous brand. Tyla- you de make us sweat!
Dish of the Week 🥘🍛
Ok so Botswana has a lot of diamonds - big deal. But what do they have to chop!? Apparently Seswaa is the thing to eat. So we had to try it. Seswaa is a slow-cooked meat dish (normally beef or goat) that simmers for hours with spices and is served with pap (ground corn) or sorghum. It was good! The meat was tender and the flavour not overpowering.