Middle East: Trump seals a deal with Saudi Arabia, lifts sanctions on Syria
Donald Trump began a Middle East tour with major policy and economic announcements, including lifting long-standing US sanctions on Syria - a country rebuilding after civil war and regime change. The move, which follows a request by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, signals a dramatic policy shift. Trump also unveiled a $600 billion Saudi investment commitment in the USA and signed a record-breaking $142 billion arms agreement with Riyadh. The visit prioritised economic cooperation over security concerns and featured meetings with top US business leaders and Saudi officials. The deals, on energy, defence, and infrastructure, could eventually total $1 trillion. Trump praised bin Salman but avoided any mention of the 2018 Khashoggi killing. He also reaffirmed a hard stance against Iran, offering conditional diplomacy. His broader goal: to realign regional power structures, bolster US business, and isolate Tehran while pushing for eventual Arab-Israeli cooperation.
Burkina Faso: Africa’s youngest leader
Captain Ibrahim Traore, Africa’s youngest leader at 37, is gaining attention across the continent for his defiant rhetoric of pan-Africanism, anti-colonialism, and youth empowerment. Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, Traore has distanced Burkina Faso from France and ECOWAS, aligning instead with fellow coup-led nations Niger and Mali. His image, recently plastered over Russian state media when he visited Moscow, resonates with African youth disillusioned with older leadership and stalled democracies. However, behind the populist appeal, the country’s security has deteriorated sharply. Attacks from both government forces and jihadists have killed over 7,200 people in the past year - more than double the pre-coup toll. With 60% of the country beyond state control, millions are displaced or need aid. Yet for many, Traore’s revolutionary language reflects real frustrations with Western influence and entrenched corruption, making him a symbol of resistance - however flawed.
Uruguay: beloved former president dies
Jose ‘Pepe’ Mujica, Uruguay’s beloved former president and leftist rebel, has died at 89 after battling throat cancer. Revered for his humility, Mujica led Uruguay from 2010 to 2015, promoting civil liberties, legalising same-sex marriage and marijuana, and pushing for green energy reform. His decision to live in a simple farmhouse rather than in the presidential palace, and to drive around in an old Volkswagen Beetle, earned him the nickname ‘the world’s poorest president’. Once a member of the armed Tupamaros movement, Mujica spent years in solitary confinement during Uruguay’s military dictatorship. Following the country’s return to democracy, he entered politics with the Broad Front coalition, rising to the presidency by age 74. His death prompted tributes from across Latin America, honoring his courage, simplicity, and hope. Though once a fighter, Mujica later championed peace, dignity, and selfless leadership. In his final interview, he faced death with serenity, saying, ‘A warrior has the right to rest.’
California: largest single-day baptism in US history
Over 7,750 believers were baptised at Huntington Beach, California, marking the largest single-day baptism in US history. The event, hosted by Oceans Church and Pastor Mark Francey, gathered 30,000 attendees from over 300 churches statewide. Held as part of the Baptise California initiative, it surpassed last year’s record and is seen as a powerful spark for revival across America. The movement’s vision is expanding through the upcoming Baptise America event on Pentecost Sunday, seeking to unite churches nationwide in synchronised water baptisms. Organisers say that this initiative is not about one church but the entire Body of Christ, standing together in obedience to the Great Commission. Testimonies included a 71-year-old woman baptised after forty years of waiting, a symbol of God’s ongoing call to repentance and renewal. The team’s ultimate goal is lasting fruit: connecting new believers into local churches and fostering a growing, united movement of faith across the nation.
