Keir Starmer defends trip to South Africa for G20 summit as budget looms

The United States has announced exemptions for several Brazilian agricultural products, including beef, coffee, and tomatoes, from recently imposed tariffs. This decision comes as President Donald Trump faces increasing pressure from voters regarding rising living costs, following a rollback of reciprocal farm tariffs.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to negotiate with former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a U.S.-backed peace proposal that requires Ukraine to make significant concessions to end the ongoing conflict with Russia. The president's office confirmed receipt of the draft plan, which was developed by U.S. and Russian officials, and indicated that discussions with Trump would occur in the coming days.

A weekly round-up of stories from Africa with Georja Calvin-Smith highlights the update of a significant book detailing the continent's historical contributions. The report also notes the troubling decline of South Africa's household help sector, which has lost approximately 400,000 jobs in five years. Additionally, there are increasing reports of civilian suffering amid the RSF's conflict to control El Fasher in Darfur.

Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of the G20 as a vital platform for promoting British business, despite Donald Trump's decision to boycott the summit in South Africa. Starmer's remarks highlight the ongoing relevance of the G20 in global economic discussions.

The COP30 climate summit in Brazil was disrupted on Thursday due to a fire that broke out at the venue, leading to the evacuation of attendees. Thirteen individuals were treated for smoke inhalation as organizers managed the chaotic situation. The incident occurred while negotiators were preparing to finalize a deal aimed at enhancing global climate action.

The funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney took place at Washington National Cathedral, attended by a bipartisan group of former presidents and dignitaries. Notably absent were Donald Trump and JD Vance, highlighting ongoing political divisions. The event was marked by tributes from figures like George W. Bush and Liz Cheney, but there was no memorial for those killed in Iraq, raising questions about the legacy of Cheney's policies.

Nancy Pelosi, the US speaker emerita, criticized Donald Trump's anti-climate remarks made at the UN General Assembly, labeling him as 'the biggest con job in American history.' Trump had described the climate crisis as 'the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.' Pelosi's comments were made during a press conference addressing the US's absence from the upcoming Cop30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, where 195 countries will be represented.

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Biafran separatist movement, has been convicted of terrorism charges by a Nigerian court. The court found him guilty of inciting violence in his campaign for a separate state in southeastern Nigeria. This conviction follows a series of violent incidents linked to his leadership, raising concerns about ongoing tensions in the region.