In South Africa, Volodymyr Zelensky called for support for peace after yet another Russian attack on Kiev, while Kenya strengthens ties with China. In the United States, Marco Rubio negotiates over Iran's nuclear program and protests were held against the Trump administration. In Latin America, Daniel Noboa was re-elected president of Ecuador, while a state of emergency was declared in Colombia over a yellow fever outbreak. Tensions between India and Pakistan erupted after a terrorist attack in Kashmir. In Asia, South Korea and the U.S. negotiate to avoid new tariffs, while U.S.-China trade relations remain tense. In the economy, the EU fines Meta and Apple for violations of the Digital Markets Act, and the resumption of negotiations with China on the CAI approaches. Finally, the EU prepares a plan to phase out Russian fossil fuels.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
NORTH AMERICA
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
ASIA AND THE FAR EAST
WESTERN EUROPE AND EUROPEAN UNION
ECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA)
TERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
South Africa. Zelensky shortens visit and calls for support for peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cut short his first visit to South Africa due to a recent Russian missile attack on Kyiv that left at least nine dead and over 70 injured. After meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zelensky stressed the need to intensify global diplomatic efforts and requested support for humanitarian issues, including the return of prisoners and deported Ukrainian children. Ramaphosa acknowledged Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen ties with Africa and thanked Zelensky for the continued supply of grain. He reaffirmed that, for Pretoria, the only solution to the conflict lies in diplomacy, inclusive dialogue, and respect for the UN Charter.
Kenya. President Ruto strengthens ties with China during state visit.
Kenyan President William Ruto has begun a five-day visit to China, marking a deepening of strategic and economic relations between the two countries. Elected in 2022, Ruto seeks funding for key infrastructure projects, including the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway to Malaba and a major highway. Deals worth €750 million have already been signed with seven Chinese companies. Ruto also expressed Kenya’s interest in joining the BRICS group. The visit comes amid trade tensions with the United States, with recent tariffs imposed by Trump pushing Nairobi to seek new partners. During the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of cooperation with Kenya to strengthen Global South unity.
Giulio Ciofini
NORTH AMERICA
United States, Former Congressman Santos (R) sentenced. If less than three years ago, George Santos was seen as a rising star in the Republican Party, today the former New York congressman is in free fall. On Friday, a federal judge sentenced the 36-year-old to 87 months in prison, more than seven years. Santos, who in 2022 flipped a Long Island House seat long held by Democrats, had come under investigation for fraud shortly after announcing his candidacy. Federal prosecutors found that he not only defrauded donors, but also misused party funds and fabricated key aspects of his public identity. Following the ruling, Santos turned to social media, claiming on X that the decision was politically motivated and calling for help from President Donald Trump.
(Giovanni Ferrazza)
Day of Action : protests break out all over the US. On April 19, 2025, the “Day of Action” took place across the United States, organized by the 50501 movement with protests in all 50 states. Thousands of citizens marched to oppose the policies of the Trump administration, especially regarding immigration, the economy, and civil rights. Key issues included the wrongful deportation of immigrants, cuts to social programs, and Elon Musk’s growing influence over the government. Major cities like Washington D.C., New York, and San Antonio were heavily involved. In addition to marches and chants, many events included community initiatives like food distribution and educational activities. Popular slogans included “Trump must go” and “No kings.” The 50501 movement has become a symbol of civic resistance. Authorities largely tolerated the protests, which remained peaceful.
(Bianca Colli)
United States of America, Rubio negotiates over Iran’s nuclear programme. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is trying to reach an agreement that will block Iran’s access to nuclear weapons in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Rubio said that “if Iran wants a civil nuclear programme, they can have one just like many other countries,” but added that they would need to “import enriched material.” Iran’s chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi replied that “if America’s only demand is that Iran not have nuclear weapons, this is an achievable demand,” but outlined that if the demands are impractical and illogical it is only natural that they may run into problems.
(Lorenzo Graziani)
Lorenzo Graziani, Bianca Colli and Giovanni Ferrazza
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Colombia: State of Emergency Declared Over Yellow Fever Outbreak. Bogotá, April 16 – Health Minister Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo has declared a state of emergency in response to the yellow fever outbreak, which, from September 2024 to today, has resulted in 74 confirmed cases and 34 deaths. According to Jaramillo, the outbreak has spread progressively over a very short period. The most severely affected area is the Tolima region, where yellow fever – an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes – has caused around 22 outbreaks. According to the Instituto de Salud Pública of the Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, the country is facing its worst yellow fever epidemic in the past twenty years. The Institute attributes the situation mainly to three factors: the increase in humidity and heat levels due to climate change; the expansion of cultivated areas, which has altered the habitat of non-human primates; and the growing human mobility of our time, which allows the virus to spread more rapidly. To address the crisis, the government has announced the launch of a mass vaccination campaign.
Ecuador: Daniel Noboa Re-elected President with 56% of the Vote. On April 13, 2025, Ecuador re-elected Daniel Noboa, leader of the right-wing party Movimiento Acción Democrática Nacional, with 56% of the vote. Noboa, the son of a multimillionaire banana entrepreneur, will serve as president until 2029. The left-wing opposition candidate, Luisa González of the Movimiento Revolución party, secured only 44% of the popular vote. Among Noboa’s priorities for his new term are the creation of a “new Ecuador” – the slogan of his electoral campaign – with promises to tackle crime and violence, strengthen public security forces, overcome the severe energy crisis, and improve the country’s social and economic indicators.
(Nicole Mancinelli)
El Salvador, the unusual prisoner exchange between Bukele and Maduro. The Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele posted an interesting proposal on his X profile regarding a prisoner exchange with the government of Caracas. Specifically, Bukele offered the repatriation of 252 Venezuelan citizens deported by Washington to the high-security "CECOT" prison, a flagship institution of Bukele's administration and its fight against organized crime. In exchange, the Central American president requested the release of an equal number of political prisoners, including journalists, political activists, and opponents of the regime, from the Chavista government. The official correspondence was later presented to Nicolás Maduro, who will have to decide whether to cooperate with Bukele's politically adversarial government.
(Lucas Torres)
China, countermeasures against those who strike trade deals with US at its expense, this warning was issued by the China’s Ministry of Commerce on Monday, April 21st, in response to a Bloomberg report about Trump administration’s strategy. According to some sources familiar with the matter, Washington is engaging in negotiations with some countries, including Japan and Indonesia, to convince them to reduce their trade exchanges with China in return for lower tariffs or exemptions from the US restrictions on trade. According to the Chinese spokesperson, appeasing the United States will not bring peace, this is because the compromise will not be respected, and this approach will turn out to be a failure on both ends and detrimental for others. Moreover, if any appeasement does occur, the Chinese response to safeguard its own interests will be immediate and resolute.
Venezuela, Deportation of Alleged Criminals from the U.S. Suspended. The U.S. Supreme Court has halted the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang "Tren de Aragua," ordered by the Trump administration under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The measure had planned the transfer of migrants to the CECOT, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. The suspension followed an emergency appeal by the ACLU, which denounced arrests based solely on tattoos, without evidence of criminal activity. The centuries-old law had previously been used only during wartime. Meanwhile, a federal judge accused the administration of "contempt of court" for violating an order blocking the deportations. The White House announced it would appeal, reaffirming Trump’s commitment to combating illegal immigration and criminal threats.
(Alessia Boni)
Lucas Torres, Nicole Mancinelli and Alessia Boni
ASIA AND THE FAR EAST
Cambodia, 50 Years On: “Acts of Memory” Honors Resilience. On April 26, 2025, Cambodian Living Arts will present “Acts of Memory” to mark 50 years since the fall of Phnom Penh. On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge seized the capital, launching a genocidal regime that caused up to three million deaths and sought to erase culture and religion. Today, the memory of that tragedy still weighs heavily on Cambodian politics, with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party portraying itself as the nation’s savior. Through performances, ceremonies, and discussions, “Acts of Memory” pays tribute to a people who rebuilt their identity after the horrors of the “killing fields.” The initiative also highlights how struggles for memory and democracy remain central in Cambodia’s present.
(Valeria Picciolo)
South Korea, Preliminary Deal with the U.S. on Tariffs. South Korea and the United States have launched negotiations to reach an agreement aimed at removing U.S. tariffs before July 8, when the temporary suspension of the tariff measures imposed by Washington is set to expire. The preliminary understanding emerged from a meeting in Washington between South Korea’s Ministers of Finance and Industry and their U.S. counterparts. The future discussions will focus mainly on four areas: tariffs and non-tariff barriers, economic security, investment cooperation, and exchange rate policy. Through these talks, South Korea aims to protect its automotive sector, which has been particularly affected by the new U.S. protectionist measures. The talks were limited to trade issues, with sensitive topics such as the cost-sharing arrangement for the U.S. military presence in South Korea left off the agenda.
(Francesco Oppia)
We are still no closer to a US-China agreement on tariffs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has declared that this trade war is “not sustainable”, but despite several news outlets reporting in recent days on a possible nearly finalised agreement to resolve the trade war, Beijing denies it. The Chinese line is clear, and the words of He Yadong, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce, are illustrative: “If the U.S. truly wants to solve the problem, it should […] completely cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China and find a way to resolve differences through equal dialogue.” Beijing therefore says it is ready for dialogue, but only if the United States, that is, who started this trade war, will step back.
(Leonardo Di Girolamo)
Massacre of tourists in Kashmir: tension rises between India and Pakistan. On Tuesday, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, south Kashmir, left 26 tourists dead and many injured. Militants opened fire in Baisaran, a popular destination that can only be reached on foot. According to the Indian authorities, the attack was the work of the Resistance Front (TRF), affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of providing military support to terrorist groups, a charge rejected by Islamabad. The attack is the most serious in the region since the Pulwama massacre in 2019. Prime Minister Modi has promised harsh reprisals against those responsible and their principals. Diplomatically, India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty and blocked visas for Pakistani citizens. The government is also considering targeted military options, including air raids and the use of armed drones. Military sources do not rule out ground operations on sensitive targets along the Line of Control. Former commander DS Hooda confirmed that new operational capabilities allow targeted attacks from Indian territory. Local leaders such as Mehbooba Mufti and Sajad Lone strongly condemned the attack. Both denounced the risk of jeopardising the tourist and economic revival of Kashmir. The population, still shaken, fears a military escalation between the two countries. The Indian government assures that the fight against terrorism will be strengthened. Modi has promised to ‘pulverise every terrorist hideout’.The situation remains tense as security operations continue in the region.
(Ratì Mugnaini Provvedi)
Ratì Mugnaini Provvedi, Francesco Oppia, Valeria Picciolo, Antonella Franzelli and Leonardo Di Girolamo
WESTERN EUROPE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
EU, Meta and Apple fined. The European Commission has imposed fines totalling EUR 700 million on Meta and Apple for violations of the Digital Markets Act, the EU legislation that came into force in 2024 with the aim of limiting the power of large digital platforms. The two companies have already announced that they intend to appeal the decisions. If the charges are upheld, Apple will be fined €500 million for restricting the freedom of app developers to communicate directly with their users, hindering competition and penalising consumers. Meta, on the other hand, will have to pay EUR 200 million and has been fined for the ‘pay or consent’ system, present from 2023 on Instagram and Facebook, which obliges European users to accept the use of their personal data to receive targeted advertising or to pay a monthly subscription to continue using the platforms without advertising.
(Bianca Franzini)
The European Court of Human Rights has criticized member countries for their failure to protect victims of sexual violence. In particular, France was condemned by the Court for insufficient victim protection measures, procedural delays, and inefficiency in conducting investigations and trials, following the Pelicot case that shook the country deeply. The case was brought before the ECHR by three women who had already suffered violence and had their claims for justice rejected by the French court. After extensive investigation, the European Court concluded that the French state had failed to comply with several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly those concerning the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment and the right to respect for private life. The conviction sounds like a wake-up call for France, but also for all other states of the Union, which need to update their national legal disciplines on the matter.
(Francesca Rosti)
Bianca Franzini and Francesca Rosti
ECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
EU moving towards a stop to Russian fossil fuels. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the EU to act to secure energy for key industries and counter Russia's manipulation of energy markets at an energy security conference in London. Von der Leyen announced the forthcoming "roadmap", expected on May 6. She stated that it will propose "concrete measures to phase out all imports of Russian fossil fuels, ensuring that we no longer rely on a hostile power for our energy needs."
The plan has been delayed for weeks due to geopolitical uncertainty following U.S. President Donald Trump's improved relations with the Kremlin. However, Von der Leyen has previously expressed support for the idea of purchasing more American gas to reduce dependency on Russian shipments. At the same time, von der Leyen stated that concerns about potential Russian sabotage and cyberattacks against energy infrastructure are increasing, highlighting the need for more cross-border cooperation with strategic partners and countries like Britain.
(Bianca Franzini)
Latin America, IMF forecasts growth decline in the region. According to the
latest World Economic Outlook, a report published by the International Monetary Fund, the economy of Latin American countries is expected to experience a clear contraction in growth during 2025, dropping from 2.4% in 2024 to 2.0% projected for this year. The economic slowdown would be particularly concentrated in the Central American region, heavily influenced by the negative performance of Mexico, which is forecast to record a decline of -0.3%. This is a surprising figure when compared to the early-year projections, which estimated an expansion of 1.4%. The cause of this significant deviation from the January projections is attributed to the trade policies and geoeconomic instability imposed by the Trump administration on its trade partners, particularly Mexico.
(Lucas Torres)
China and the EU close to resuming negotiations on the Comprehensive Investment Agreement. The Chinese government is close to finalizing the lifting of sanctions imposed in 2021 on a number of European parliamentarians and entities. The dispute had arisen following the decision by EU bodies to sanction four Chinese officials linked to serious human rights violations against the Uyghur minority. The Chinese sanctions had simply been a retaliation against these measures by Brussels, which had eventually responded by freezing the ratification of the Comprehensive Investment Agreement - the CAI - abandoned and never resumed. The EP president, Roberta Metsola, has worked strenuously to rebuild a dialogue with Beijing: the impending lifting of sanctions would seem to be proof of this. Many expect this to be the signal for the reopening of negotiations on the agreement, which would allow privileged access for European companies operating in the Chinese market.
(Francesca Rosti)
Bianca Franzini, Lucas Torres and Francesca Rosti
CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPE AND RUSSIA
Orbán Opposes Ukraine's EU Accession: “EU Funding Is at Risk”. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has issued a strong warning regarding Ukraine's potential accession to the European Union, raising concerns over economic risks and the potential loss of EU funding. Speaking at a forum in Pilisvörösvár, Orbán stated that Kyiv's accession to the EU could severely damage the economy, agriculture, and security of member states. “Anyone who promises financial aid and supports Ukraine's EU accession is lying" he declared. According to the prime minister, the upcoming VOKS2025 referendum will be a crucial moment for defending Hungary's national interests, emphasizing that "helping does not mean self-destruction." Orbán is confident that the referendum will strengthen his position both nationally and within the EU, ahead of next year’s elections, reiterating firmly that an accelerated Ukrainian accession is "unrealistic”.
(Eleonora Tirolese)
Romania is preparing to vote: the consultation for the election of the President of the Republic will be repeated on May 4. After the annulment of the election results of November 2024 by the Constitutional Court of Bucharest, due to suspected “foreign interference”, Romania is once again called to vote. Since the Revolution of ’89, the society has never been so divided: between those who look to Moscow and those who chose Brussels, in an EU and NATO country where, however, there is fear of war on its borders in neighboring Ukraine. Between the Atlanticist and European orientation and the pro-Russian sovereignist one, the result could shift the fragile balance of the European Union. A week before the vote, almost half of Romanians still do not know who to vote for.
(Giuliana Cătălina Băruş)
Eleonora Tirolese and Giuliana Cătălina Băruş
MIDDLE-EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA)
Iran-US, new nuclear talks: the Omani embassy in the Italian capital hosted the second round of talks between the US and Iran concerning the latter's nuclear programme. Washington wants an end to the uranium enrichment programme, which Tehran, however, considers essential as a last instrument of deterrence against Israel. For now, the positions still appear difficult to reconcile, not to mention the lack of diplomatic and technical expertise of the US envoy, Steve Witkoff, a personal friend of President Donald Trump.
(Michele Magistretti)
Syria: Further sanctions lifted by the UK. The UK announced through a statement released on the Ministry of Finance website that it has taken steps to lift sanctions against the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office and 12 other government intelligence agencies. It is my understanding that the aforementioned entities were subject to an asset freeze, as were those of the Central Bank of Syria and 23 other companies, including banks and oil companies. The UK had already lifted the sanctions on these companies in March. However, the UK government has specified that sanctions on members of the Assad regime will remain in place. This news could be seen as part of a growing trend among Western countries in their relations with Syria led by President Al-Shaara.
(Matteo Francescucci)
Pope Francis, voice of hope for Gaza, In the last eighteen months of his life, Pope Francis maintained a constant connection with the Christian community in Gaza, particularly with the only Catholic church in the enclave, the Church of the Holy Family. Through repeated nightly phone calls, especially during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, he offered support and comfort to the approximately 600 people in the community, becoming a father figure and a symbol of hope in a war-torn territory. The Christian community in Gaza remembers him as a "brother" and a "friend," a beacon of hope in a time of great suffering.
(Chiara Bertolotto)
Matteo Francescucci, Michele Magistretti, Chiara Bertolotto
TERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
India, terrorist attack in Kashmir triggers tensions with Pakistan. The attack on Tuesday near Pahalgam in the Kashmir region, which cost the lives of 26 tourists (almost all Indians), has rekindled hostilities between India and Pakistan. According to the Indian authorities, the Resistance Front (TRF), an armed group affiliated with the Lashkar-e Taiba terrorist organisation, the latter active between Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, was behind the attack. The New Delhi government publicly accused Islamabad of “sponsoring” the terrorist group by providing military support. These accusations were rejected by the Pakistani government, which denied any involvement. The attack was the bloodiest in the troubled region since 2019, when a militant from the Jaish-e-Mohammad group drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a bus convoy of Indian paramilitary forces, claiming dozens of lives. Indian President Modi announced retaliatory actions against the perpetrators and his “principals”, implicitly referring to the “neighbour”.
(Davide Shahhosseini)
Rising Tensions Over Iran: New Moves by the US and Israel. In recent days, international tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have intensified. Washington announced new targeted sanctions, while Israel has stepped up diplomatic efforts to build a possible coalition against Tehran. According to U.S. sources, Iran has increased its production of enriched uranium beyond agreed limits, raising concerns over potential nuclear weapons development. Israel, for its part, declared it is ready to act unilaterally to stop the threat. Diplomatic negotiations with Iran, led by the European Union, appear stalled. Analysts fear the escalation could spiral into a regional conflict. The White House reaffirmed its commitment to a diplomatic solution but did not rule out “all options.”
Federica Placidi
Federica Placidi and Davide Shahhosseini
Framing The World is a project conceived and created by the collaboration between members of the team of Mondo Internazionale associates.
Alessia Boni: Latin America
Aurelia Puliafito: Sub-Saharan Africa
Bianca Franzini: Western Europe and the European Union
Caterina De Rosa: North America
Chiara Bertolotto: Middle-East and North Africa
Davide Shahhosseini: Terrorism and International Security
Federica Placidi: Terrorism and International Security
Francesco Oppia: Asia and Far East
Francesca Rosti: Western Europe and European Union
Giovanni Ferrazza: North America
Giulio Ciofini: Sub-Saharan Africa
Gonzalo Pereyra: Terrorism and International Security
Leonardo Aldeghi: Economics and International Finance
Leonardo Di Girolamo: Asia and Far East
Lorenzo Graziani: North America
Matteo Francescucci: Middle-East and North Africa
Michele Magistretti: Middle-East and North Africa
Nicole Mancinelli : Latin America
Ratì Mugnaini Provvedi: Asia and Far East
Silvia Pasetto: Central and Eastern Europe and Russia
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