AMERICA
AFRICAN SUMMIT IN PARIS – “The high and growing debt burden of some African economies further limits their ability to respond to the crisis.” dixit Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States
The entire speech of Janet Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the summit on the financing of African economies convened in Paris by President Emmanuel Macron. 16 African Heads of State were present including Senegalese President Macky Sall and Congolese Félix Tshisekedi and Denis Sassou-Ngesso.
“It is a pleasure to join you today on behalf of President Biden. The United States is committed to supporting African countries to recover from this pandemic. This includes helping to mobilize the financing needed to pay for vaccines, meet debt obligations and support economic development.
We have already made progress, but we need to do more together to ensure a sustainable economic recovery in Africa.
Ending the pandemic must be our top priority.We need to partner to provide vaccines, funding and therapies as widely as possible.The United States has committed $4 billion to the COVAX Facility to fund access to vaccines around the world, and we call on other countries to step up their support.
The high and growing debt burden of some African economies further limits their ability to respond to the crisis. The common G20 framework can be a useful tool for these countries facing serious debt difficulties. Its success requires full and transparent implementation by all creditors, as well as coordination between the IMF and the World Bank.
In addition, we must support African investments for a sustainable and green recovery. We should seize this opportunity to facilitate structural transformations, helping to make African economies more inclusive and resilient to future shocks, including those related to climate change. We are also working to strengthen the capacity of the IMF, the World Bank and the African Development Bank to increase their support to the poorest economies.
A new allocation of IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) can be an important component of this broader set of international support.
An allocation should be accompanied by increased transparency and accountability in the use of SDRs, as well as clear guidance from the IMF when countries decide how best to use their SDRs to combat the crisis and restore economic stability.
We strongly support the study of how major economies can channel SDRs to amplify support to low-income countries, including by lending SDRs to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust Fund (GPSF). IMF and other vehicles that could provide low-cost health finance and promote a green recovery.
Finally, African countries will also need to focus on domestic resource mobilization, private finance and investment climate reform to help rebuild more sustainably.
Achieving our shared goals for a resilient and prosperous Africa requires strong global cooperation and a common sense of commitment. I look forward to working with our African partners, the G20 and other international partners to advance our shared priorities.”
United States Department of the Treasury
May 18, 2021
AMERICA
BRAZIL – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on a state visit to France on June 5 and 6, 2025
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be on a state visit to France on 5 and 6 June. He will be welcomed in Paris by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, accompanied by his wife Rosângela Lula da Silva.
This official trip comes as a follow-up to the renewed action plan between France and Brazil, sealed during Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Brazil in March 2024. Objective: to strengthen bilateral cooperation in strategic areas such as defense, economy, biodiversity, energy transition, culture and the fight against disinformation.
This high-level meeting is also part of a busy international agenda for both countries. It precedes by a few days the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which will be held in Nice from 9 to 13 June, as well as the COP30 of Belém next November. Two major events where France and Brazil plan to unite their voices to advance global environmental issues.
The visit will also be part of the 2025 Brazil-France Season, an exceptional cultural program that highlights the Brazilian artistic and intellectual scene throughout the country.
Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the White House, reaffirmed on Monday, June 2, 2025, the willingness of US President Donald Trump to see Russia and Ukraine begin peace negotiations. During a press conference, she insisted on the importance of direct dialogue between the two parties to end a conflict that has already cost too many human lives.
Speaking to reporters, Leavitt recalled that President Trump strongly supports a return to the negotiating table, drawing in particular on previous talks held in Istanbul. “The president wants the two leaders, along with their delegations, to sit at the negotiating table. Today, we saw that this was possible thanks to his insistence,” she said, while specifying that only Trump will express himself in detail on his position.
Asked about a recent drone attack attributed to Ukraine and targeting Russian territory, Leavitt preferred to insist on the need for a de-escalation. “This war must now end. It has been merciless for both sides, and far too many lives have been lost,” she said.
These remarks, relayed by the Anadolu agency and translated from Turkish by Ayse Betul Akcesme, reflect a new direction in the communication of the White House, emphasizing the role that Washington wishes to play to encourage a diplomatic solution.
Although President Trump has not yet spoken personally about these recent developments, his spokesperson suggests that an initiative in favor of peace could take shape in the coming weeks.
Photo credit: White House
Elon Musk announced the end of his role as a special government employee in President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday, 29 May 2025, marking the conclusion of his involvement with the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk, who had been appointed to lead efforts to reduce federal bureaucracy and public spending, expressed his gratitude to President Trump for this opportunity to serve.
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk wrote, “Grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to serve. It was a difficult but rewarding experience.”
Shortly after his message, a White House official confirmed his departure and indicated that his resignation process “will begin this evening.”
Musk’s departure comes after his public criticism of President Trump’s “great and beautiful bill”, a legislative package that includes tax cuts and immigration control measures but significantly increases the federal deficit.
Musk described the bill as counterproductive to the DOGE’s mission and expressed disappointment.
During his tenure, Musk has implemented drastic cost-cutting measures through the DOGE, including mass layoffs and termination of federal contracts. These actions have led to strong criticism, protests – including against Tesla – and dozens of lawsuits, as well as concerns about attempts to access private government data.
A federal judge recently allowed a complaint filed by 14 American states against Musk and the DOGE to proceed.
This complaint accuses Musk and the DOGE of unconstitutional actions, including unauthorized access to government data systems, cancellation of federal contracts and dismissal of federal employees.
Musk plans to refocus on his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, and reduce his political contributions. Despite initial optimism, Musk admitted his frustration with bureaucratic resistance in Washington.
The White House plans to implement some of the reductions recommended by the DOGE through budget cancellations. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill will increase deficits by $3.8 trillion over a decade, while regulators remain skeptical of claims that it will be deficit-neutral.
Sources: AP
Photo credit: Elon Musk page
