Nigeria, Guinea Bissau, Saudi Arabia
Today's three stories you should know
Nigeria
Fifty of more than 300 children kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in Nigeria have escaped, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria, as pressure mounts on the government to rescue the victims. Several schools across the country have closed for fear of similar incidents. The reported number of children and teachers snatched from St Mary’s school surpasses even the kidnapping of the Chibok girls more than a decade ago—an incident that drew worldwide attention. Nigeria, particularly the northwest, has been plagued for years by criminal gangs who kidnap people, often children, for ransom.
More from France 24 here.
Proximities Picks
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Guinea-Bissau
Bissau-Guineans go to the polls today in a presidential election political analysts expect to be decided by a razor-thin margin. The country has had at least nine coups between 1974, when it won independence from Portugal, and 2020 when current President Umaro Sissoco Embalo took office after an election. If Embalo wins, he will become the first leader to serve a second term in three decades. His main opponent is Fernando Dias, relatively new to politics, who has slammed Embalo for failing to combat the drug trade. Rights groups say the opposition was denied the space to campaign freely.
More from Reuters here.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has quietly begun loosening restrictions on the sale of alcohol for non-Muslim foreign residents, according to a report in Semafor, citing people familiar with the matter. Holders of so-called premium residency are now permitted to buy alcohol at a store that was formerly reserved for foreign diplomats. The move is likely linked to the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify its oil-reliant economy and attract foreign investors and tourists. Saudi aims to welcome 150 million tourists annually by 2030. The premium residency program was launched in 2019 to attract high-income foreign workers.
More from Semafor here.
Wonder how well the locals will accept a different set of rules for non-Muslim residents.
I doubt that alcohol is the first perk provided, and it's likely going to be accompanied by many more.
This is a prescription for future internal unrest.
Gotta make it more fun to visit Saudi Arabia since trump wants people to come and spend money in his blood soaked buildings.