The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for an additional three years, providing continuity for African nations reliant on preferential access to the American market.

• The bill was approved with 340 votes to 54 and now proceeds to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
• Kenya is a top beneficiary of AGOA, with billions of shillings in annual export earnings from sectors like apparel, textiles, coffee, and nuts.
• President William Ruto welcomed the proposed extension, highlighting areas for expansion including apparel and textiles, agricultural products, and ICT and digital services.

President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on goods from countries doing business with Iran, amid increasing tensions and ongoing anti-government protests in Iran. This move comes as Trump's administration considers various military and covert options for intervention.

• Over 600 protesters have been killed in Iran during three weeks of anti-government demonstrations, according to rights groups.
• Iran's Foreign Minister has stated Tehran is open to talks with Washington but remains "prepared for war."
• The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that an Iranian official contacted Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, indicating private messages differ from Tehran's public stance.
• The proposed tariffs could significantly impact Iran's economy, which already faces severe US sanctions, a collapsing currency, and inflation that has driven food prices up by as much as 70%.
• China is Iran's largest trading partner, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and India, all of whom could be affected by the new tariffs.