Financial Times: The heatwave that has pushed corn prices to record highs threatens a new food crisis – Unyielding heat and the worst drought in over 50 years have significantly weakened the crops in the US corn belt. As a result, “prices for corn, soybeans, soyameal and rapeseed have exploded to record highs.” The US leads the world in agricultural commodity exports, and “government officials fret that a further surge could induce panic buying by importers or export restrictions in the world’s breadbaskets,” turning the high prices into a food crisis. (Gregory Meyer)
AP: Economist: Africa Growing, Political Risks Remain – African Development Bank announced that progress is expected for Africa’s economy; however, persistent political instability, unemployment and the global recession could bring the continent down. (Jon Gambrell)
VOA: U.S. Secretary Clinton Begins Africa Tour – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to visit South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa to promote economic growth and democracy in the region. Clinton will also focus on the threat from Islamist militants and China’s influence in Africa.
AP: Uganda: Ebola Breeds Caution – Six more patients believed to have the highly infectious Ebola virus have been hospitalized in western Uganda. Investigators confirmed an outbreak of the disease, which was at first concentrated in a single village, on Monday, but Ebola is now being reported in multiple villages in the region. The six new cases would bring the total number of Ugandans infected this month to 26; 14 have died thus far.
