Elon Musk has escalated his war of words with Donald Trump, threatening to create a new political party called the “America Party” if the president’s massive tax and spending bill becomes law.

The world’s richest man declared it was “time for a new political party that actually cares about the people” after claiming the bill’s huge spending showed “we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” He then said if the “insane spending bill passes”, the “America Party will be formed the next day”.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced its ex-depot price for premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to N840 per litre in response to falling global crude oil prices.

The new price marks a N40 decrease from the previous rate of N880 per litre, which it set just one week earlier. The price cut also follows a drop in Brent crude oil’s price by 1.54 per cent from $68.67 on 23rd June to $67.61 by the close of business on Monday.

Mali has completed its takeover of the Yatela and Morila gold mines, both abandoned by their previous owners, the government announced at the weekend, though questions remain over how the operations will be funded and revived.

The moves mirror similar resource nationalisation efforts by other West African states including Burkina Faso and Niger, as the region seeks to regain control of its natural resources and leverage high commodity prices to boost economic growth.

Mali’s military leaders, who took power after coups in 2020 and 2021, announced their intentions to nationalise the mines last year. Since seizing control, the military government has pressured foreign mining companies through increased taxes, revised contracts, regulatory crackdowns and a general pivot from Western investors to Russian interests.

Read Also: Land is gold: What every Nigerian should know before 2030

The European Union is scrambling to strike a deal with America before a crucial deadline that could see trade costs soar for European companies.

Brussels is willing to accept Donald Trump’s plan to charge a 10% tax on most European goods sold to America – a significant increase from current levels. However, EU negotiators want lower rates for important industries like medicine, alcohol, computer chips and aircraft manufacturing.

The bloc also wants special arrangements to reduce America’s much higher taxes on European cars (25%) and steel and aluminium (50%), according to sources close to the talks.

European officials see the proposed deal as giving America the upper hand, but believe it’s still worth accepting to avoid a far worse outcome.

The EU has until 9th July to reach an agreement with Trump. If talks fail, America will impose a punishing 50% tax on almost all European exports – a move that would make European products much more expensive for American consumers and devastate trade between the two economies.

Seven people died during anti-government protests in Togo last week, human rights activists have claimed, accusing security forces of using “shocking violence” against demonstrators calling for the resignation of longtime leader Faure Gnassingbe.

The protests, which began last Thursday amid what critics describe as a cost-of-living crisis, saw soldiers deploy tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, according to Reuters witnesses.

A joint statement by 12 Togolese civil society and human rights groups accused security forces of carrying out arbitrary arrests, beating civilians with batons and ropes, and stealing and destroying private property.

The groups said three bodies, including two minors, were found on Friday in Be lagoon, east of the capital Lome.