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Israel has approved a massive expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank in a move described as a continuation of de facto annexation of the territory. Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization that tracks settlements, said it was the largest expansion of settlements since the signing of the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. Israel will establish 22 new settlements, including deep within the West Bank and in areas from which the country had previously withdrawn, as part of the new security cabinet decision, according to a joint statement from Defense Minister Israel Katz and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. “All…

Credit ratings agency Moody's upgraded Nigeria's rating by a notch to "B3" from "Caa1" on Friday, May 30, citing significant improvements in the country's external and fiscal positions. Earlier this month, the World Bank said that Nigeria's economy achieved its fastest growth in about a decade in 2024, driven by a strong fourth quarter and an improved fiscal position. However, it warned that persistently high inflation remains a challenge. "The recent overhaul of Nigeria's foreign exchange management framework … has markedly improved the balance of payments and bolstered the CBN's (Central Bank of Nigeria) foreign exchange reserves," Moody's said in…