GLOBAL MARKETS Asian equities inched lower on Wednesday ahead of a crucial U.S. inflation report that will likely influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy path, with markets wagering another hike in interest rates at the central bank's next meeting. WORLD OIL PRICES Oil prices were mostly steady on Wednesday as the market waited for U.S. inflation data later in the day that will likely influence the Federal Reserve's policy on future interest rate hikes. EMERGING MARKETS For the top emerging markets news, double click on AFRICA STOCKS For the latest news on African stocks, click on SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS
The South African rand gained against the dollar on Tuesday as the U.S. currency fell ahead of inflation data, which could provide some clues on the monetary policy trajectory of the Federal Reserve.
KENYA MARKETS
The Kenyan shilling weakened slightly against the dollar on Tuesday, as fuel importers sought limited foreign currency, traders said.
NIGERIA ELECTION
Nigeria's ruling party has asked the Appeals Court to dismiss a petition by third-placed candidate Peter Obi who is challenging the victory of president-elect Bola Tinubu following a disputed election in February, court documents showed on Tuesday.
KENYA LIVESTOCK
Kenya will spend $140 million to roll out an expanded insurance scheme for livestock farmers to cushion them against the vagaries of frequent droughts, officials said on Tuesday.
ETHIOPIA SECURITY
Several people in Ethiopia's Amhara region were shot on Tuesday during a sixth day of demonstrations against federal government plans to integrate local defence forces into the police and national army, a local official and a hospital worker said.
GERMANY CHAD DIPLOMACY
Berlin has ordered Chad's ambassador to Germany to leave the country within 48 hours in response to a similar move by the Central African country last week, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
IVORY COAST SHIPPING
A Singapore-registered oil tanker was boarded by "unidentified persons" about 300 nautical miles (555 km) off Ivory Coast in the Gulf of Guinea, the city-state's port authority said.
ZAMBIA DEBT
World Bank President David Malpass on Tuesday called for urgent moves to finalize a debt restructuring plan for Zambia, and said the size of its debt was so small it could not pose a financial burden to China, now the world's largest sovereign creditor.
SUDAN POLITICS
The United Nations expressed concern on Tuesday about a request for a fatwa seeking the assassination of its head in Sudan, as loyalists of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir stepped up opposition to a draft deal for a new civilian government.
CONGO FORESTS
A ministerial commission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recommended terminating 30 forest concessions due to alleged irregularities, it said in a preliminary report published on Tuesday.
CONGO MINING
A subsidiary of the Democratic Republic of Congo's state mining company Gecamines said on Tuesday it had secured $75 million in funding to build a new hydro-metallurgical unit to produce materials used in the manufacturing of semiconductors.
KENYA FOREX
Kenyan President William Ruto said on Tuesday he expected the shilling to strengthen to below 120 per dollar in the next couple of months, citing an oil import deal that will cut demand for dollars, but some traders said this was unrealistic.
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