Latest news for 29 April 2026

UNITED STATES

He sells sea shells…

The justice department has brought new charges against former FBI boss James Comey, arguing his old social media post of seashells spelling ‘86 47’ constituted a threat against the president: ‘86’ allegedly slang for ‘kill’, and ‘47’ referring to the 47th president (Trump). The DoJ’s earlier Comey charges (lying to and obstructing Congress) failed on procedural grounds. (Guardian)

CANADA

Sovereign wealth, baby!

Prime Minister Carney has launched Canada’s first national sovereign wealth fund (SWF), aimed at financing projects across energy, infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and tech. The Canada Strong Fund will begin with an initial $18.4B seed. (Global News)

Comment: It’s on-brand for Carney (of central banking and climate finance fame), and aims to reduce Canada’s US reliance. But critics note Canada (unlike SWF pioneers such as Norway) runs deficits — he’s hoping it’ll crowd in private investment.

ARMENIA

Border towns.

Long-time rivals Turkey and Armenia have agreed to push ahead with reopening the long-shuttered Kars–Gyumri railway, forming a joint working group to restore a key cross-border link that’s been closed for political reasons since 1993. (AA)

Comment: Armenia gets to diversify away from Russian-controlled rail routes and claim an early win ahead of critical June elections, while Turkey gets to revive its poorer eastern provinces and double-down on its regional hub ambitions.

POLAND

პოლონელები მოდიან.

Poland’s foreign ministry and broadcaster have launched a Georgian-language news service aimed at countering Russian disinformation, adding to Warsaw’s new channels for Moldova (February) and Armenia (March). (Notes from Poland)

Comment: We wrote yesterday about the growing role of influencers, but this is a timely reminder that traditional channels in local languages still pack a punch. It’s also a reminder how the Polish miracle (~18% growth since 2019 vs ~1% in the UK) seems set to reshape Eastern Europe.

THAILAND

Pay to play.

Thailand is considering reviving a 1983-era 1,000 baht (~$31) exit fee for its citizens travelling abroad, to fund a domestic tourism incentive scheme. (The Straits Times)

Comment: Why? Amid a softening baht and consecutive quarters of capital outflow, Bangkok hopes to tax outbound consumption and redirect it inward. Using that old 1983 law allows leaders to bypass lengthy parliamentary debates.

VENEZUELA

Subtle.

Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez has used a visit to Barbados to dangle the prospect of cooperation on energy and food production. (AP)

Comment: Barbados isn’t going to bankroll Venezuelan oil and gas. Rather, Rodríguez is there to a) normalise her role as president, b) butter up PM Mia Mottley (a Caribbean heavyweight), and c) try to counter rival Guyanese influence across the regional CARICOM block — lest anyone had doubts, Rodríguez even wore a pin asserting Venezuela’s claim over the oil-rich Guyana-controlled Essequibo region.

NIGERIA

On someone else’s dime, you say.

Former oil minister and OPEC’s first female leader, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is back in a London courtroom as her long-running corruption trial enters its final stages. She’s arguing her millions in London luxury all entailed official business rather than any oil executive bribes. (BBC)