Global developments on August 30, 2024

Good morning everyone!

A programming note: All Briefing I’m off on Monday for Labor Day and will be back on Tuesday.

Today we look at US politics, developments in Africa and Asia, and other news from around the world.

Let’s get started.

Africa

-African health ministers will decisions a week-long meeting of a regional session of the World Health Organization in the Republic of Congo. The meeting comes as countries on the continent struggle to obtain enough vaccines to combat a new outbreak of a more contagious variant of the mpox disease.

On Wednesday, the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported that the less than 10% secured of the necessary vaccines.

-Today marks one year since the military in Gabon overthrew the government of President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Bongo has ruled the country since 2009, succeeding his father, Omar Bongo, who was in power for 41 years.

-The Brazil-Tanzania Business Forum kicks off today in Dar es Salaam.

-Chinese President Xi Jinping will receive South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday for a state visit.

The visit comes just ahead of the China-Africa Cooperation Summit, which starts in Beijing on Wednesday.

Other links:

Nigeria, Niger sign security cooperation agreement despite tensions – Africa News

Russian, Senegalese foreign ministers discuss development and security in bilateral meeting – Africa News

Spanish leader in Senegal concludes West Africa tour aimed at tackling illegal migration – AP

Libya’s oil production falls by more than half amid political stalemate -Reuters

Botswana’s ODC seeks $300 million in loans for diamond purchases -Reuters

Research shows Chinese lending to Africa increased in 2023 – VOA

America and the Caribbean

-Taiwan protective equipment supplied Thursday to Haiti’s police and security services to help the government combat criminal gangs that are destabilizing the Caribbean country.

Haiti is one of the last countries to maintain diplomatic relations with the self-governing island, which China considers a breakaway province.

The Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama have cut ties with Taipei in recent years in favor of stronger relations with Beijing.

-Today Peru celebrates Santa Rosa of Lima Day.

– A trade agreement between Honduras and China will come into effect on Sunday.

Other links:

‘No evidence’ Maduro won Venezuela election, top election official says – Zemafor

Venezuela opposition candidate faces arrest if he ignores third summons – France 24

Maduro ousts key allies in oil and interior ministries after vote -Bloomberg

Mexico’s ruling party nears majority in both houses of Congress after two senators defect – AP

Milei announces documentary about his path to Casa Rosada – MercoPress

Brazilian judge blocks Musk’s Starlink accounts amid dispute with social media platform X -Reuters

US trade leader Tai praises new steep Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and metals -Reuters

Bolivian farmers pack up and flee as wildfires ravage forest -Reuters

Asia/Indo-Pacific

-More than 1,000 people were killed in Bangladesh last month, during anti-government protests that forced long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign, the country’s interim health minister said.

This month marked the bloodiest period since Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan in March 1971.

-The US-New Zealand Strategic Dialogue begins today in Auckland. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will lead the US delegation.

– India will release second quarter economic growth figures today.

-Azerbaijan will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday.

That same day, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will meet Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Other links:

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping hold phone talks to improve US-China ties – NBC

US forces ready with ‘range of options’ to counter aggression in South China Sea, US admiral says – AP

China asks Philippines to ‘immediately withdraw’ from South China Sea atoll -SCMP file

ASML’s Chinese chip activities face new restrictions from the Netherlands -Bloomberg

Thousands evacuated as cyclone spreads off India and Pakistan coast -Reuters

Europe

– European Union foreign ministers said on Thursday they would not recognise the “democratic legitimacy” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after last month’s disputed presidential election.

Yesterday, the ministers met in Gymnich, Germany, for informal talks.

Today, EU defence chiefs are meeting in Brussels for informal meetings.

-Annual inflation in Germany dropped to 2% in July, down from 2.6% the previous month. Separately, inflation in Spain decreased from 2.8% to 2.4% in the same period.

– Parliamentary elections will take place in the German states of Saxony and Thuringia on Sunday.

Slovenia will assume the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council on the same day.

Other links:

Ukraine reports one of its Western-donated F-16 fighter jets has crashed -ABC

Russia-Ukraine energy war resumes after failed mediation – Wapo

Macron and Starmer pledge closer ties between France and Britain -Reuters

Polish PM announces record defense spending in 2025 budget – Euronews

Violent drug gangs bring chaos to Western Europe -WSJ

Macron seals €2.7 billion fighter jet deal to help Serbia anchor itself in Europe -Bloomberg

Two European men charged in ‘swatting’ plot targeting former US president and members of Congress – AP

Middle East

-The Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas on Thursday agreed to three separate, three-day zoned pauses in fighting in the Gaza Strip to allow children to get the polio vaccine. The move comes after the World Health Organization last week recorded the first case of the virus in the coastal enclave.

– Turkey celebrates Victory Day today in commemoration of the victory over Greek forces in the Battle of Dumlupınar in 1922.

-The Israeli Bring Them Home movement is holding a rally in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

Other links:

Israel says it has killed an Islamic Jihad commander in a gun battle at a West Bank mosque -Reuters

Israel tells US shots fired at WFP vehicle in Gaza after ‘communication error’ -Reuters

Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, the UN said. – AP

Houthi video shows Yemeni rebels planting bombs on tanker that is now threatening an oil spill in the Red Sea – AP

Saudi Arabia changes top military commanders -Reuters

United States

-Vice President Kamala Harris said she would appoint a Republican to serve in her Cabinet if she is elected in November. Harris made the statement during her first joint interview with running mate Tim Walz, which aired last night on CNN.

-Former President Donald Trump said he federal funding or insurance mandated coverage of in vitro fertilization treatments.

-Trump officially introduced his presidential transition team and appointed former Small Business Administration Director Linda McMahon to lead the transition.

Last week, Harris named Yohannes Abraham to lead her team. Abraham previously led President Joe Biden’s transition in 2020 and currently serves as the U.S. delegate to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

-The Bureau of Labor Statistics today released revised figures on second-quarter economic growth.

– Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will attend a meeting of the Harris Victory Fund tomorrow in Southampton, New York.

Other links:

Army defends Arlington Cemetery worker who was ‘pushed aside’ by Trump aides – Wapo

Shooter in attempted Trump assassination saw rally as ‘target of opportunity,’ FBI official says – AP

‘He Must Pay a Price’: Unreleased Footage Reveals Nancy Pelosi’s Jan. 6 Rage – Politics

New Jersey State Senator Nellie Pou has been chosen to replace the late Representative Bill Pascrell on the ballot – NBC

Court of Appeal raises questions about Section 230 of the law granting legal immunity to social media companies -WSJ

US home prices fall month-on-month in June -Reuters

Missouri Legislature Leaders Call for Hearings on Child Care Subsidy ‘Crisis’ – Missouri Independent

That’s it for today. See you next week.

Refer a friend

Notes:

https://www.ft.com/content/c4070464-a20f-4e30-ba45-1424301fde73

https://www.politico.com/playbook