Global developments on October 9, 2024

Good morning, everyone!

Today we will look at US news, the Mozambique presidential election and other news around the world.

Let’s get started.

Africa

-Mozambique will do that delay presidential election today. The ruling Frelimo party will almost certainly retain its half-century of power despite a spirited challenge from independent candidate Venancio Mondlane.

Frelimo has ruled the East African country since it gained independence from Portugal in 1975.

Since the first elections in 1994, opposition candidates and election officials have accused the party of rigging the elections.

Incumbent President Filipe Nyusi is retiring after serving two terms. His chosen successor, Daniel Chapo, is expected to replace him.

-President Joe Biden canceled his planned trip to Germany and Angola while Hurricane Milton continued its path towards the west coast of Florida.

Biden had committed to a trip to Africa while in office and said yesterday he plans to reschedule the trip soon.

Other links:

The Kenyan parliament supports the impeachment of Vice President Gachagua – Africa News

The US warns citizens to reconsider traveling to Marburg-hit Rwanda – Africa News

Cameroon’s 91-year-old president Biya is in good health, the government says – Reuters

Burkina Faso’s junta suspends VOA over comments made by the insurgents – Reuters

The UN is considering suspending aid to Ethiopia’s Amhara after the attack by aid workers, documents show – Reuters

Water flows through the sand dunes after a rare rainfall in the Sahara – AP

America and the Caribbean

-The Haitian government on Monday condemned a plan announced last week by the neighboring Dominican Republic to deport tens of thousands of migrants back to Haiti.

The Caribbean country is stuck in a spiral of violence as the government fends off criminal gangs that have taken control of much of the capital Port-au-Prince.

The violence has caused thousands of Haitians to flee their homes.

The Dominican government said it would deport up to 10,000 migrants a week.

Other links:

Brazil lifts ban on X after Elon Musk complies with court orders -CNBC

Mexico’s president proposes a plan to combat cartel violence. But it seems like more of the same -ABC

September inflation in Argentina is at its lowest level since late 2021 – Reuters

Buenos Aires City reports an inflation rate of 4% in September – Buenos Aires times

Four mayors in Mexico ask for protection after another mayor was beheaded – AP

Asia/Indo-Pacific

-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is leading a delegation to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits this week in Laos.

He is expected to discuss China’s “irresponsible” behavior in the region, Myanmar’s three-year civil war and Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The ten-member bloc was founded in 1967 and aims for economic integration and diplomatic cooperation.

-China retaliatory trade measures imposed on French cognac days after the European Union imposed tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Other links:

Philippine and Chinese trade debt in latest South China Sea row – Reuters

Japan’s Ishiba dissolves the lower house of parliament for early elections – Nikkei

Kashmir’s largest party that opposes India’s stripping of the region’s autonomy wins most seats in elections -AP

China is giving $28 billion to local governments as it promises to meet economic goals -CNN

OpenAI begins recruiting in Singapore for a second office in Asia -Bloomberg

Europe

-A Russian strike At least 21 people were injured in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Tuesday. The provincial governor and mayor said the attack targeted a civilian manufacturing facility.

Recently, Russian forces have made advances in Ukraine’s Donbas region, while Kiev has sought to consolidate its gains in Russia’s Kursk region.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented his “victory plan” for ending the two-year conflict to President Joe Biden and other Western leaders, although no details have been made public.

-Croatia will convene leaders from Southeastern Europe and Ukraine today.

Other links:

Russia on ‘mission to cause chaos’ on British streets, MI5 chief warns -BBC

New book exposes Trump’s Putin calls and Russian nuclear threats -The Wall Street Journal

France: Prime Minister Barnier survives vote of no confidence -DW

France promises its 2025 budget will ‘fully’ comply with EU spending rules – France 24

The Russian court sentences a 72-year-old American to almost seven years in prison for fighting in Ukraine -AP

Middle East

-Hezbollah dismissed More than 100 rockets fired into northern Israel on Tuesday as Israeli forces expanded their ground operation into southwestern Lebanon.

Last month, Israel launched its operation in southern Lebanon to suppress Hezbollah militants along the border area.

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the army had killed the replacement for recently killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike last week.

Other links:

Biden expected to discuss Israel’s attack on Iran with Netanyahu on Wednesday – Axios

Biden berated Netanyahu over Israel’s behavior in the war, says Woodward Book – The New York Times

An Israeli attack on housing in Damascus, Syria, kills seven civilians, state media say – Reuters

Oil prices remain stable after falling due to the possible ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah – Reuters

Saudi Arabia executes Filipinos convicted of murder despite Philippine presidential appeal -AP

United States

-Vice President Kamala Harris leads former President Donald Trump by three percentage points in a head-to-head matchup, according to a new one New York Times/Siena College Survey.

Other polls remain split, with just 27 days until Election Day. The four major polls show the race as close to dead, with Harris and Trump neck-and-neck in the seven battleground states crucial to winning the 270 electoral votes needed for victory.

-Arizona Senate candidates Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake will meet tonight for their first debate.

-Trump will hold campaign events today in Scranton and Reading, Pennsylvania.

Tomorrow, Harris will participate in a town hall meeting with Spanish-language network Univision.

-Hurricane Milton regained Category 5 strength on Tuesday as it made its way toward the west coast of Florida. Although the storm is expected to weaken before making landfall Wednesday evening, officials have warned that the storm poses a significant danger to those in its path and have encouraged immediate evacuations.

Other links:

Harris appears on ‘The View’ with Howard Stern and Stephen Colbert -Washington Post

Trump announces a coalition of Latter-day Saints fighting for battleground voters -NBC

Harris proposes expanding Medicare to include elderly care at home -AP

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre promoted to senior adviser -ABC

Biden announces a 10-year deadline to remove all lead pipes nationwide -CBS

House GOP loses key fundraising advantage – Politics

That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.

Refer a friend

Notes:

https://www.ft.com/content/d846b738-4d9e-499d-92be-82b5507874c3

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2024/10/07/how-us-leaders-are-remembering-oct-7-00182671