September 5, 2024 – by Jacob Redman

Good morning everyone!

Today we look at US politics, developments in North and South America and the Middle East, and other news from around the world.

Let’s get started.

Africa

-Tanzania and Zambia an agreement signed with China on Wednesday to restore a decades-old railway line that runs through East Africa.

The signing ceremony took place as African leaders gathered in Beijing for the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

-The Democratic Republic of Congo expects receives first shipment of mpox vaccines today, and a second arrived on Saturday after the initial delays.

The World Health Organization last month declared the contagious variant of the disease a global public health emergency, but insufficient supplies of vaccines are making it difficult to contain its spread.

-The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday encouraged The South African government is going to do more to curb government spending.

Other links:

Algeria votes for president this weekend, but inflation and boycotts mean few seem to care – AP

Boko Haram militants on motorbikes have attacked a Nigerian village, killing more than 100, residents say – AP

Libyan factions agree to appoint central bank governor to ease crisis -Reuters

China signs electricity and infrastructure agreements with Chad and Senegal -Reuters

Burkina Faso issues new passports without West African bloc logo -Reuters

Bill Gates sees malnutrition as Africa’s biggest challenge – Zemafor

America and the Caribbean

-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s governing coalition have suffered a setback on Wednesday, when the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) withdrew from the minority government in an unexpected move.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh accused Trudeau’s Liberal Party of not taking more aggressive action to stem the growing support for the opposition Conservative Party.

Polls consistently show the Conservatives would win by a wide margin if an election were called. Voters are expressing dissatisfaction with the economy and “Trudeau fatigue.”

The Liberal-NDP coalition agreement was struck in 2022 after an election held the previous year. The next parliamentary vote must take place before the end of October 2025. Trudeau will now have to rely on the support of other parties in the House of Commons to secure the votes needed to pass a budget and survive motions of no confidence.

-The Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved a controversial overhaul of the judiciary in a vote of 359-135. The reforms, implemented by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his ruling Morena party, have led to public protests and strained relations with the United States.

Lawmakers in the House will now have the opportunity to amend the legislation before it is sent to the Senate for approval.

The proposal would reduce the number of Supreme Court justices, shorten their terms from 15 to 12 years and call for elections for the country’s more than 7,000 judges and magistrates.

Supporters of the reforms say they would end the atmosphere of impunity for criminal gangs, while critics say this challenge is being driven by prosecutors and law enforcement agencies.

-Industrial production in Brazil fell by 1.4% in July compared to a month earlier, more than analysts had expected.

Other links:

US considers launching UN peacekeeping operation in Haiti to fight gangs – AP

A US Navy sailor has been detained in Venezuela, the Pentagon says – AP

Maduro Decides Christmas Starts in October as Venezuela Cracks Down on Dissenters -CNN

Honduran president forced to resign as video scandal intensifies -Reuters

Brazilian Senate to vote on Galipolo’s nomination as Cenbank chief on October 8 -Reuters

Forest fire destroys 20% of Brasilia’s forest, arson suspected -Reuters

The world pumps out 57 million tons of plastic pollution every year – AP

Asia/Indo-Pacific

-Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Wednesday expressed his support for the new cabinet of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Paetongtarn was elected prime minister last month after the Supreme Court ordered the impeachment of her predecessor.

Paetongtarn is the heir to a political dynasty and the youngest to hold the role. Her ruling Pheu Thai Party has governed the Southeast Asian country since 2001 and maintains close ties to the crown.

-Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that the supervision of Chinese exercises is held on the Chinese mainland, opposite the autonomous island.

Other links:

North Korea has again launched suspected trash balloons across the border, South Korea says – AP

Pentagon to set up military repair centers in five Indo-Pacific countries – Nikkei

Chinese Consul General in New York Leaves US After Scandal Surrounding Former Aide to Two Governors – CBS

China spreads divisive political messages online using fake American voters – NPR

Cambodia says China is donating two warships as it completes work on expanding a strategically important port -ABC

Pope Francis warns of religious extremism in Muslim-dominated Indonesia -Reuters

Europe

-Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba submitted his letter of resignation to the country’s parliament speaker on Wednesday, a day after several top officials did the same. Kuleba and others are expected to take up new positions as part of President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy’s restructuring drive ahead of a planned trip to the United States later this month.

Zelenskyy has said he plans to submit a “victory plan” to President Joe Biden as Ukrainian forces seek to consolidate their recent territorial gains in Russia.

– Russian airstrikes killed at least 51 people in the Ukrainian city of Poltava on Tuesday, one of the deadliest attacks in the 30-month war.

On Wednesday evening, Russian forces carried out attacks on the western city of Lviv, killing at least seven people.

Moscow is carrying out airstrikes across the country as troops advance further into eastern Ukraine.

Other links:

France still in political deadlock as Macron struggles with choice of prime minister – France 24

Sweden: Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom resigns -DW

Greta Thunberg arrested at pro-Palestinian protest – Politics

At least 12 dead after boat carrying dozens of migrants breaks apart in waters off northern France – AP

‘Tourist taxes’ help European hotspots cope with influx of visitors – Axios

Middle East

-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that his government would only agree to a permanent ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip if Israel retained control of the border area separating southern Gaza from neighboring Egypt.

The area, known as the Philadelphia corridor, is a narrow strip of land stretching 8 miles (14 kilometers) in length that Israel says has been used as a smuggling ground for weapons and supplies destined for Hamas.

-The United Nations said on Wednesday that about 187,000 children in Gaza have received the polio vaccineThe vaccination campaign comes after a case of the disease was diagnosed in a baby boy last month, the first case in the coastal enclave in 25 years.

-Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi 18 memoranda of understanding signed in Ankara, where the two leaders are trying to restore bilateral relations.

Sisi’s visit to the Middle Eastern country is the first by an Egyptian president in 12 years.

Other links:

US effort to broker ceasefire in Middle East takes on new sense of urgency -WSJ

Israel hits targets in Lebanon after rocket attack -Reuters

Saudi Arabia scraps hotel licensing fees to boost tourism -Reuters

Human rights group claims Lebanon and Cyprus have violated refugees’ human rights and EU funds paid for it – AP

Iraqi women fear rise in child marriages as lawmakers consider giving conservative clerics more say – AP

Bahrain’s King Pardons More Than 450 Prisoners, Many Appear to Be Political Prisoners – AP

United States

– House Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican leadership team held a conference call yesterday morning to discuss Johnson’s plan to keep government agencies open past Sept. 30.

When lawmakers reconvene next week after a 10-week recess, the two chambers have just under three weeks to reach a deal to avoid a shutdown.

Republicans in the House of Representatives favor extending the funding until March, while Democrats in the Senate and the White House favor a two-month extension.

Parts of the agricultural law, which is approved every five years, also expire at the end of this month.

-Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire yesterday.

-Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’ campaign manager, said over the weekend that the vice president $540 million raised since the start of the presidential elections in late July, a record number.

Separately, former President Donald Trump’s campaign said it $130 million raised in august.

Harris’ campaign has not yet released its monthly revenue.

-Former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney said yesterday that she vote for Harris for president.

-Attorney John Deaton secured the Republican nomination Tuesday night before the Massachusetts Senate, taking on two-term Senator Elizabeth Warren.

All incumbent Democratic representatives in the House of Representatives won their primaries unopposed.

Other links:

4 dead, 9 hospitalized after Georgia high school shooting; 14-year-old suspect held – CBS

Trump renews attacks on Jewish political leaders, voters as battle for key group heats up – NBC

Harris breaks with Biden on capital gains, calls for 28% top rate – Axios

Biden prepares to block Nippon Steel’s purchase of US Steel – Wapo

John McCain’s Son Endorses Kamala Harris Over Donald Trump -The Republic of Arizona

California settles lawsuit with Sacramento suburb over affordable housing project – AP

Advocates want to rewrite the text of Missouri’s abortion rights ballot proposal – AP

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow.

Refer a friend

Notes:

https://www.ft.com/content/e6f08c78-59bb-47e2-b8b5-74614c61c241