Global developments on September 10, 2024

Good morning everyone!

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

Let’s get started.

Africa

-Electoral authorities in Algeria declared President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the winner of last week’s presidential election, said the incumbent won 95% of the votes cast. Tebboune, who is backed by the military, took office in 2019 and faced only nominal opposition. One of the two rival candidates claimed irregularities in Saturday’s voting process.

The North African country, a major oil and gas producer, has seen strong revenue growth in recent years thanks to strong international demand.

Tebboune has spent heavily on social programs during his term, campaigning on increases to pensions and unemployment benefits and to strengthen social housing efforts.

-At least 20 people died Authorities reported severe flooding in southern Morocco on Monday.

Other links:

Ethiopia warns rivals of invasion as regional tensions rise -BBC

UN chief says Africa’s debt situation is a recipe for social unrest – Africa News

Explosion on fuel tanker in Nigeria kills more than 50 in deadly collision – Africa News

Tanzanian opposition official found dead with signs of assault and acid attack – AP

Guinea-Bissau police seize nearly 3 tons of cocaine on plane from Venezuela – AP

America and the Caribbean

-The Mexican Senate is ready to adopt a controversial justice reform package for final approval tomorrow, as the Supreme Court and civil society groups have called on lawmakers to reject it.

The proposal, backed by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his ruling Morena party, would reduce the number of justices at the Supreme Court, 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 reform package say it would end the climate of impunity for criminal gangs, while critics say such a challenge is being driven by prosecutors and law enforcement agencies. Moreover, opponents of the effort say it would undermine the country’s rule of law and make judges more susceptible to undue influence.

Last week was the bottom The Chamber of Deputies has adopted the proposal in a vote of 359-135. Morena and her partners in the Senate need only the support of one opposition party to pass the bill.

-Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González landed in Spain yesterday, a day after he fled his home country amid a worsening political crisis. González and his supporters say he defeated autocratic President Nicolás Maduro in a rout in July’s presidential election, despite Maduro’s claims to the contrary.

-Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday appointed State legislator Macaé Evaristo will serve as commissioner for human rights.

Last week, Lula fired Evaristo’s predecessor after he was accused of sexually harassing several women.

Other links:

Argentina fears for its embassy as Venezuela launches diplomatic attack on Brazil – Buenos Aires times

Argentina calls on ICC to arrest Venezuelan Maduro -DW

Colombia is the deadliest country for environmental activists, report finds -Newspaper

El Salvador police chief and fugitive banker among 9 dead in helicopter crash – AP

No concessions made to Nicaragua on release of political prisoners, US says -Reuters

Asia/Indo-Pacific

-Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday encouraged Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wanted to improve relations between China and Europe as the two leaders met in Beijing.

Relations between the European Union and Beijing have deteriorated as the two sides clash over trade and technology policies.

The United States has called on Brussels to take a tougher approach toward the country as it seeks to balance its allies with Beijing’s growing influence in the region.

– Officials from China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are expected to meet today to discuss the implementation of a code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea.

-The Chinese company Huawei will reveal its new triple-screen smartphone today in Beijing, a day after Apple launched its iPhone 16.

Other links:

China announces joint naval and air exercises with Russia – AP

China halts foreign adoptions, likely affecting ‘hundreds of families’ -ABC

Pope calls on East Timor to protect youth from abuse -BBC

Sanctioned Russian gas plant sends cargo to Asia for first time -Bloomberg

Typhoon Yagi claims 14 lives in Vietnam as authorities warn of heavy rains that could cause flooding – AP

Europe

-In a long-awaited reportFormer Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi outlined a series of policies aimed at making the European Union more economically competitive. The report calls for common loans, investment in the bloc’s technology sector and aggressive trade policies aimed at reducing dependence on the United States and China.

Draghi was previously head of the European Central Bank.

– National security advisers from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) meet in St. Petersburg.

-The United Kingdom today publishes employment figures for August.

Other links:

Russia claims new gains in eastern Ukraine advance, launches deadly attacks – France 24

Germany tightens controls at all borders amid immigration crisis -Reuters

AfD hopes for further gains in eastern Germany as state elections approach -BBC

Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to UK to discuss Middle East, Ukraine -Today in the US

Police say Russian ‘spy whale’ not shot dead in Norway as animal rights groups claim – CBS

Middle East

-Yesterday was the day official start of the school year in the besieged Gaza Strip. Schools have been closed for 11 months since hostilities between Israel and Hamas began.

Separately, the United Nations reported that 450,000 children in the region had received the polio vaccine, more than half the target number. Last month, a boy was diagnosed with the disease, the first in 25 years.

Limited pauses in the fighting have been introduced to allow for the vaccination campaign.

– The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) publishes its monthly report today.

Other links:

UN chief calls death and destruction in Gaza the worst he has ever seen – AP

Palestinians demand in UN proposal that Israel leave Gaza and West Bank within 6 months – AP

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties help approve more war funding -Reuters

Turkey’s Erdogan calls for summit of Muslim leaders over Gaza war -Reuters

Syria says Israeli strikes killed 18 people in large-scale attack – AP

United States

-Lawmakers returned to Washington on Monday, just three weeks before funding for government agencies expires. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a six-month extension of funding proposal over the weekend, but was opposed by conservative members of his conference.

Democrats in the Senate and the White House support a two-month extension.

– Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will face off in an ABC-hosted presidential debate tonight in Pittsburgh at 9 p.m. EST.

David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the meeting.

-The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly begins today in New York.

Other links:

Support for Harris rises among some likely voters: POLLS -ABC

Donald Trump has lost $4 billion in fortune in a bumpy ride for Trump Media & Technology Group – CBS

Biden administration approves major energy project in Nevada – The Hill

Trump backs Biden’s plan to ease marijuana restrictions -Washington Post

Tropical Storm Francine expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the U.S. Gulf Coast – NBC

Apple launches iPhone 16 with Apple Intelligence – Yahoo Finance

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow.

Refer a friend

Notes:

https://www.ft.com/content/46b05312-bbd0-4951-8c24-159867d46959