Weekly Recap: Jul 31 to Aug 6

North America

• Former United States President Donald Trump could be facing up to 561 years in prison over various significant criminal charges, according to reports last Friday (Aug 4). The trial, to be held in Florida in May of next year, would have him indicted for allegedly taking classified documents to his Mar-A-Lago estate and refusing to return them. Trump had pleaded not guilty to these charges, including unlawfully retaining information concerning national defence, conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false statements. Additional charges had also been filed against Mr Trump for his alleged attempts to obstruct the FBI investigation as well as its bid to recover the classified documents.
• Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador condemned Texas’s anti-migrant buoys last Thursday (Aug 3), and called the border enforcement tactic on the Rio Grande “inhumane”, after two bodies were found in separate incidents by the United States and Mexican officials in the Rio Grande river. The cause of death of the two individuals was unclear. The anti migrant buoys, initially intended to block migrants from crossing over from Mexico, were installed in July without any proper federal authorization, according to the US Justice Department.
• The prosecutor of Costa Rica opened a case against President Rodrigo Chaves and various other officials for “influence peddling” last Tuesday (Aug 1). The move followed a complaint lodged by businessman, Leonel Baruch, accusing the President of interfering in his personal child custody proceedings.
• Incumbent Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie announced their separation last Wednesday (Aug 2). The minister’s office has announced that the couple has officially signed a legal separation document.
• Tropical storm Depression Six-E has strengthened into Tropical Storm Eugene in the Eastern Pacific last Saturday (Aug 5). Tropical Storm Eugene has been expected to maintain tropical storm intensity through early Tuesday before weakening, according to the national hurricane centre. Some of the forecast models have shown the storm taking a right turn in the future which would put what’s left of the system heading for the Baja California Peninsula or possibly somewhere in Southern California.

South America

• Argentina agreed to a US$775 million (SG$1 billion) loan from Qatar last Friday (Aug 4) to make an International Monetary Fund (IMF) repayment due that day. Argentina is facing a devastating economic crisis with high inflation (which is expected to hit 120 per cent by the end of 2023), falling central bank reserves, and a failing agricultural sector. The Qatar loan will also have the IMF’s variable interest rate of 4.033 per cent per annum. Argentina Economic Minister Sergio Massa said the IMF repayment will be made with a US$1 billion (SG$1.3 billion) bridge loan from a regional development bank and US$1.7 billion (SG$2.3 billion) from a swap with China.
• A six-month ceasefire between Colombia’s government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group began last Thursday (Aug 3). This marked the most concrete progress from President Gustavo Petro’s ambitious plans to end the 60 year conflict in the nation. The ceasefire is the latest result of ongoing peace talks to resolve the conflict that has resulted in 450,000 deaths so far. ELN commander Eliecer Herlinto Chamorro said the group would continue to defend itself during the ceasefire if needed, but had otherwise ordered his group to stand down.
• The expansion of the multilateral group BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has slowed as Brazil chose to debate the criteria for admitting more member countries at this month’s summit as reported last Wednesday (Aug 2). Brazil’s assent is needed for expansion as BRICS work on consensus. China, Russia and South Africa have been eager to increase membership, with India slowly warming up to the idea, however Brazil is concerned that the group will lose stature. BRICS is seen as a counterweight to traditional diplomatic forums such as the UN or EU. As many as 30 countries have expressed their interest to join the group, and 22 have formally applied.
• Lake Titicaca, South America’s largest lake, is only 30 centimetres away from reaching its all time low record in 1996, as of last Friday (Aug 4). The drought is expected to last until November in some parts of Bolivia as a result of July being the hottest month and prolonged dry spells. Lake Titicaca is especially vulnerable to climate change as it is 3,800 metres above sea level and faces a lot of solar radiation. The once fertile areas along the lake’s shore have dried out, which poses a threat to communities nearby.
• Four Nigerian stowaways crossing the Atlantic on the rudder of a cargo ship were rescued by the Brazilian federal police, as reported last Tuesday (Aug 1). They were at sea for 14 days, with the last four days without food or drink. The men hoped to reach Europe and were surprised to have arrived in Brazil. Two of the men had returned back to Nigeria and the other two applied for asylum in Brazil. Economic hardship, political instability and crime pushed the men to leave Nigeria where these conditions are endemic.
• Police violence in Brazil returned with around 45 people killed in a string of police raids in three states that took place over the course of last week. Brazil has one of the most deadly police forces that regularly conduct raids to stomp out gangs and self-defence militias who have taken control over many poor neighbourhoods in Brazil. Critics allege excessive force or even summary executions were used by the police since the unbalance in injuries and death tolls favoured the police.
• Brazilian government figures published last Thursday (Aug 3), showed that deforestation in the Amazon fell 66 per cent in July — the lowest level since 2017. The figures appear to be in line with Lula’s promise to end deforestation by 2023. This positions President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva well for the upcoming summit of rainforest nations, where ways to protect the world’s largest rainforest are to be discussed. The summit is intended to end with a common policy to protect the region, making it the first of its kind. Measures to handle border security and reforestation will be discussed as well.
• Nicolas Petro, eldest son of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, was granted conditional freedom in the midst of money laundering and illicit enrichment charges linked to his father’s campaign last Friday (Aug 4). Petro said illegal money used in his father’s 2022 election campaign exceeded legal limits and was not reported to electoral authorities. President Petro denied awareness but this scandal could further complicate his plan for peace deals with armed groups and reform agenda. Nicolas Petro allegedly received bribes from drug traffickers to be included in the president’s peace plans.

Europe:

• North Macedonia is closer to joining the European Union with the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) announcing to take up VMRO-DPMNE’s conditions for constitutional changes last Monday (July 31): DUI leaving government, formation of a new government coalition with the opposition parties, and a new election. VMRO-DPMNE’s conditions are a protest against the French-brokered deal to reverse Bulgaria vetoing Macedonian-EU talks, with Bulgarian conditions being North Macedonia amending its constitution to recognise a Bulgarian minority – stoking tensions among the ethnicities. The government has yet to respond to DUI’s letter of resignation.
• The presidents from Italy, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Malta, and Portugal have collectively demanded last Thursday (Aug 3) for immediate response to the climate crisis after extreme heat waves, wildfires and flooding. Such weather conditions will hamper southern European tourist industry and agricultural production. The presidents also warned of the potential of desertification and water shortages in the Mediterranean region. There has been no proposed concrete remedies as of yet.
• Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison aftering being found guilty on new charges — inciting and financing extremist activity and creating an extremist organisation — last Friday (Aug 4). Navalny is already serving 11 and a half years in prison because of fraud. Navalny expected this “stalinst” sentencing, saying these charges are to silence him and intimidate the Russian population to not stand against President Vladmir Putin. The Kremlin has denied claims of involvement, stating it is purely a state court matter. Navalny is also facing charges for terrorism, if found guilty, he could be sentenced to an additional 35 years.
• In response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s comments to reports last Thursday (Aug 3), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters last Friday (Aug 4) that Russia will only renew the Black Sea deal if the US fulfils it first, referencing the affected Russian food imports that are hampered by Western sanctions. Russia did not renew the deal that allows Ukraine to ship grain despite the war last month, saying more could have been done to remove obstacles to its own food supply.
• Last Friday (Aug 4) marked the 1995 exodus of Serbs from Croatia during the Bosnian war. The memorial was at Prijedor where the first Serb-run detention camps for non-serbs were located — more than three thousand Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosniaks were killed and buried in mass graves. The Croatian army took back almost all of the territory taken by the breakaway Serbs, causing the 200,000 ethnic Serbs to flee to Bosnia and Serbia.
• Military planes evacuating hundreds of European nationals from Niger landed in Paris and Rome last Wednesday (Aug 2), following the recent coup and the increasingly dangerous situation. 21 US citizens, 36 Italians, four Bulgarians, two Austrians, one British, one Nigerian, one Hungarian, one Senegalese, and one Nigerien landed in Rome. More than 350 French citizens and a number of other nationals arrived in Paris.
• Russian-British dual citizen and Russian opposition politician, Vladimir Kara-Murza lost an appeal against his 25 year jail sentence for treason and other offences last Monday (31 July). Britain responded by sanctioning the Russian judges and prosecutors for their involvement with the “politically motivated conviction” of Kara-Murza, and called for his release. Kara-Murza, a prominent opposition figure, stayed in Russia and continued to protest against President Vladmir Putin over the invasion in Ukraine.
• Polish President Andrzej Duda has signed a watered down version of a law on undue Russian influence into effect last Wednesday (Aug 2). The law bans individuals from holding public office without judicial review and creates a special committee to investigate any undue Russian influence. Experts said it is a breach of the constitution as it combines executive, legislative and prosecuting powers under one institution. The EU has also voiced its concern over the law.
• Sweden and Denmark saw more Qur’an burnings last Monday (July 31). An Iraqi refugee that was behind the recent protests appeared to burn the Qur’an outside the Swedish parliament. Anti-Muslim protestors burned the Qur’an outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Copenhagen. Both Nordic countries have struggled to prevent the demonstrations due to constitutional laws protecting freedom of speech; however officials have expressed they are looking for legal tools to prevent further burnings and have tightened border control.

Asia Pacific:

• Thai election runners-up, the Pheu Thai Party, agreed on a coalition with a government-aligned conservative party last Monday (Jul 31). The party attempted to form a government as the winning party, Move Forward Party’s (MEP) efforts were blocked twice in the National Assembly. The reformist MEP had fallen short of a majority to do so, despite a wave of electoral support, particularly from young and urban voters.
• A total of twelve individuals were killed in Thailand last Saturday (Aug 5) as firecrackers had exploded in the warehouse, and an estimated of more than a 100 individuals were injured at the incident. Narathiwat’s Governor Sanan Phongaskorn mentioned that while 121 individuals were injured, with two injured severely, 111 of them had made recoveries and been discharged from the hospital. The firecrackers set off a fire on Saturday at the unauthorised warehouse at the Muni market in Sun-gai Kolok district in the southern province of Narathiwat bordering Malaysia, as proclaimed by Narathiwat’s Governor Sanam Phong Aksorn. It was suggested that it was a welding error at the warehouse.
• Singapore executed its first female over the span of 20 years over drug offences, last Friday (Aug 4). Saridewi Binte Djamani, was hanged despite outcry from human rights groups including Amnesty Internationa, after she was caught over 31 grams of heroin and sentenced to hang. The Singaporean government defended its use of the death penalty as an effective deterrent against drug trafficking, citing surveys that show that a majority of its citizens support the law.
• Pyongyang presented its victory parade, which features Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as attack drones last Thursday (Aug 4). North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un was present to oversee the parade that marked “Victory Day”, the local name for the end of hostilities in the Korean War. He was accompanied by visiting delegations from countries like China and Russia.
• Multiple bombings in Pakistan last Monday (Jul 31), killed nine individuals with a local politician being the one dead in the attacks. No responsibility was claimed by any group with the party responsible for the attacks being unclear. Balochistan has been the scene of a low-level rebellion by small separatist groups as well as nationalists who complain of discrimination and demand a fairer share of the province’s resources and wealth.

Middle East:

• A man suspected of shooting a police officer in Tel Aviv, Israel, was shot dead last Saturday (Aug 5). Kamel Abu Bakr, a 27-year-old man from a village near Jenin in the occupied West Bank, shot a municipal patrol worker in Tel Aviv, Israel. He later succumbed to his injuries. Another municipal inspector swiftly neutralised the gunman, who was identified as a Palestinian resident of Jenin. This event occurred a day after a violent settler attack in the West Bank, resulting in the death of a Palestinian. Tensions in the region continue to escalate as the violence persists, with both sides experiencing casualties and arrests being made in connection with the incidents.
• Hundreds took to the streets in protest, as Lebanon commemorated the third anniversary of the Beirut blast, last Thursday (Aug 4). The blast, one of history’s largest non-nuclear explosions, still has its victims’ families demanding justice. The explosion, which occurred on August 4, 2020 resulted in over 220 fatalities and around 6,500 injuries. Despite the tragedy, no one has been held accountable due to political and legal obstacles impeding the investigation. The protesters, donning black attire and carrying pictures of the victims, marched towards the port, expressing their determination to seek the truth. The lack of justice highlights the deep-rooted corruption within Lebanon’s governing elite, which is also blamed for the country’s ongoing economic collapse. The investigation has faced numerous challenges, and even though the lead investigator, Tarek Bitar, is committed to delivering justice, progress remains slow. Many human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, continue to call for a United Nations fact-finding mission, despite the Lebanese officials’ rejection of the idea.
• Saudi Arabia initiated talks with Ukraine, notably excluding Russia’s participation, last Saturday (Aug 5). The meeting was held over the weekend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with representatives from about 40 countries to discuss common principles aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Notably, Russia was excluded from the talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the broad representation, including countries affected by the food crisis caused by the war, highlighting the importance of implementing a peace formula to address global food security. The forum sought to draft key principles based on Ukraine’s 10-point formula for settlement, including respect for territorial integrity and the withdrawal of Russian troops from disputed territories. China, though considered a neutral party, participated in the talks, expressing its willingness to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis. Saudi Arabia, which has strong ties with both Russia and Ukraine, positioned itself as a potential mediator in the conflict and emphasised its readiness to contribute to achieving permanent peace. The kingdom has previously supported UN resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion and annexation in eastern Ukraine.
• Iran equipped its navy with drones and missiles last Saturday (Aug 5), amid escalating US tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.  Iran armed its Revolutionary Guard’s navy with drones and long-range missiles with a range of up to 1,000 km. The decision followed the US military’s consideration of placing armed personnel on commercial ships in the vital strait to counter Iran’s seizure of civilian vessels. Iranian officials have expressed that regional countries are fully capable of defending their waters and questioned the presence of the US in the area. The deployment of US military assets in response to Iran’s actions has heightened tensions, and Iran recently conducted a surprise military drill in the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, remains a contentious region with ongoing maritime disputes.
• Kuwait issued a warning that bilateral relations could deteriorate due to comments made by a Lebanese minister, last Saturday (Aug 5). Kuwait and Lebanon remained in dispute over comments made by Lebanese caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam regarding rebuilding part of Beirut’s port. Kuwait criticised the remarks as incompatible with political norms, urging a retraction to protect bilateral ties. Meanwhile, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia advised their citizens to exercise caution in Lebanon due to ongoing clashes in a Palestinian refugee camp. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati reassured the Gulf countries that their citizens in Lebanon were safe.

Africa:

• Haitians expressed scepticism last Friday (Aug 4), about the possibility of a multinational force, acknowledging that the country cannot combat gangs independently. This followed Kenya’s offer to lead a multinational force to help their country combat surging gang violence, fearing it may repeat the mistakes of past foreign interventions. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had appealed to the international community for a specialised armed force due to the ongoing violence and political instability in the country. While Kenya’s proposal received support from the UN and the US, concerns remain about potential risks and harm caused by foreign forces.
• Ugandan officials announced the nation would restore a colonial-era rail line after China declined to fund another railway project, last Friday (Aug 4). Uganda is embarking on the construction to restore a British-era railway line after failing to secure funding from China for another standard gauge railway (SGR) project. The restoration aims to reduce shipping costs for goods to northern Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The old rail line, part of the East Africa rail network, was built during British colonial rule but has been inactive for nearly 40 years. China Road and Bridge Corporation will undertake the restoration over the next two years, funded by the Ugandan government. The revived line will connect Tororo in the east to Gulu in the north, offering an alternative to trucks for transporting goods to South Sudan and DRC.
• Niger’s military rulers reportedly sought help from the Russian mercenary group Wagner last Saturday (Aug 5), as the deadline approaches for the release of the country’s ousted president or face potential military intervention by he West African regional bloc (ECOWAS). The coup leader, General Salifou Mody, made contact with Wagner during a visit to neighbouring Mali, seeking their support to secure their grip on power. ECOWAS had set a deadline for Niger to reinstate the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who is described as a hostage. As Niger moves towards consolidating power, concerns arise about potential international reactions and the implications for the region’s security efforts.
• Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, expressed concerns regarding Zimbabwe’s upcoming elections, last Thursday (Aug 3), highlighting instances of harassment and limitations on political freedoms faced by opposition parties and citizens in the country. The U.S. conveyed its concerns regarding Zimbabwe’s need for ‘free and fair elections’ to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, and plans to send observers to monitor the election.
• Union leaders in Tunisia urged measures to be taken regarding both migration and the economy, last Sunday (Aug 6). Tunisia’s top union leader, Noureddine Taboubi, called on Western nations to better assist migrants arriving in Libya after Tunisia’s recent mass expulsion effort in July. Speaking at a political rally in Sfax, Taboubi had emphasised that the West should not view Tunisia as its border guards, highlighting the historical colonisation of Africa and other countries and the importance of authentic development for people to thrive in their countries with dignity and prosperity. Taboubi had also raised concerns about the authority of Tunisia’s new Prime Minister, Ahmed Hachani, who was appointed by President Kais Saied on Tuesday, (Aug 1). He advocated for substantive changes in policies and strategies, highlighting that President Saied’s assumption of full powers in July 2021 through a presidential decree had brought about economic difficulties, such as shortages and financial struggles due to significant debt and a focus on subsidised economics.