Image is of President Hakainde Hichilema and President Xi Jinping on September 15th, from this article.
Zambia is a country of 20 million people, located in southern Africa. Breaking free from British rule in the 1960s, the new government was a one party state ruled by the socialist UNIP party with its leader Kenneth Kaunda, who was a strong supporter of the Non-Aligned Movement (and was its chairman from 1970-73). Its economy has been and remains characterised by copper exports - it is the second-largest copper exporter in Africa - and the economy deeply struggled in the 1970s due to the price of copper plunging. After the fall of the USSR, and due to violent protests, Kaunda stepped down and instituted a multiparty democracy, which has been maintained without (successful) coups to this day, though there are warnings by the leader that some are plotting a coup, given the trend right now.^AA^
Earlier this year, in June, Zambia struck a deal to restructure the $6.3 billion in debt that they are burdened with, of which China is the single largest creditor.^Reuters^ Though he has typically been more West-friendly, last week, President Hichilema traveled to China for two days, meeting with various companies, and Xi Jinping himself. They elevated their relationship to that of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.^Xinhua^ He and Xi have agreed to the increased use of local currencies in trade.^BB^
Hichilema said Zambia thanks China for supporting the African Union's entry into the G20 and China's positive role in resolving the Zambian debt issue. The Zambian side abides by the one-China principle, highly appreciates the guiding philosophy and principles of Chinese modernization, and hopes to learn from China's development experience.
Hichilema has also said:^AN^
"We can do more, faster, because the needs are tremendous in Zambia. I heard some of the solutions are here. All we need to do is to combine the two together."
Check out @Othello@hexbear.net's discussion of The Wretched of the Earth!
The Country of the Week is Singapore! Feel free to chime in with books, essays, longform articles, even stories and anecdotes or rants. More detail here.
Here is the map of the Ukraine conflict, courtesy of Wikipedia.
The news summary for last week is here!
Links and Stuff
The bulletins site is down.
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Add to the above list if you can.
Resources For Understanding The War
Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists' side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Telegram Channels
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
Pro-Russian
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
Last week's discussion post.
News Summary for September 11th - 17th
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Global
Bhadrakumar: G20 is in need of genuine reform^IP^, and US stoops to conquer Global South with some Indian help^IP^
The G77+China Summit (consisting of 134 countries) was held in Cuba this year, with the aim of building a "new economic order",^PW^ and with Diaz-Canel saying that we need to "change the rules of the game" in favor of developing countries.^TS^
China has once again urged for unilateral sanctions to be lifted to improve international humanitarian work.^CGTN^
The 8th Belt and Road Summit was held in Hong Kong, with nearly 6000 attendees and over 100 delegations, which are record-breaking numbers.^GT^
Simon Watkins - an oil industry analyst ghoul who nonetheless has very good contacts and information - talks about the current state of oil prices, and says (unsurprisingly) that Saudi Arabia and Russia benefit from forcing oil prices higher and higher, and that Saudi Arabia is paying more attention to what China wants than what America wants. He suggests that the equilibrium price for Brent is about $85, with a ceiling of $95 (prices currently sit at $93). Back in the Trump years, the ceiling was $15-20 lower. Interesting critiques of Watkins' position in the comments for those more interested.^NC^
Meanwhile, uranium prices continue to approach highs not seen for over a decade. We've gone from "the Niger coup is really significant for uranium prices" to "actually, it's not really that significant for uranium prices" to "actually, it might be somewhat significant for uranium prices because the output of other uranium producers are already booked". Dialectics or something, idk.^FT^
Europe:
Oil prices in Europe reach a 10-month high.^EN^ Cost of Living Crisis threatens EU Energy Transition,^NC^ The ECB has hiked interest rates to its highest level since the euro was invented.^Euractiv^ The EU's emergency aid reserve is being repeatedly depleted, with 400% more requests for assistance due to extreme weather events over the last two years.^BNE^ The EU is saying that they are unafriad of a trade war with China after a Chinese warning when they began probing Chinese electric car subsidies.^SCMP^ Europe’s solar power industry has warned that a glut of cheap Chinese imports has pushed some manufacturers to the brink of bankruptcy.^FT^ The EU has hit TikTok with a €345 million fine for failing to protect children's privacy.^EN^
The EU has lifted an import ban on Ukrainian grain, which was put in place earlier this year to protect eastern European farmers.^FT^ Poland has declared that the EU can fuck off, and they won't open their borders to Ukrainian grain anyway,^Euractiv^ as have Hungary and Slovakia.^Euractiv^ Bulgaria is taking the news better.^Euractiv^
Tunisia migrant deal will respect human rights, says EU Commission.^Euractiv^
Croatia:
CW: mentions of sexual violence.
The government has announced tougher measures to fight violence against women, including recognizing femicide in its criminal code, and imposing longer prison sentences for rape.^EN^
Czechia:
Inflation has slowed slightly to 8.5% year-on-year,^BNE^ while unemployment inches up to 3.6%.^BNE^ Czech oil imports from Russia are at 65% this year, compared to 56% the year before - the highest share in a decade.^BNE^
An article on lithium production in Czechia, which holds Europe's largest lithium reserves - where something like a million lithium-ion car batteries could be made every year.^DW^
France:
A French electric battery startup has received €2 billion in financing to create a gigafactory in Dunkirk.^Euractiv^ France is aiming for 150,000 new farmers in 10 years as it experiences an ageing workforce.^Euractiv^
CW: mentions of sexual violence.
The government has launched a major campaign to tackle incest and sexual violence suffered by 160,000 children every year.^EN^
Germany:
The number of sex worker registrations has increased by nearly a fifth to over 28,000 in 2022 compared to 2021, with experts attributing it to the reopening of businesses - the figure pre-pandemic was over 40,000.^DW^ Germany has suspended migrant intakes from Italy due to the "currently high migratory pressure on Germany", and Italy's refusal to take back migrants under their right-wing government which violates their agreement.^DW^ Poland-based Ukrainian refugees are moving to Germany for better wages.^Euractiv^
The government has announced a modernization program for the country's rail network, to be completed by 2030.^DW^ The government has started construction on a high-voltage transmission line from the north to the south, after a decade of delays.^Euractiv^ Volkswagen is weighing up ending Polo production in Europe due to emission regulations costs.^FT^
Greece:
The floods in Central Greece have been devastating, with 30 inches of rain in one day flooding the area and destroying villages and land, and killing 15 people.^Euractiv^
Hungary:
Industrial production fell by 2.6% year-on-year.^BNE^
The country's population is projected to decline below 9 million by 2043 compared to 9.63 million currently, prompting the deeply conservative government to have to consider immigrant labour.^BNE^
Italy:
Meloni is considering looking at Hungary's "perfect example" of how to solve demographic issues, as Italy is facing record negative birth rates.^Euractiv^
Latvia:
Latvia’s parliament voted on Friday (15 September) to confirm Evika Silina of the centre-right New Unity party as the next prime minister, leading a broad coalition, following the resignation last month of Krišjānis Kariņš.^Euractiv^
Lithuania:
The government is giving Belarusians special passports allowing them to leave and enter Lithuania after the Belarus government announced that they would no longer issue passports to citizens permanently living abroad.^EN^
Norway:
The Labour party has lost its first local elections in 99 years to the right-wing.^Euractiv^
Poland:
One month until the Polish elections, where the ruling conservative party has shrunk in voting share from 44% in 2019 to 38% now.^EN^ The Polish foreign ministry has fired the head of its legal service due to a scandal over work visas.^Euractiv^ 70 detained migrants in a prison went on hunger strike, the country's biggest hunger strike of this kind.^EN^
Portugal:
The government is working to minimize the impact of the nine-week production stoppage at the VW plant.^Euractiv^
Romania:
The EU is using money generated by a tax on pollution to fund a gas pipeline.^CCN^ Inflation remains steady at 9.4% year-on-year.^BNE^
Slovakia:
The EU is reacting extremely normally to the possibility that Smer-SD may win the elections, whose leader has stated the extremely controversial propaganda that the war in Ukraine began in 2014 when Ukrainian fascists killed Russian civilians.^Euractiv^ In fact, most Slovak parties do not support sanctions against Russia.^Euractiv^
Switzerland:
A group of international bond investors is drawing up plans to sue Switzerland in the US courts for expropriation over the losses they suffered after the rescue of Credit Suisse.^FT^
CW: mentions of sexual violence.
A study has revealed that there have been 1000 cases of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Switzerland since the mid-20th century, of which nearly 75% were against minors and over half were against men or boys.^EN^
Ukraine:
Biden taps former Commerce Secretary Pritzker to help Ukraine with economic recovery.^PD^
Part 2
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Western Asia:
Armenia:
Residents of Yerevan are to elect its city council and in turn their next mayor, a test of strength for the ruling Civil Contract Party.^EN^
Azerbaijan:
Azerbaijan's three main opposition political parties have been granted state registration as required by a new draconian law enacted this year.^EN^
Cyprus:
Human smuggling from Syria to Cyprus has picked up steam; before, they would enter Cyprus via Lebanon or Turkiye.^OD^
Iran:
Iran has regained its position as the third-largest crude oil producer, with a production of 3mn bpd in August, OPEC announced on September 12.^BNE^ Nuclear watchdog chief condemns Iran's 'unprecedented' barring of inspectors.^MEE^
The United States has waived sanctions to allow the transfer of 6 billion dollars from South Korea to Qatar as part of the prisoner swap, of five prisoners for five prisoners; must be some valuable US spies.^CGTN^ More sanctions on Iran on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death.^MEE^ Iranian authorities are pushing through the process of passing a controversial hijab law.^MEE^
Iraq:
Families in Iraq desperately search for their missing loved ones.^ET^
Israel/Palestine:
Colombia has strengthened its relations with Palestine.^TS^ Blinken said Friday that the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel remains "difficult," and that any agreement between the two should address issues with Palestine.^PD^
Palestinian resistance confronts IOF in Jenin, 4 settlers injured.^AM^
Lebanon:
Clashes between Palestinian factions in a refugee camp in Lebanon has killed over 15 people and injured hundreds.^TS^
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia to Boost Oil Sales to China Next Year^CGS^
Syria:
Northeastern Syria is still dealing with ISIS four years since the Kurdish-led forces defeated the ISIS caliphate, as their homelands refuse pleas to take them back. One wonders if the simultaneous US occupation elsewhere in Syria has anything to do with this.^Jacobin^.
Seymour Hersh publishes a leaked memo undermining the US narrative of a sarin attempt in Ghouta in 2013.^RNN^
Turkiye:
Türkiye to broaden free trade agreement with UK.^Bilaterals^ The talks between Turkey and China to build a nuclear power plant in eastern Thrace are progressing and a deal is possible in a few months.^MEE^ Turkey is in talks with the UAE to produce hydrogen and construct an offshore wind facility.^MEE^
Erdogan said that Ankara could "part ways" with the EU if necessary when asked about the contents of a European Parliament report on Türkiye.^CGTN^
Yemen:
The President of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen, Mahdi al-Mashat, affirmed that Yemen's missile arsenal is now "capable of striking any target in any city within the countries of the aggression coalition from [any point] in Yemen."^AM^ Saudi Arabia invited a delegation from the Houthi movement to resume talks about ending the war in Yemen.^MEE^
Central Asia:
Afghanistan:
China has a new ambassador for Afghanistan, though is still not yet establishing formal ties or recognizing the government.^SCMP^ Pakistan, Afghanistan reopen crossing after 9-day closure.^DW^
Belarus:
The exiled Belarus opposition is laying the groundwork for the country to join the EU, if/when they take power, a position that only 43% of Belarusians hold (57% want to join Russia in a union state).^OD^
Kazakhstan:
An article on how Kazakhstan would benefit from a more nuclear energy policy, as the government announces a referendum on whether to build its first nuclear plant;^EN^ they are the world's top producer of uranium. Kazakhstan is aligning increasingly with China and away from Russia, though is playing all sides (including the West) for its own benefit.^SCMP^
Kyrgyzstan:
The government has blocked access to the Kloop news website after it reported that a jailed opposition politician is being abused at his pre-detention facility.^EN^
Russia:
The Russian Central Bank increases interest rates to 13%.^BNE^ There is a Prozac shortage in Russia.^RT^ Russia has authorized oil tankers to sail through the Northern Sea Route for the first time, despite not having the reinforced hulls designed to withstand icier conditions.^FT^
The Mercator projection doesn't make it seem true, but the Northern Sea Route is only 14,000 kilometers from St Petersburg to Vladivostok - and 23,000 kilometers if taking the Suez Canal instead. High risk, high reward. Though, lower risk as the Arctic melts.
Russia-China cooperation and development still increasing; notably, Putin says that the development of the Far East will be increasing, in terms of not only mineral resources but also industry, aircraft construction, shipbuilding, etc.^GT^ They're going to build a grain hub at the border to facilitate trade and boost food security.^SCMP^
Eastern Asia and Oceania:
The South China Sea’s Resource Wars^NC^
Australia:
Australian studies reveal record levels of wealth inequality.^WSWS^
Labor and Coalition MPs joined forces to block a Green’s motion acknowledging the role of Australia’s foreign secret service, ASIS, in the overthrow of socialist president Salvador Allende.^GL^
Bangladesh:
Inflation has increased to about 10%, driven by higher food prices.^PD^ Bangladeshi officials hail BRI for ushering in new dawn for global development.^PD^
Cambodia:
An article on aquatic exports to China among other things.^CGTN^
China:
Okay, the anti-China "economy is failing" narratives are just getting silly; folks, is Shanghai a ghost town?^GT^ Kasandras Beware - China's Economy Will Not Hit A Wall.^MoA^ Unwinding China’s US$8 trillion local debt crisis a ‘monumental challenge’, but can Beijing find the cash?^SCMP^ China has extracted multiple samples of the spyware SecondDate used against its Northwestern Polytechnical University and has identified the US NSA agents responsibly for launching the cyberattack.^GT^
China has cut its reserve requirement ratio by 0.25%.^CGTN^ China's yuan loans have expanded sharply in August, rising by 1.36 trillion yuan, or $188 billion.^CGTN^ China's August data points to steady economic recovery.^CGTN^ China’s tech hub to import more integrated circuits, steel itself against US sanctions after Huawei handset leap.^SCMP^ World’s largest iPhone factory ramps up hiring efforts in China ahead of Apple’s launch of new handset.^SCMP^ China warns over reports of iPhone-related ‘security incidents’; Beijing said that while foreign phones, including Apple’s, were not banned from China, all producers should “strictly adhere” to data protection and information security laws.^FT^ A US supercomputer expert says three next-generation supercomputers may already be up and running in China, a greater number than any other country, but that the world knows little about them because of US sanctions.^SCMP^ Chinese smartphone giants Huawei and Xiaomi reach global patent cross-licensing deal.^SCMP^ China set to overtake Japan as world’s biggest car exporter.^FT^
China’s Tibet autonomous region has achieved a state of carbon neutrality.^SCMP^
Amid US tech sanctions, Chinese scientists say they made the world’s most powerful radar chip.^SCMP^
If I had a nickel every time a high-up Chinese official had gone missing in 2023, I would have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it's happened twice.^FT^
The candidate leading the polls is President Tsai's VP, who is even more vocally pro-independence.^RS^ Beijing says it now has capacity to build Taiwan high-speed rail link from Chinese mainland.^SCMP^
DPRK:
Kim Jong Un has been touring around Russia, visiting sites, and just generally having a great time.^GT^ Kim Jong Un has said that relations with Russia are the top priority for the DPRK.^TS^
Part 3
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India:The Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers’ Movement (ICCFM) held a three-day forum in Bengaluru on the 7th of September, analyzing trade negotiations and the impact of the climate crisis.^Bilaterals^ South Korea and India to improve their free trade agreement.^Bilaterals^ India steps up plans to explore critical minerals crucial to its clean energy transition.^MB^ National industrial production grew 5.7% in July.^TS^ India imposes anti-dumping duty on some Chinese steel for 5 years.^SCMP^
Hyperlocal weather forecasters are now influencers in India.^RoW^
Honestly? This kinda rocks. I predict it's 3 months until there's a cryptocurrency based on how well you can predict the weather in a 10 by 10 mile area.
Indonesia:
43 people have been arrested during protests against a Chinese-led glass and solar panel factory, which is planned on Rempang, a small island close to Singapore, which would displace thousands of local residents.^CGS^ Indonesian president takes ride on Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway.^PD^
Japan:
PM Kishida has reshuffled him cabinet, as the government's approval plummets.^TS^
Laos:
Laos-China railway led to a Chinese investment surge, but economy remains depressed from coronavirus fall out.^BNE^
Myanmar:
The government is paying for Russian petroleum products in yuan, but will try and switch to kyat-ruble exchanges soon.^AM^ Cybercrime crackdown reveals warming ties between China and Myanmar.^SCMP^
Nepal:
Nepal's PM is to visit China on September 23rd, to boost ties; in the six years since the signing of the BRI MoU, not a single project or provision has been implemented yet.^Bilaterals^
Singapore:
Tharman Shanmurgaratnam has been sworn in as president.^PD^
Vietnam:
More than 50 people have died in a building fire in Hanoi.^TS^
Africa:
Crossings of African migrants have almost doubled from January and August 2023 compared to the same period last year, to over 114,000.^AN^
The African Union (AU) plans to launch its own sovereign credit rating agency next year as an alternative to the “big three” international rating agencies.^EN^
The governments of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have signed a security pact, promising to help each other in the event of a rebellion insurgency or external aggression.^DW^
Algeria:
Why Algeria wants to prevent war in Niger (it's about not wanting the spread of even more instability and militants across the region).^RS^
Angola:
Angolan Minister of State for Economic Coordination Jose de Lima Massano emphasized the crucial role of the oil and gas industry for the country's economy and pledged continued investment in petroleum resource exploration; Angola is the second largest oil producer in Africa.^TS^ The three-year China debt freeze has ended; Angola is the biggest recipient of financing from China, to the tune of $42 billion in loans, and interest payments have doubled to $1.57 billion.^SCMP^
Burkina Faso:
Burkina Faso’s junta-led government said one of the country’s most popular radio stations could resume broadcasting after being suspended for airing an interview that called for Bazoum to be restored to power.^AN^
CAR:
Wagner Group sustains significant losses in clashes with Central African Republic rebels.^MEE^
They lost the +10 to Attack buff that Prigozhin was providing in a 1000 mile radius.
DRC:
The Democratic Republic of Congo warned Thursday of the "humanitarian tragedy" and the "damage" caused by the "aggression" of Rwanda, accused of supporting a rebellion in the East of its territory.^AN^
Property disputes, evictions plague DR Congo capital.^AN^ Amnesty International accuses multinationals of forced evictions, threats, intimidation and deception against local populations at cobalt and copper mining sites in the DRC.^AN^
Egypt:
Egypt's Ministry of Education has banned the wearing of full-face veils in public and public schools.^AN^ Egypt is the second most at risk of debt crisis after Ukraine, according to Bloomberg data.^MEE^
Egyptian and French foreign ministers hold talks in Cairo, and discussed bilateral relations and developments in the region, including Palestine.^AN^
Ethiopia:
The Egyptian government declared that Ethiopia's filling of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam reservoir without consensus with Egypt and Sudan, the two downstream countries, is a violation of the Declaration of Principles, a tripartite agreement previously signed.^TS^
Gabon:
President Oligui relaunches investigations into public markets.^AN^ Gabon's government is considering a two-year return to civilian rule.^AN^
Kenya:
Fuel prices hit all-time high, adding to the already harsh cost of living crisis.^AN^ President Ruto is appealing to US technology companies and investors in San Francisco, highlighting investment opportunities in his country.^AN^
Kenya, Indonesia to sign preferential trade agreement.^Bilaterals^
Libya:
Death toll reaches over 11,000 in the flooding, with tens of thousands more missing.^AN^ Libya’s Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah on Thursday acknowledged issues in the maintenance of two dams that burst.^AN^ Perhaps the West might have something to do with that, when, y'know, they bombed the country and overthrew the government?^MR^
Mali:
Mali's government has cancelled festivities planned for the anniversary of the country's independence celebrated on September 22 due to attacks, instead directing funds for the festivities to the victims and their families.^AN^
Morocco:
Morocco unveils rehousing programme for quake-hit areas.^AN^ Many Algerians call on their leaders to offer humanitarian aid to their longtime regional rival.^MEE^ Rescue teams are frustrated that Morocco did not accept more international help after earthquake.^EN^
Earthquake in Morocco: Government and European Imperialism to Blame for Rising Death Toll.^SP^ The social roots of the Moroccan earthquake disaster.^WSWS^
...
Mozambique:
The government of Mozambique announced in May 2020 the completion of a project, co-funded by China, to bring digital satellite television signal to 1,000 villages in the country, which has benefited over 20,000 families.^PD^ Mozambique To Build 60 District Hospitals By End Of 2024.^TS^
Niger:
55 Pan-African organizations oppose sanctions on Niger.^MR^ The USA resumes surveillance flights over Niger.^AN^
The government of Niger have denounced a military cooperation agreement concluded in 2022 with neighboring Benin, which has now said that they would take part in an ECOWAS-led invasion of NIger.^AN^.
Nigeria:
Nigeria experiences a nationwide power outage after its electrical grid fails.^AN^
Rwanda:
Rwanda strikes deal to build an experimental nuclear reactor with a German-Canadian start-up.^AN^
Part 4
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South Africa:
During the first half of 2023, South Africa quadrupled its imports of solar panels from China to 3.4 GW, which at peak production corresponds to the total production capacity of some power plants belonging to the country's public company.^AN^
US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson is under investigation in South Africa for charging "excessive" prices for a key tuberculosis drug.^AN^
Tanzania:
Indonesia has pledged to increase investments in Tanzania, including in management of the Mnazi Bay gas block by its state-owned company.^Bilaterals^
Tunisia:
The government is amending a free trade agreement with Turkiye.^Bilaterals^ Tunisia bans visit by European Parliament delegation.^AN^
Zambia:
Zambian President Haikinde Hichilema Does the Rounds of Shenzhen’s Tech Giants.^CGS^ Forget About Everything Else, Hichilema’s in China to Resolve Zambia’s Still Unfinished Debt Restructuring Deal.^CGS^ Hichilema eyes collaboration after tour of top tech firms.^AN^
Zimbabwe:
Most of the new cabinet are men, in violation of the constitution which calls for gender balance.^DW^
North America:
Canada:
Trudeau has brushed aside the idea that he might quit due to poor polling numbers, and has acknowledged public "grumbling" about the cost of living.[^CGTN^]9https://archive.ph/Q7rgi)
The leader of Cold Lake First Nations has revealed the initiator of a major carbon capture project in Northern Alberta has not consulted with local Indigenous communities.^DeSmog^
United States:
Romney isn't seeking re-election in 2024.^Advocate^ 59% of Californians are against cash reparations to the descendants of slaves.^PD^ Palestinian students have filed a federal complaint alleging discrimination at the University of Illinois.^MEE^ Child poverty in the US more than doubled in 2022, with 9 million children in poverty.^WSWS^ Biden has declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to Hurricane Lee.^CGTN^
Another FDIC-Insured Bank Is Teetering, Closing at 27-1/2 Cents Yesterday, Down 96 Percent in a Year.^WSoP^ Google spends $10 billion per year, giving money to companies like Apple and other entities, to monopolize online searching.^MR^
The government announced last week the cancellation of oil and gas drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.^PW^ ‘Project 2025’: The Republican blueprint to wage war on the environment.^PW^ Four fracking waste injection wells in Ohio have temporarily suspended operations by order of the government, which says the wells present an “imminent danger” to health and the environment.^ICN^ Large corporations that want to do business in the state of California could soon be required to calculate and report all of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their companies, including emissions from their supply chains.^ICN^ In Nevada, Indigenous land protectors face off with a Canadian mining company.^RNN^
Latin America:
Negotiators for the European Union and Mercosur on Thursday discussed the next steps towards completing their long-awaited trade deal after the South American trade bloc responded to a European addendum to the agreement, officials said.^Bilaterals^
The Association of Indigenous Peoples Conservationistsinsisted this week that an emergency be declared in Lake Titicaca, on the border between Bolivia and Peru and one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, which is suffering from water stress.
Argentina:
Inflation hits 12.4% in August, for a total of 124.4% in the last 12 months.^MP^ The government is planning to become a major exporter of natural gas.^MP^
Top presidential candidate and hyper-libetarian Milei has said that while the Malvinas (Falklands) are Argentinian and that is non-negotiable, the people living there must be considered when making decisions and that a peaceful solution is desirable.^MP^
Brazil:
As with soybeans and corn, Brazil is ready to unseat the US as the world's top cotton exporter.^MP^
Chile:
Chilean mothers continue to search for their babies stolen from them in an international trafficking scandal under Pinochet.^OD^
Milton Friedman and Friedrich von Hayek cheered on Pinochet's dictatorship and helped him enforce the brutal regime he created.^Jacobin^
Colombia:
Coco production last year reached a record high, the main ingredient in caocaine.^FT^
Ecuador:
Ecuadorian migrants are fleeing to the US as the rightwing undoes the policies of Correa.^Jacobin^
El Salvador:
The prison population has tripled to 100,000 in less than two years under Bukele's crackdown on gangs.^TS^
Jamaica:
A new strain of dengue has broken out on the island.^TS^
Mexico:
Mexico has expressed its "great concern" over a decision by the Federal Court for the Southern District of Texas in the United States to declare the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program unconstitutional.^PD^ Mexico is rejoining the G77+China.^TS^
Nicaragua:
More sanctions.^Resumen^ Ortega has led the parade celebrating 202 years of Central American independence and the 167 years of the Battle of San Jacinto.^TS^
Peru:
The coup government of Peru has pledged to use the proceeds from a %20 million debt swap with the United States for climate action in the Amazon to finance a tropical forest protection fund over the next 13 years.^MP^
Trinidad and Tobago:
The coral and seagrass restoration project of the Institute of Marine Affairs, MARIN, in collaboration with bpTT, has successfully completed its pilot phase and will now enter the main phase.^TS^
Uruguay:
The economy has shrunk by 2.5% year-on-year, partially due to the extreme drought.^MP^
Venezuela:
China holds Venezuela as an all-time strategic partner.^MP^ China will train Venezuelans as astronauts to join Beijing’s moon project, according to Maduro.^SCMP^
War:
Ukraine:
'We will fight imperialism together', North Korea's Kim tells Putin.^EN^ Vladimir Putin ‘gratefully’ accepts Kim Jong Un invitation to North Korea.^FT^
The Swedish government is studying the possibility of transfering Gripen fighters to Ukraine.^Euractiv^ Swedish government to increase defence spending amid NATO bid,^EN^ by almost 30%.[^FT^](Sweden to boost defence spending next year by almost 30%) Reports suggest the US may give Ukraine long-range ATACMS missiles.^EN^
US singles out Turkey with latest war sanctions package.^BNE^ Russia's war on Ukraine deserves condemnation, Uruguayan Defense Minister says.^MP^ Bulgaria, NATO discuss response to Russian blockade in Black Sea.^Euractiv^ Baltic states ban vehicles with Russian license plates in line with EU sanctions interpretation.^EN^
Ukraine Has Lost 71,500 Soldiers in Counteroffensive: Putin^TS^ Russia says Crimean shipyard on fire, two ships damaged in Ukraine missile attack^Euractiv^ Russian hawks push Putin to escalate as US crosses more ‘red lines’.^RS^
Ukraine’s counteroffensive to continue after onset of bad weather, Budanov says.^Euractiv^
Thank god, there will be no end to the carnage. I was getting anxious that maybe the bloodshed might at least slow down, but fortunately manmade horrors beyond our comprehension still await us!
Hyping Ukraine Counteroffensive, US Press Chose Propaganda Over Journalism^FAIR^
How Bill Clinton looted Russia and started NATO expansion^MR^
China:
The Quincy Institute reminds everybody that Vietnam may have a China strategy, but it is not America's China strategy, and they will not align with America against China any time soon.^RS^ China is still confident in their Vietnam ties.^GT^
China to impose sanctions on two U.S. companies over Taiwan arms sales.^CGTN^
China’s newest aircraft carrier prepares to take to the seas.^FT^
Part 5
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The West:
Antony Blinken and the diplomacy deficit: His remarks to students this week shows how much American exceptionalism and Great Power competition have taken over the craft.^RS^
Air Force misses recruitment goal for first time since 1999.^RS^
How the UK’s arms trade funnels public cash into private pockets.^OD^
Labour:
Kaiser Permanente workers have voted to authorize strike action to fight for safe staffing and fair wages.^WSWS^ Auto Workers Strike Plants at All Three of the Big 3.^LN^ ‘No Justice, No Jeeps!’ Scenes from the Auto Workers Strike.^LN^ ‘We’re looking for the means of production’: Bakehouse workers in Chicago fight for independent union.^RNN^
New Zealand doctors hold second strike.^WSWS^ Sri Lankan railway union calls off drivers strike, after government threats and bogus promises.^WSWS^ Sri Lankan government begins looting workers’ pension funds.^WSWS^
Don’t Do the Boss Any Favors.^LN^
Australian billionaire real estate developer Tim Gurner has said that unemployment needs to rise "40 to 50%" to discipline workers into working again, saying that “people decided they didn’t really want to work so much anymore through COVID, and that has had a massive effect on productivity.”^PW^
Left and Right:
Beneath the polycrisis is the singular dilemma of humanity called capitalism: The Thirty-Seventh Newsletter (2023)^MR^
The Black Working Class Can No Longer Be Ignored.^Jacobin^
Nazis Swarm Florida But Whew At Least No Trans Kids In Sight^CD^
Argentina shuts down Nazi and antisemitic publisher.^DW^
Far-right AfD's Björn Höcke faces trial over Nazi slogan.^DW^
LGBTQIA:
Content Warning - this section is not usually good news.
Florida City Declares Itself LGBTQ+ Sanctuary.^Advocate^ Judge Won't Block Florida's Restrictions on Care for Trans Adults.^Advocate^ Who could have possibly seen this coming? GOP Sen. John Kennedy Reads Queer Sex Excerpts at Cringe-Worthy Senate Hearing^Advocate^ Alabama Families Continue to Appeal to Block Transgender Care Ban.^Advocate^ Olivia Hill of Nashville Council Is First Trans Person Elected in Tennessee.^Advocate^ California Becomes First State to Declare Transgender History Month.^Advocate^
Mausoleum for Trans Women Inaugurated in Mexico City.^Advocate^ Czech companies urge PM to ensure equal rights to LGBT+ people.^BNE^ Rwanda: Activists want trans and intersex legal rights.^DW^
‘Standing up for trans people is self-defense for every worker’^MR^
Climate:
New Documents Show Exxon Executives Cast Doubt on Climate Science to Protect Profits.^CD^ New Research Exposes 5 Global North Countries Responsible for 51% of Planned Oil and Gas Expansion Through 2050.^CD^ Revealed: How Big Dairy Is Milking Net Zero.^DS^ ‘There is nothing green about economic growth in high-income countries’.^MR^ Only 11 countries are reducing emissions and all will miss Paris targets.^BNE^
Hundreds of Scientists Endorse Demands of March to End Fossil Fuels.^CD^ 400+ Actions to End Fossil Fuels Planned Around the World.^CD^ Latin America, most dangerous region for environment defenders, Global Witness report.^MP^ Electric vehicles aren't enough.^Ecologist^
Small islands slam ‘endless’ climate talks at landmark maritime court hearing.^CCN^
Overshoot Commission calls for research into solar geoengineering.^CCN^ All planetary boundaries mapped out for the first time, six of nine crossed.^MR^
Stop calling people ‘climate refugees’.^CCN^
Highly invasive fire ant reaches Europe, scientists call for urgent action.^Euractiv^
Miscellaneous Analysis:
FDIC Releases a New Problem Bank List: It’s an Exercise in Fantasy^WSoP^
Financial Statecraft and its Limits in the Semi-Periphery.^DE^
Maha Hilal on Innocent Until Proven Muslim.^FAIR^
IIPPE 2023 Part Two – China, profitability and financialisation, Michael Roberts.^MR^
Dipshittery and Cope:
The Left's Electoral Strategy Is Working. Let's Keep Building It.^Jacobin^
Together, we can combine and amplify our struggles, and enhance solidarity. Together, we can crush strikes across America, as well as cry after voting for reactionary policies.
I Love My Trans Comrades!