News Wire | August 2023 Archive
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Anticorruption Crusader Wins in Guatemala, in Rebuke to Establishment
By Simon Romero and Jody Garcia | The New York Times
Bernardo Arévalo, a polyglot sociologist from an upstart party made up largely of urban professionals, took 58 percent of the vote with 98 percent of votes counted on Sunday, the electoral authority said. His opponent, Sandra Torres, a former first lady, got 37 percent.
Netherlands and Denmark Confirm Plans to Provide Kyiv With First F-16s
By Roman Olearchyk and Richard Milne | Financial Times
The Netherlands and Denmark confirmed plans to provide Kyiv with more than 40 multipurpose F-16 fighter jets, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after visiting both countries. But the first transfers of the American-made jets for which Kyiv has long pleaded are likely to involve a lengthy pilot training process.
Ecuador Candidate Backed by Correa Will Face Banana Heir in Second Round
By Alexandra Valencia and Julia Symmes Cobb | Reuters
Two former lawmakers, leftist Luisa Gonzalez and business scion Daniel Noboa, will battle for Ecuador's presidency in an October run-off, after coming top in a first round of voting over the weekend.
Hungary, Turkey to Consult on Sweden’s NATO Entry Bid This Fall
By Zoltan Simon | Bloomberg
Hungary and Turkey will continue to coordinate their policy on Sweden’s bid to join the NATO military alliance, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said, after the two nations’ leaders met.
Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa to Seek Reelection
By Farai Mutsaka | Associated Press
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a former guerrilla fighter and bodyguard who responded to being fired as vice president by unseating Robert Mugabe, his own mentor and one of the world’s longest-ruling leaders, in a coup.
Rights Group Says Saudi Arabian Border Guards Fired on and Killed Hundreds of Ethiopian Migrants
By Jon Gambrell and Evelyne Musambi | Associated Press
Border guards in Saudi Arabia have fired machine guns and launched mortars at Ethiopians trying to cross into the kingdom from Yemen, likely killing hundreds of the unarmed migrants in recent years, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday.
North Korea's Kim Directs Cruise Missile Test as South Korea, US Begin Drills
By Hyonhee Shin | Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of strategic cruise missiles, state news agency KCNA said on Monday, as South Korea and the United States kicked off annual military drills that Pyongyang sees as a rehearsal for war.
Guatemalans to Choose Between Political Veteran, Surprise Outsider in Presidential Runoff
By Christopher Sherman | Associated Press
For much of Guatemala’s troubled electoral campaign, authorities seemed determined to limit voters’ options to a range of presidential hopefuls unlikely to shake up a corrupt political system, keeping several candidates seen as threats off the ballot.
More from WPR: Guatemala’s Election Could Sound Democracy’s Death Knell
Ecuadorian Vote Sunday for President After a Campaign Dominated by Demands for Safety
By Regina Garcia Cano | Associated Press
Ecuadorians will choose a new president Sunday, less than two weeks after the South American country was shaken by the assassination of one of the candidates — a crime that laid bare people’s fears over unprecedented violence in their once-calm nation.
More from WPR: A Surge in Crime and Violence Has Ecuador Reeling
Argentina to Freeze Fuel Prices Until Oct 31 to Curb Inflation
Reuters
Argentina's economy ministry said on Thursday it will freeze fuel prices until October 31 after an agreement with the industry as a measure to help tamp down triple-digit inflation.
Zelensky Extends Martial Law, Casting Doubt on Fall Parliamentary Elections
By David L. Stern and Francesca Ebel | The Washington Post
As Russian forces continued to bombard regions across Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday signed legislation extending martial law and a general military mobilization until mid-November. If martial law is not lifted, it would require postponing national parliamentary elections scheduled for fall.
Rights Group and UN Experts Single Out Sudanese Paramilitary With Accusations of Sexual Violence
By Jack Jeffery | Associated Press
A leading rights group and U.N. experts accused Sudan’s powerful paramilitary on Thursday of sexual violence and attacks on women in the restive western Darfur region as the African country entered its fifth month of conflict.
Senegalese Opposition Leader in Intensive Care Nearly Three Weeks Into Hunger Strike
By Zane Irwin | Associated Press
Jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was put in intensive care Thursday, nearly three weeks into a hunger strike to protest criminal charges brought against him by Senegal’s government, his party said.
More from WPR: Senegal’s Democratic Credentials Have Taken a Beating Under Macky Sall
Iran’s Foreign Minister Visits Saudi Arabia on First Such Trip in Years as Tensions Ease
By Jon Gambrell | Associated Press
Iran’s foreign minister traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, marking the first trip to the kingdom by Tehran’s top diplomat in years after the two nations reached a détente with Chinese mediation.
More from WPR: The Saudi-Iran Deal Is a Warning From MBS to Washington
Pro-Military Party Says It Will Join Populist Pheu Thai Party to Form Thailand’s Next Government
By Jintamas Saksornchai | Associated Press
A pro-military party affiliated with outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday it has agreed to join a coalition led by the populist Pheu Thai party in an attempt to form Thailand’s next government after a three-month stalemate.
Biden to Host Stand-Alone Summit with Japan and South Korea, a First
By By Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Ellen Nakashima | The Washington Post
President Biden will host his Japanese and South Korean counterparts at Camp David in Maryland on Friday, the first time the three nations’ leaders will hold a stand-alone meeting to discuss trilateral issues.
More from WPR: Are Japan-South Korea Relations On the Mend?
BRICS Nations to Meet in South Africa Seeking to Blunt Western Dominance
By Tim Cocks | Reuters
BRICS leaders meet in South Africa next week to discuss how to turn a loose club of nations accounting for a quarter of the global economy into a geopolitical force that can challenge the West's dominance in world affairs.
More from WPR: For BRICS, Bigger Might Not Be Better
Iran Foreign Minister to Visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday
Reuters
Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will visit Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Iran state TV reported on Thursday. In June, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Iranian officials in Tehran on his first visit to the country after the resumption of diplomatic ties with the Islamic republic in March.
More from WPR: The Saudi-Iran Deal Is a Warning From MBS to Washington
Guatemalan Presidential Candidate Arevalo Seen Winning Runoff with 61%, Poll Finds
Reuters
Guatemalan presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo is seen winning an August 20 runoff election backed by 61% of valid votes, followed by former first lady Sandra Torres, according to a CID Gallup poll published on Wednesday.
More from WPR: Guatemala’s Election Could Sound Democracy’s Death Knell
Vanuatu Opposition Boycott Parliament After Failed Bid to Remove Prime Minister
By Kirsty Needham | Reuters
Vanuatu's opposition party boycotted parliament on Thursday and said it would lodge a court challenge to the defeat the previous day of its bid to remove Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau.
Nigeria’s President Appoints New Cabinet
By Aanu Adeoye | Financial Times
Nigeria’s president on Wednesday evening announced a cabinet of close advisers and political loyalists as he seeks to rejuvenate a faltering economy and respond to a crisis in neighbouring Niger that has dominated the first few months of his term in office.
More from WPR: Nigeria Did Not Get the Presidential Election It Was Promised
More Than 60 Migrants Presumed Dead After Boat Capsizes Off Cape Verde
By Mike Ives | The New York Times
More than 60 migrants are believed to have died after a boat carrying them from Senegal capsized in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Verde, the authorities said this week.
Spanish Leader Pedro Sánchez Wins Vital Lifeline from Catalan Separatists
By Aitor Hernández-Morales | Politico
An election repeat in Spain appears less likely after a last-minute deal was reached Thursday regarding control of the Spanish parliament’s main administrative body — providing a boost to socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
More from WPR: Spain’s Elections Have Put Regional Parties in a Bind
US Asks Iran to Stop Selling Drones to Russia
By Andrew England and Felicia Schwartz | Financial Times
The U.S. is pushing Iran to stop selling armed drones to Russia as part of discussions on a broader “unwritten understanding” between Washington and Tehran to de-escalate tensions and contain a long-simmering nuclear crisis.
More from WPR: Don’t Judge Iran’s Drones by How Russia Is Using Them
India, China Soften Tone in Border Talks Ahead of BRICS, G-20
By Sudhi Ranjan Sen | Bloomberg
Indian and Chinese army commanders agreed to work swiftly toward easing a border dispute, setting the stage for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping to potentially meet at key summits in the coming weeks.
Guatemala's Veterans About Face to Support Torres for President
By Christopher Sherman | Associated Press
Guatemala’s largest military veteran organization endorsed presidential candidate Sandra Torres Tuesday after battling her during her first two bids for the presidency, showing just how far her progressive opponent’s surprise place in the runoff has shaken the country’s politics.
More from WPR: Guatemala’s Election Could Sound Democracy’s Death Knell
US Green Technology Investment Leaves Europe in the Shade
By Alice Hancock | Financial Times
European clean technology start-ups have attracted less than half as much investment as U.S. counterparts since Washington unveiled a landmark $390 billion package of climate subsidies and tax credits a year ago, industry research shows.
More from WPR: The EU and U.S. Are Squaring Off Over Climate Policy’s Trade Impact
Three Bulgarians Suspected of Spying for Russia Charged in UK
By Luke Harding and Matthew Weaver | The Guardian
The defendants were among five people detained in February after a long-running counter-terrorism investigation. Three of those were then charged with possession of false identity documents, according to the Metropolitan police, which is responsible for espionage cases.
Sudan 'Spiraling Out of Control' as 1 Million Flee Country, UN Warns
Reuters
More than 1 million people have fled Sudan to neighboring states and people inside the country are running out of food and dying due to lack of healthcare after four months of war, the United Nations warned on Tuesday.
More from WPR: Only a United Civilian Coalition Can Bring Peace to Sudan
Clashes Between Rival Militias in Libya Leave 27 People Dead, Authorities Say
By Jack Jeffery | Associated Press
The fighting appears to be the most intense to shake Tripoli this year. In addition to the 27 deaths, over 100 people were injured in the fighting, Libya’s Emergency Medicine and Support Center, a medical body that is deployed during humanitarian disasters and wars, said early Wednesday.
South Korea Leader Seeks Breakthrough in Deterring Kim Jong Un
By Sangmi Cha and Jon Herskovitz | Bloomberg
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said the world would never accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons power while opening the door to a possible breakthrough in cooperation on deterrence with the U.S. and Japan when leaders from the nations meet in a landmark summit later this week.
More from WPR: The North Korean Nuclear Threat Is Creating a Regional Arms Race