North & Central America
President Trump said the United States and Mexico had reached an agreement to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement and would sign within days. The core of the agreement–American businesses’ ability to operate in Mexico and Canada without tariffs–has not changed, though there are revised provisions around agriculture, automobiles, labor unions, and the digital economy. Canada is notably missing from the talks, and the question is whether Trump’s attempts to pressure Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau into signing the update agreement will work, or if it will become a bilateral pact. Lawmakers and businesses warned against shutting Canada out, and Mexican officials said they wanted Canada in.
North Carolina’s congressional districts are unconstitutional, according to a panel of three federal judges. They said the districts are gerrymandered to favor Republicans over Democrats, and new districts may be required before the November elections, which could affect control of the House of Representatives.
Senator John McCain died on Saturday after suffering from a malignant brain tumor. He was a naval aviator who was taken as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and went on to become a congressman and senator from Arizona, as well as a two-time presidential contender. He was known as a maverick who near the end of his life delivered sharp critiques of President Trump. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said he will not name a successor until McCain is buried later this week.
In Central America, a drought has affected several countries and caused significant crop losses. Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras reported losses of more than 694,000 acres of crops and affecting the food security of 2.1 million people.
South America
As of June, an estimated 2.3 million people had fled Venezuela, mostly to Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. That’s about seven percent of the population. The United Nations said most are fleeing because of lack of food, and about 1.3 million of those who fled suffered malnourishment. Now, officials from Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru are meeting to seek a solution. Ecuador and Peru have announced tighter entry rules, and protests in Brazil drove migrants back over the border. Last week we brought up Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s plan to pull the country out of economic turmoil.
In Brazil, drone footage shows a never before seen Amazon tribe in the Javary Rivery Valley, near the border with Peru. Funai, the organization that captured the footage, was set up to protect the interests of indigenous tribes living in the Brazilian Amazon.
Europe
Far-right protesters, including neo-Nazis, clashed with counter protesters in the eastern German city of Chemnitz Monday night. From across Germany, far-right demonstrators united in response to a fatal stabbing, in which a Syrian is a suspect. Even the farthest right German political parties have kept their distance from the protesters.
In a speech focusing on France’s future, Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron called for a unified Europe, and said the EU can no longer rely on the U.S. for security purposes. While advocating for a common European defense budget, Macron stated that even Russia should be included in European security and peace decisions.
The Middle East
The Trump administration cut more than $200 million in aid for the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza. The move follows an earlier decision to withhold millions in funding for the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency. Funding pays for humanitarian assistance, infrastructure, and education. Dylan Williams, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at J-Street, a pro-Israel group, said the “attempt to ‘disrupt’ UNRWA by slashing their funding — against the recommendations of the Pentagon, State Department and US intelligence community — is both callous and dangerous. These cuts have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and contributed to instability that, according to Israel’s generals, threatens Israeli security. This is just the latest evidence that the Trump administration is more interested in punitive action against Palestinians than in the serious pursuit of peace.”
United Nations human rights experts said war crimes may have been committed by all parties in Yemen, including the Yemeni government, the Saudi-led coalition backing the government, and the revel Houthi movement. All have made little effort to minimize civilian casualties, the experts said. A report will be delivered the UN Human Rights Council next month.
In Tunisia, Souad Abderraahim became the first female mayor of Tunis in 60 years. She is also the first mayor with a middle-class background, and the city’s first Islamist mayor. Her victory reflects a slow shift in attitudes toward women in the Arab world, in a country where women’s rights are more advanced than others in the region.
In ancient Arabic poetry, ruins played a prominent role. Now, they’re finding “new life in a generation of artists reacting to the loss of war and state of violence across the Middle East,” says an article in BBC.
Central & South Asia
It’s been a “summer of rage in India,” writes the Washington Post. Extremist male Hindu mobs have killed dozens, many Muslims. This article examines the roots of male rage and Hindu nationalism embraced by the current government.
East & Southeast Asia
The U.N.’s top human rights body said Myanmar military leaders should be prosecuted for genocide against Rohingya Muslims. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar in the last year and at least 10,000 have been killed. The U.N. fact-finding mission compiled accounts of crimes including torching hundreds of villages, enslaving and killing children, and gang rape. “The military’s contempt for human life, dignity and freedom — for international law in general — should be a cause of concern for the entire population of Myanmar, and to the international community as a whole,” said mission chair Marzuki Darusman.
Africa
Meanwhile, the South Sudanese government has reopened oil fields to boost the economy. Oil accounts for 98 percent of the country’s budget. The industry has been stalled due to the ongoing civil war.
Oceania
Australia has a new prime minister. Scott Morrison, implementer of the country’s controversial “stop the boats” asylum seeker policy, replaced Malcom Turnbull after a revolt within the former minister’s center-right Liberal Party. He is Australia’s fifth prime minister in five years. Turnbull was considered a moderate in a party that has moved increasingly right-wing. An energy bill he introduced that would have put limits on greenhouse gas emissions might have been the final straw for his party. Australia is one of the world’s biggest energy exporters.
The Guardian released new figures showing 147 indigenous people have died in custody over the last 10 years in Australia. Aboriginal groups are demanding independent monitoring at detention centers.
Other
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, launched a campaign calling itself the “g-spot of Europe.” The campaign says “Nobody knows where it is, but when you find it–it’s amazing.” Unsurprisingly, it brought press, and also uproar from the largely Catholic region. John Oliver called it a success.
