Welcome to the weekly world briefing, a new Tuesday feature to help you stay up to date with major happenings around the globe. Come across something you think should be added to the next briefing? Send it to us on Twitter.
North & Central America
The confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is in question after allegations of sexual assault were brought forward by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Ford claims Kavanaugh and a friend tried to rape her at a high school party in the 1980s. Kavanaugh and Ford are set to testify before the Senate on Monday. Some key Republicans, including Senator Susan Collins, have indicated they will not vote to confirm Kavanaugh until they can hear Ford’s account. Kavanaugh denies the allegations.
In economic news, the Trump administration is imposing a 10% tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, which will increase to a 25% tariff by the end of the year. When added to tariffs imposed earlier this year, about half of Chinese goods sold to the U.S. are now affected. The U.S. had invited China to a round of negotiating talks scheduled for this week, but China may decline the offer after this latest round of tariffs. U.S. stocks dipped following the announcement.
The United States cut the number of refugees it will allow into the United States to the lowest number since the Refugee Act was enacted in 1980. The U.S. will allow 30,000 refugees in the coming fiscal year, less than one-third of the 110,000 cap in place when President Trump took office. There are 69 million displaced people in the world today, but the administration says the United States should not be the “sole barometer” of humanitarian measures. By numbers, the U.S. takes in more refugees than other countries, but per capita, it is far behind places like Canada, Norway, and Australia. The 30,000 number is a cap, not a guaranteed number of refugees that will be accepted. For example this year the U.S. resettled fewer than 20,000 refugees, less than half the cap for 2018.
A report by the New York Times shows that 12,800 children are being held in federal custody in September, compared to 2,400 in May 2017. The cause is not more migrant children, but that fewer children are being released into custody. The number of children detained is the highest ever recorded.
The ongoing crisis in Nicaragua is causing thousands to flee the country for neighboring Costa Rica. Since April, nearly 24,000 Nicaraguans have arrived in Costa Rica, according to the UNHCR. The Costa Rican ambassador to the UN recently stated that the crisis in Nicaragua has had “grave” consequences for his country.
South America
School started in Venezuela yesterday, but many families are too poor to send their children due to the current economic crisis. Some classrooms were nearly empty on Monday as families struggle to pay for necessary school supplies. Though the first few weeks of school are often slow, teachers are not used to this extremely low level of attendance.
Meanwhile, Venezuela is reportedly considering oil contracts with private companies for the first time since the 1990s. Allowing private companies to drill oil would be a complicated change for the socialist country, but one the government may be forced to make.
Argentina presented a budget plan this week in hopes to gain support from the IMF and steady markets. The austerity-minded plan is in response to the country’s stagnating economy and falling currency valuation. It cuts spending by about 1.4% of GDP.
Europe
Germany launched the world’s first hydrogen train this week. The new train produces only water and will replace old diesel-powered engines. It has a hydrogen tank and fuel cells on the roof and produces electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen trains are more expensive than diesel trains, but also more energy efficient, quieter, and less costly to operate. The United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, The Netherlands, and Denmark are also looking into moving away from diesel toward hydrogen.
French President Emmanuel Macron officially acknowledged France’s “system” of torture during the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s and 1960s. Historian Gilles Mancerson said Macron’s admittance “puts an end to an official lie.” The conflict, in which 1.5 million Algerians died, is considered a horrific example of colonialism.
Middle East
Russia and Turkey have agreed on a demilitarized zone in Syria, effectively stalling or preventing an onslaught on the rebel-held region of Idlib. As part of the agreement, all weapons must be withdrawn from the region by October 10th, and transportation routes between key cities must be restored by the end of the year. The UN has warned that a large-scale offensive could result in the “worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st Century.”
In Yemen, pro-government forces backed by Saudi Arabia and some Western powers have renewed attacks on the Houthi rebel-held region of Hodeida. On Sunday, four people were killed in an airstrike. The renewed attacks are an effort by a Saudi-backed military to defeat Iranian-backed rebels.
Central & South Asia
Pakistan has pledged to grant citizenship to 1.5 million Afghan refugees who were born in Pakistan. In an announcement this week, Prime Minister Imran Khan stated “They are humans. How come we have deprived them and have not arranged for offering them a national identification card and passport for 30 years, 40 years?” Though all people born in Pakistan are technically citizens, the government has often made it impossibly difficult for refugees to gain citizenship status. Other refugees, such as the Rohingya people, may be granted citizenship as well.
Also this week, Pakistan denied its willingness to open trade routes between India and Afghanistan. Trade routes through Pakistan could help economies throughout South Asia, but Pakistan insists there are “technical and strategic” issues that must be resolved first.
East & Southeast Asia
People in the Philippines are dealing with the aftermath of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, which caused landslides and the partial collapse of a mountain in the Cordillera region of Luzon Island. Dozens of people and hundreds of homes were buried in the landslide. As of Tuesday, 16 bodies had been recovered and identified, and three people were rescued. The area is mostly made up of miners and their families.
North and South Korean leaders Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in are in talks this week to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The meeting comes a month after U.S. President Trump ccanceleda meeting with Kim Jong Un due to inadequate progress on denuclearization. South Korean leaders are acting cautiously, with Moon stating, “If North Korea-U.S. dialogue is restarted after the visit, it would have much significance in itself.” A significant breakthrough is not expected.
Africa
At least 100 people are dead after severe flooding in Nigeria. Though flooding is common during the rainy season, this year has been the most destructive since 2012. A state of emergency has been declared in the Central and Southern regions of the country.
Tanzania has some of the best fishing waters in the world, with over 1700 species off its coast, yet the country is forced to import fish from China and other countries. Increased demand, overfishing, and illegal “blast fishing” are contributing to a fish shortage in the East African nation. This piece explores the issue and discusses some possible solutions.
