A surge of wildfires across the Amazon Rainforest has sparked international outcry (Reuters), with environmentalists pointing to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s rollback of forest protections. Bolsonaro accused nongovernmental organizations of setting the fires (Guardian) after cuts to their funding, though he provided no evidence.
Brazil’s space research agency reported more than 72,800 fires so far this year, a record high and a more than 80 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Bolsonaro fired the agency’s head (Scientific American) earlier this month after the agency reported a spike in deforestation. Scientists have warned that the Amazon is nearing a tipping point (Guardian) as Bolsonaro’s government has scaled down (NYT) efforts to combat illegal logging and mining.
Analysis
“A major part of [Bolsonaro’s] campaign message called for opening up the Amazon for business, and since he’s been in power, he’s done just that,” Sarah Gibbens writes for National Geographic.
“Brazil’s trading partners should make deals contingent on its good behaviour. The agreement reached in June by the EU and Mercosur, a South American trading bloc of which Brazil is the biggest member, already includes provisions to protect the rainforest. It is overwhelmingly in the parties’ interest to enforce them,” writes the Economist.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the country’s military will join a U.S.-led effort (NYT) to protect commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Bahrain and the United Kingdom have already pledged to participate in the patrol.
Two U.S. service members in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan were killed in action yesterday (CNN), NATO announced. U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is on a trip to Qatar and Afghanistan (State Dept.) to meet with Taliban and Afghan government representatives about a peace deal, including a timeline for U.S. withdrawal.
UN Ends Yemen Aid Programs Amid Funding Shortfalls
Nineteen million people in Yemen are set to lose UN-facilitated emergency health care and five million will soon be cut off from a clean water program after UN member states failed to follow through on funding pledges, the United Nations announced. Only three of the more than thirty major UN aid programs in Yemen are fully funded through the end of the year.
Nigeria has gone three years (Guardian) without a recorded case of polio, according to the World Health Organization. A team of independent experts will have to review the country’s monitoring system for the WHO to formally declare Nigeria polio-free, which would also make Africa polio-free.
Kenya: The African Union has elected Kenya (East African) as its candidate to receive a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2021–2022.
The two-reactor vessel will begin a journey tomorrow (FT) to an Arctic mining region in Russia’s far east. The launch is part of a program aimed at supplying electricity to remote communities.
Bulgaria: The International Monetary Fund’s board of directors moved to overturn an age limit for the fund’s managing director, clearing a hurdle (FT) for former World Bank chief Kristalina Georgieva to assume the post. The board of governors must approve the change.
Americas
Maduro Regime Weighs New Elections in U.S. Talks
Representatives from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s regime have been holding back-channel talks with U.S. negotiators to discuss the terms of possible new elections, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Venezuelan officials are reportedly seeking safety guarantees in the case the regime loses power.
United States
Budget Deficit Projected to Reach $1 Trillion
The U.S. Congressional Budget Office revised its deficit projections upward to reach $1 trillion (NYT) in fiscal year 2020. The office cited decreased tax revenue, increased tariffs, and slowed economic growth globally.
