Daily News Brief

September 9, 2022

Top of the Agenda

The United Kingdom (UK) began a period of mourning (FT) after Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday. Preparations for her funeral have halted parts of British public life, including sports games and the Bank of England’s monetary policy meeting. Meanwhile, tributes from world leaders have poured in (The Guardian). U.S. President Joe Biden called the queen “a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said she “personified dignity and decency in public life.” 

Queen Elizabeth’s son King Charles III will address the UK today and is expected to hold an audience with Liz Truss, who became the country’s prime minister three days ago. His official accession to the throne and proclamation as a monarch are expected tomorrow. 

Analysis

“At a time here in the United States when we are contending with the consequences of those who do not put country first, the life of Queen Elizabeth II stands as a stark reminder of the importance and value of having leaders who are prepared no matter what to do just that,” CFR President Richard Haass tweets.

 
“With the Queen’s death, it could be that other realms who have been holding back [from leaving the Commonwealth] out of respect for the Queen will soon be revisiting the idea of independence,” Insider’s Maria Noyen writes.

This CFR video looks at the uncertain future of the British Commonwealth.

Pacific Rim

The new law poses a challenge (WaPo) to U.S. efforts to urge Pyongyang to denuclearize. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the law means “there can be no bargaining over nuclear weapons.”

China/India: Chinese and Indian troops are pulling back (Reuters) from a disputed border area in the western Himalayas ahead of a summit in Uzbekistan next week that the countries’ leaders are set to attend.

The World Next Week podcast previews the summit in Uzbekistan.

South and Central Asia

UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s two-day visit to Pakistan comes after the United Nations launched a flash appeal (Dawn) for $160 million in aid for the country.

India: New Delhi announced export controls (FT) on several types of rice as part of efforts to mitigate food insecurity and limit inflation. India is the world’s top rice exporter.

Middle East and North Africa

Mada Masr said its reporters were charged (AP) with spreading false news, disturbing public peace, slander, and defamation after publishing an article about links between a pro-government political party and a corruption case.

U.S./Iran: The United States announced new sanctions (Axios) on Iranian companies it said provided drones to Russia.

Sub-Saharan Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the plan could save (AP) more than 140,000 people’s lives in Africa each year. The campaign aims to roll out a new vaccine next year.

Angola: Opposition parties called for protests (Reuters) after the constitutional court ruled to dismiss their challenge to the results of the general election last month.

Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy said Ukrainian troops have retaken (NYT) more than 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russia-occupied territory this month.

For Foreign Affairs, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba explains Kyiv’s theory of victory.

Americas

A man pointed a gun (BBC) at Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner last week and pulled the trigger, but it did not fire. 

Canada: The country agreed to resettle one thousand Afghans who have been held at a refugee center in the United Arab Emirates since the Taliban returned to power last year, Reuters reported.

United States

Ministers from fourteen countries are attending (Nikkei) the talks, which aim to advance Washington’s economic policy in the Indo-Pacific.

CFR’s Inu Manak explains the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, the Biden administration’s first big trade play.

Friday Editor’s Pick

The Associated Press crosses the globe to examine how climate change, pollution, and industrialization are threatening six sacred rivers.

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