U.S.
Election Interference
On September 4th, the Justice Department announced efforts aimed at disrupting a Russian malign influence campaign known as “Doppelganger”.Efforts included the seizure of 32 internet domains allegedly used to spread Russian propaganda, influence the results of the U.S. 2024 Presidential Election, and reduce international support for Ukraine. According to the Justice Department, Russian companies used cybersquatting (a method of mimicking another website by using a similar domain) and fake social media profiles to promote false narratives. The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions against ten individuals and two entities associated with the Russian government believed to be a part of the Doppelganger campaign. The individuals included employees of RT, a broadcasting company owned by Russia, accused of using a front company to recruit American influencers.
2nd Assassination Attempt
On September 16th, Secret Service agents prevented a 2nd apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. Mr. Trump was on his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a Secret Service agent, who was about 400 yards away, fired on an armed man hiding in the bushes on the edge of the golf course. Mr. Trump was unharmed and the suspect was apprehended shortly afterwards.
Delayed Sentencing
The sentencing in Donald Trump’s Manhattan trial, in which the former president was convicted of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal, was delayed until after the election. Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case, said in the ruling that the delay was “to avoid any appearance–however unwarranted–that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching presidential election”. This is the third time the sentencing has been delayed.
Europe
France’s New Prime Minister
On September 5th, President Emmanuel Macron of France announced the appointment of Michael Barnier as Prime Minister. The announcement came after a delay of more than 50 days, the longest in the history of the Fifth Republic. Mr. Barnier is a member of The Republicans, a more mainstream conservative party. The New Popular Front, a left-leaning alliance of parties that currently holds the most seats in the National Assembly, is expected to call a vote of no-confidence to reject Mr. Barnier’s government.
The Americas
Mexico’s Judicial Overhaul
Mexico passed a major judicial overhaul championed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The proposal would allow many of Mexico’s judges to be elected by voters instead of appointed, aiming to reform and minimize corruption within the system. Last month, however, federal judges voted to go on an indefinite strike in order to protest the plan. Ken Salazar, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, said that “popular direct election of judges is a major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy”.
The Middle East
Iranian Aid to Russia
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Iran of sending missiles to Russia. In addition, he announced new sanctions targeting Iran and Iran AIr, the country’s national airline. According to Mr. Blinken, the Iranian missile shipment “enables Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets that are further from the frontline, while dedicating the new missiles it’s receiving from Iran for closer-range targets.” Furthermore, he feels this “demonstrates how Iran’s destabilizing influence reaches far beyond the Middle East.”
Pager Explosions
On September 17th, thousands of pagers across Lebanon exploded simultaneously in an apparently coordinated attack. 12 people were killed and thousands were injured in the blasts. The attack seemed to target members of Hezbollah, a militia supported by Iran. The next day, 25 were killed and hundreds more injured in another round of explosions. Hezbollah has accused Israel of carrying out the attacks.
Asia
Kashmir
Residents of the Kashmir region in India began voting on September 18th for the regional legislature. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India suspended democracy and revoked semi- autonomous status throughout the region in 2019, but a recent ruling from the Indian Supreme Court demanded that a democratically elected government be established. Kashmir has been at the heart of a dispute between India and Pakistan, as countries claim the region as their own, but neither fully controls it. Two wars have been fought over it, and the region is still in a state of turmoil, especially after the Indian government took direct control.
Other News
- Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election.
- The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled against Apple and Google in two separate cases. Apple was ordered to pay around €14.4 billion in unpaid taxes to the Irish government, while Google was fined around €2.4 billion for putting its own services higher than rivals in Google search results.
- The World Health Organization (W.H.O) authorized a vaccine for mpox called Jynneos. The vaccine is has already been approved in Europe and the U.S., but certain lower-income countries (such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has reported more than 27,000 mpox cases since 2023) rely on the W.H.O.’s prequalification process that takes into account limited healthcare funding.
- After spending five days in orbit and successfully completing the first commercial spacewalk, the Polaris Dawn astronauts splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico in SpaceX’s Dragon Capsule.
