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📰 Musk defies Brazil

📰 Musk defies Brazil

and Lebanon's financial crisis deepens

Ross Crabtree
September 04, 2024

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Welcome back,

Today's coverage features Ukraine, where a Russian attack on the city of Poltava has resulted in over 50 deaths. Meanwhile, in Uganda, an assassination attempt appears to have targeted the country’s opposition leader.

In other news, a Chinese state-linked platform is reportedly exacerbating political divisiveness ahead of the upcoming November presidential elections.

This, and more, below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇱🇧 Former Central Bank governor and alleged architect of Lebanon’s financial crisis detained in Beirut: Lebanon's former central bank governor, Riad Salameh, was arrested after a hearing at Palais Justice, according to Lebanese state media. Salameh, who led the Banque du Liban for 30 years, faced mounting allegations of financial misconduct, including illicit enrichment from public funds in Lebanon and abroad. He is also wanted by French authorities, with Interpol having issued "red notices" against him, though Lebanon does not extradite its citizens. Salameh is widely blamed by the Lebanese public for the crippling financial crisis that began in 2019. Salameh was interrogated over various financial issues, including claims that he hired the company Optimum to manipulate financial statements and conceal Lebanon's financial losses. Two judicial sources informed Reuters that Salameh is accused of amassing over $110 million through financial crimes involving Optimum Invest, a Lebanese brokerage firm, with charges including embezzlement, money laundering, and fraud related to commissions earned through the central bank's dealings with Optimum between 2015 and 2018. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that the government would not intervene in the case.

2️⃣ 🇨🇳 🇺🇸 Chinese state-linked influence operation fuels US political divisiveness ahead of November election, report finds: The researchers linked the campaign to ‘Spamouflage,’ an influence network active since 2017, known for spreading propaganda. Spamouflage operates across over 40 online platforms, using fake accounts to promote “pro-China and anti-Western narratives,” according to Graphika. As Election Day approaches, the operation has ramped up, with these accounts sowing discord on issues such as racial inequality, homelessness, gun control, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Targets have included former President Trump and Vice President Harris. Graphika identified 15 Spamouflage accounts on the platform X and one on TikTok, all posing as news outlets or U.S. citizens. The Chinese Embassy in Washington dismissed the report’s findings, stating that China does not interfere in U.S. elections.

3️⃣ 🇮🇷 Over 400 executed in Iran this year, say UN: UN experts have raised alarms over a sharp rise in executions in Iran, with over 400 people, including 15 women, executed since the start of 2024, as reported on September 2. The group of independent experts noted that at least 81 people were executed in August, nearly double July's figure of 45, though sources were not provided. While not speaking on behalf of the UN, the experts expressed deep concern over the increase. About half of August's executions were related to drug offences, which the experts argue violate international standards. They cited the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a signatory, stating that the death penalty should be reserved for "the most serious crimes," such as intentional homicide. The UN has repeatedly called for a moratorium on executions in Iran, aiming for eventual abolition. The number of drug-related executions has surged since 2021, with over 400 in 2023 alone. Human rights activists accuse Iran of using the death penalty to suppress dissent, particularly after the protests following Mahsa Amini's death in custody in September 2022.

4️⃣ 🇺🇳 Climate change costing African nations up to 5% of their annual GDP, says report: African nations are losing up to 5% of their GDP annually due to the disproportionate impact of climate change, according to a report released Monday following one of the continent's hottest years on record. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlighted that many African countries are allocating up to 9% of their budgets to climate adaptation efforts. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo noted that Africa has experienced a warming trend over the past 60 years, outpacing the global average and impacting everything from food security to public health and stability. Despite contributing less than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa remains the most vulnerable region to extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. The report, which focuses on 2023—one of the three hottest years recorded in Africa—urges African governments to invest in early warning systems and meteorological services. Without adequate action, up to 118 million Africans could face increased exposure to droughts, floods, and extreme heat by 2030.

5️⃣ 🇺🇬 Attempt made on the life of Ugandan opposition leader: Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was shot in the leg during a clash with police near Kampala, according to his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP). Photos posted online on Tuesday showed Wine being helped into a car by supporters, who alleged he had been shot. The NUP, which holds the most seats among opposition parties in Uganda’s national assembly, claimed on X that security forces had "attempted on the life" of Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. Wine, a former singer and popular among young urban Ugandans, ran for president in 2021 but lost to President Yoweri Museveni, alleging election fraud. He has been a member of the national assembly since 2017. Museveni, who has been in power since 1986 and had the constitution amended to remove presidential age limits, is now 79 and has faced pressure to announce his retirement. Uganda has not experienced a peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from Britain in 1962.

Major Story

🇷🇺🇺🇦 RUSSIA ATTACKS POLTAVA, TARGETS MILITARY CEREMONY

Ukraine has faced one of its deadliest attacks of the war following a Russian missile strike on the central city of Poltava. The missiles struck a military training institute and a nearby hospital, resulting in at least 51 deaths and over 200 injuries.

In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported that two ballistic missiles had "partially destroyed" a building at the Poltava Military Institute of Communications, trapping people under the rubble.

Zelenskiy has held Russia responsible and called for a “thorough and prompt investigation” into the attack. The incident has sparked outrage on Ukrainian social media, with unverified reports suggesting it targeted an outdoor military ceremony, leading to criticism of officials for holding the event despite the threat of Russian attacks. The Ukrainian land forces confirmed that personnel were among the casualties and announced an investigation to determine if adequate protective measures were in place, pledging to implement steps to prevent future occurrences.

In related news, four Ukrainian cabinet ministers resigned on Tuesday in anticipation of a government reshuffle. The resigning ministers include Olga Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister for European affairs; Oleksandr Kamyshin, the minister of strategic industries; Denys Maliuska, the minister of justice; and Ruslan Strilets, the minister of the environment.

US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby condemned the attack as “another horrific reminder of Putin’s brutality” and pledged increased aid to Ukraine in the coming weeks. Poltava Governor Philip Pronin stated that further details on the strike could not be disclosed “for security reasons.”

Poltava, located about 200 miles southeast of Kyiv and distant from the frontlines, showed extensive damage from the attack, with images on social media revealing bodies and severe destruction to nearby buildings. Over the weekend, Ukraine launched more than 158 drones at Russia, targeting an oil refinery near Moscow and a power station, while Russia endured its heaviest bombardment to date last week. Zelenskiy renewed his calls for enhanced Western air defences and the use of long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory for better protection of Ukraine.

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Other News

1️⃣🇧🇷 Brazil: Elon Musk defied a Brazilian court ban on his social media platform, X, by enabling access via his Starlink satellite network. Brazil's Supreme Court ruled against X for failing to appoint a legal representative, freezing Starlink’s bank accounts as the company resisted compliance. Musk labeled the ruling unconstitutional and pledged free internet for Starlink's 250,000+ Brazilian users.

2️⃣🇺🇦 Ukraine: Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has resigned ahead of an expected government reshuffle announced by President Zelenskyy. Kuleba, a key figure in Ukraine's defense against Russia, has been instrumental in securing international support. His resignation follows several deadly Russian attacks, including strikes on Lviv and Poltava, which have killed over 50 people.