South America
Brazil lifts ban on Twitter
by Daniel Cramphorn
Image Credit: Wikipedia Inc. (Wikimedia Commons)
In August, Brazil became the first democracy to ban the social networking site Twitter, also known as X. The decision came from Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, after a long dispute between the Brazilian courts and the platform over the regulation of misinformation. On 17 August Twitter withdrew its legal representative from Brazil in response to demands from Moraes to block content on the website, claiming Moraes had threatened arrests if they did not comply with the order.
This led to a significant escalation from Moraes, who on 31 August issued an order requiring all internet service providers in Brazil to block Twitter, as it had not appointed a new representative. Twitter managed to temporarily subvert the ruling by changing service providers, leading to the imposition of further fines. Twitter was eventually fully restored in Brazil by order of Moraes after Elon Musk, Twitter’s owner, agreed to appoint a new legal representative in the country, alongside paying 28 million reais in fines (approximately £3.8 million).
The dispute took place in a context of increasing concern over Musk’s personal control over Twitter and his support for misinformation on the platform, with the Brazilian ban implemented mere weeks after Musk’s public dispute with the British government over the Southport riots.
As a democracy, Brazil’s decision to ban Twitter has contrasted with other countries that have banned the site, which consist of authoritarian or hybrid states.
Africa
Tito Mboweni: Tributes paid to first Black South African Central Bank Governor
by Freddie Weaver
Image Credit: Eric Miller (Wikimedia Commons)
Tributes were paid to South Africa’s first black former governor of the Reserve Bank and Finance Minister this week.
Tito Mboweni, who died on Saturday aged 65 following what the President’s Office described as ‘a short illness’, was praised as an ‘activist, economic policy innovator and champion of labour rights’ by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Born in 1959, Mboweni was an anti-apartheid activist during his student years, studying in exile in both Lesotho and the United Kingdom. After returning to South Africa in 1990, he was appointed Labour Minister in 1994 by Nelson Mandela and was credited with introducing new labour laws in South Africa such as collective bargaining and labour courts.
In 1999, he became Governor of the Reserve Bank, following the bank’s monetary policy of controlling inflation. During his decade-long tenure as Governor, Mboweni was praised for his policymaking; under his tenure, South Africa avoided a banking crisis during the 2008 global financial crisis. Mboweni returned to politics again in 2018, serving as Minister of Finance under Ramaphosa until 2021.
Media outlets also paid tribute to Mboweni. An article in The Conversation published on Monday praised both Mboweni’s ability to withstand political pressure, and his lack of embroilment in political corruption compared to other South African politicians.
Outside of politics and finance, Mboweni was also active on social media, known for his posts about his cooking adventures, amassing 1.5 million followers on Twitter (also known as X), and even gaining the nickname ‘The Garlic King’.
Europe
Francophone Summit highlights diplomatic tensions in the French-speaking world
by Isabel Batt
Image Credit: Logo of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie)
The biannual Francophone summit has been held in France for the first time in 30 years this October. The summit, attended by members of the International Francophone Organisation (l’OIF), took place in Villers-Cotterêts, near Paris, with the aim of promoting and preserving the French language. However, the summit has highlighted several diplomatic tensions between member states.
Notable absences included delegations from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where recent coups have installed governments unsympathetic to western interests. This is arguably further proof of France’s diminishing influence in the African sphere and a move away from the Francophone world, a legacy of French colonialism.
Looking towards the Middle East, French President Macron has spoken out against ‘double standards’ in terms of peace, commenting on the situation in Ukraine and the ongoing violence in Lebanon, a member state of l’OIF with delegates present at the summit. Macron reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East and appears to have disapproved of Israel’s escalation of the war, stating that Lebanon’s peace and sovereignty have been ‘shaken’.
Despite this, Macron remains positive about the future and importance of the Francophone world. In his speech he argues that the French-speaking world is ‘a space of democracy and influence’ and will only continue to grow in importance.
Asia
Myanmar Civil War rages on as international community feels ‘fatigue’
by Ralph Woods
Image Credit: Wikipedia Inc. (Wikimedia Commons)
Following a succession of victories for rebel groups in August, several analysts have suggested the beginning of the end of the war in Myanmar, which has seen the deaths of over 5,000 civilians. However the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn warned that ‘we should not expect a quick fix’.
This follows the recent ASEAN summit in Laos, where a representative of the military junta was present for the first time since 2021. Some analysts believe that it is a sign of ASEAN’s fatigue with the crisis in Myanmar.
Indonesia had taken a more assertive approach leading up to the summit, hosting representatives from rebel groups, the National Unity Government, and the UN, at its own international meeting.
In August, the junta stated that it was committed to holding a general election late next year. However doubts have been cast on this, since the census for the election faces significant difficulties. One US official stated that free elections were ‘impossible’. China has signalled support for elections as it ramps up its support for the junta and away from rebel groups. Overshadowed by other conflicts worldwide and despite international efforts, prospects of a conclusive end to the war look bleak.
North America
Canada: Government survives votes of no confidence
by Hemal Pallan
Image Credit: Justin Trudeau (Wikimedia Commons)
The Canadian Liberal Party government has survived two votes of no confidence following a breakdown in early September of their confidence and supply agreement with the left wing New Democratic Party (NDP).
As a minority government, the Liberal Party has been vulnerable to no-confidence votes. The Conservative Party triggered two votes within the span of a week, on 26 September and 1 October; Justin Trudeau’s government, however, survived both, due to support from the NDP and the Bloc Québécois.
The leadership of Bloc Quebecois have stated that their support is conditional, and will withdraw it if the government does not pass two bills before 29 October. The reasoning of the NDP’s support is thought to be that if a federal election is called and the Conservatives (currently polling over 40 percent) are elected, it will be more difficult to influence than the current Liberal government.
The NDP have also expressed hope that holding off the election, as well as ending their agreement with the incumbent government, will allow their popularity to increase from its current standing (polling just over 20%) before Canadians next go to the polls, most likely in the coming year.
York Global Affairs 