Rorisang Modiba delivers daily updates from around the world.
US – President Joe Biden’s recent executive action to limit asylum claims at the southern border has generated varying responses just five months before the election. While many Democrats praised the move, some progressives expressed disappointment and Republicans criticised it as not enough and politically motivated. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed legislation would have been more effective, but cited Republican opposition as the reason for Biden’s executive action. On the other hand, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the move as too little, too late, citing migration surges and fentanyl-related deaths. Progressives within Biden’s party, including Senator Alex Padilla and Republican Pramila Jayapal, said it was like former president Donald Trump’s policies, which they had previously condemned.
India – Despite widespread expectations of a supermajority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist alliance, India’s election results defied predictions. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aimed for 400 seats in the Lok Sabha but fell significantly short, securing only 240 seats, well below the 272 needed for a majority. This means Modi will have to rely on coalition partners to stay in power. Political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta remarked that the results diminish Modi’s perceived invincibility, portraying him as a politician humbled by the electorate.
Israel – US President Joe Biden has hinted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be prolonging the Gaza conflict to retain power. Recent military operations in central Gaza led to casualties and injuries, as reported by Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Additionally, Israel has announced plans to phase out a desert detention camp following allegations of severe abuse against Palestinian prisoners. Furthermore, Slovenia’s following other European countries in recognising Palestinian statehood, may further strain relations between Israel and Palestine while potentially making the Palestinian cause stronger internationally.
Burkina Faso – The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) identified Burkina Faso as the world’s most neglected displacement crisis for the second year in a row, with a record-high of 707,000 new displacements in 2023 due to escalating violence and a worsening humanitarian situation. Most of the top 10 neglected crises, as outlined by the NRC, were in Africa, including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mali, and Niger. The year of 2023 witnessed a significant aid budget shortfall of around $32-billion globally, leaving over half of humanitarian needs unmet. Burkina Faso is currently under military rule following a coup in July 2022. Allegations of human rights violations by the country’s military against civilians have surfaced, prompting denials from Burkina Faso’s government. The country has suspended the broadcasting and access to websites of certain western news organisations.
Pictured above: President Joe Biden.
Source: X
