Situation Reports

Colombia's National Electoral Council, or CNE, requested an investigation over alleged campaign finance violations by President Gustavo Petro in 2022, El Pais reported on Oct. 8.

The newly inaugurated administration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will seek to strengthen the domestic manufacturing sector by asking U.S. vehicle and semiconductor producers and companies in the electronics and aerospace sectors to replace components made in China and Southeast Asia with parts from Mexico, The Wall Street Journal reported on Oct. 8.

New Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a plan to combat organized crime by addressing its root causes, consolidating the National Guard, expanding intelligence and investigative capabilities, and improving coordination across government bodies, the Mexican government announced in a press release on Oct. 8.

New Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced the formal dissolution of the lower house of the Diet ahead of the Oct. 27 snap election, with campaigning due to begin on Oct. 15, The Asahi Shimbun reported on Oct. 9.

Kenya's National Assembly voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua 282-44, Nation reported on Oct. 8.

Taher al-Nono, the media advisor for the Palestinian militant and political group Hamas, said Hamas officials would travel with leaders of the rival Palestinian group Fatah to Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 9 for another round of reconciliation talks, Reuters reported the same day.

The U.S. Justice Department made broad recommendations for remedying the ongoing antitrust case involving Google’s search engine and its business practices and said it was "considering behavioral and structural remedies," indicating that the department was considering pursuing a breakup in court, NPR reported on Oct. 9.

Iran warned that it would respond if Gulf Arab countries allowed the United States to use their airspace or military bases against Iran, Reuters reported on Oct. 8, a day before Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Saudi Arabia to speak with Saudi officials.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government survived a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, France 24 reported on Oct. 8.

Vietnam and France upgraded bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, or CSP, Nikkei Asia reported on Oct. 8.