Situation Reports

Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas revealed plans to downgrade trade relations with Israel and sanction high-ranking Israeli officials over Israel's policies in Gaza, Politico reported on Sept. 17.

In Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee's fourth annual policy address, he established an investigative body to oversee civil servant accountability, and he focused heavily on integrating Hong Kong's economy with China's, The South China Morning Post reported on Sept. 17.

The U.S. Department of State designated four Iranian-backed Iraqi militias -- Harakat al-Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kataib al-Imam Ali -- as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, or FTOs, to counter Iran and prevent terrorist attacks against U.S. military personnel and assets in the region, according to a Sept. 17 State Department press release.

Indonesia and the European Union announced they will sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on Sept. 23 after nearly a decade of negotiations, the Financial Times reported on Sept. 17.

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved a constitutional amendment proposal that expands parliamentary immunity in criminal and civil investigations, Folha de S.Paulo reported on Sept. 16.

The United States reportedly suspended support for Somalia's elite Danab commandos, a Somali National Army elite unit trained and equipped by Washington, Garowe Online reported on Sept. 16.

Malawi's ruling Malawi Congress Party, or MCP, declared victory in the country's Sept. 16 general election before the publication of official election results by the electoral commission, Malawi 24 reported on Sept. 17.

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security published an interim final rule on Sept. 16 saying it would consider requests by either automakers or auto part producers to place new tariffs on imported auto parts not currently covered by existing auto tariffs, including "advanced technologies."

Wazalendo militias issued a memo to Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi laying out a number of demands in return for their continued loyalty to the Congolese government, Radio France Internationale reported on Sept. 17.

The European Union unveiled a "new strategic agenda" for its bilateral relations with India, setting out plans to deepen cooperation across security, trade, technology, space and migration, a statement by the European Commission read on Sept. 17.