This week's biggest stories from the Global South: Namibia's controversial elections, Cyclone Fengal deaths, Uruguayan leftist win

Name: This week's biggest stories from the Global South: Namibia's controversial elections, Cyclone Fengal deaths, Uruguayan leftist win
Uploaded: 2024-12-01T19:45:15.057Z
Duration: PT58.542S
Description: This article highlights the key events and news stories from the Global South this week.

Fishermen attempt to bring their boat back to shore during high tide before Cyclone Dana makes landfall, in Odisha

Fishermen attempt to bring their boat back to shore during high tide before Cyclone Dana makes landfall in Bhadrak district in the eastern state of Odisha, India, October 24, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer.

Source: REUTERS

This article highlights the key events and news stories from the Global South this week.

Africa

Mixed feelings in Namibia a day after controversial elections

Namibian voters have voiced a mix of emotions after elections characterised by chaos, delays, and accusations of foul play. The contentious extension of the voting period has sparked widespread frustration, with many questioning the process's credibility. Read more here.

Biden’s long-awaited Africa trip to tout a win against China

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Angola's President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

Joe Biden departed for Angola on Sunday, December 1, fulfilling his promise to visit Africa. The trip will focus on a U.S.-backed railway project aimed at diverting critical minerals from China. This project, partly funded by a U.S. loan, connects the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to the Angolan port of Lobito, providing a fast export route to the West. Read more here.

Mahama vows to slash ministerial positions to reduce Ghana’s debt crisis

FILE PHOTO: Ghana President John Dramani Mahama is seen on arrival for the international mediation on Gambia election conflict in Banjul, Gambia December 13, 2016 REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde/File Photo

Former president and presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama plans to reduce the number of political appointees if he wins Ghana's December 7 election. He criticized the current number of government ministers as "excessive." Read more here.

Asia

War has no winners, Taiwan president says in visit to Hawaii

Hawaii Governor Josh Green greets Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te on his arrival in Honolulu — Hawaii Governor Josh Green greets Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te on his arrival at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. November 30, 2024. Office of Hawaii Governor/Handout via REUTERS

War has no winners, and peace is priceless, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Saturday, November 30 in Hawaii, after visiting the Pearl Harbour memorial. Lai's sensitive two-day trip to Hawaii, officially a stopover en route to three Pacific island nations that maintain formal ties with Taiwan, has angered Beijing. Read more here.

Thailand protests Myanmar's navy firing at Thai fishing boats

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her cabinet members attend a press conference in Bangkok — FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks during a press conference after a special cabinet meeting at the Government house in Bangkok, Thailand, September 7, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

Thailand protested an incident where Myanmar's navy fired on Thai fishing vessels, resulting in one fisherman drowning, two injuries, and dozens detained. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra questioned claims that the boats had intruded into Myanmar's waters. Read more here.

Cyclone Fengal kills 19 in India and Sri Lanka

Cyclone Fengal killed at least 19 people in India and Sri Lanka, causing flooding in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry after crossing India's southern coast on Saturday. Puducherry experienced its heaviest 24-hour rainfall in 30 years, according to India's weather office. Read more here.

Uruguay's left returns to presidency as government vows friendly transition

Presidential election run-off between centre-left candidate Orsi and ruling conservative coalition candidate Delgado, in Uruguay — Presidential candidate, Yamandu Orsi and Carolina Cosse, react on stage following early results of the presidential election run-off between Orsi and the candidate of the ruling conservative coalition Alvaro Delgado, in Montevideo, Uruguay November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Mariana Greif

Centre-left opposition candidate Yamandu Orsi won Uruguay's presidential election with 49.81% of the vote, defeating conservative Alvaro Delgado, who received 45.90%, according to official results with 99% of votes tallied. Read more here.

AI meets accessibility: How a Peruvian startup is making Latin American businesses inclusive

Illustration shows AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters and robot hand — AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters and robot hand are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

A Peruvian company, Yapaykuy, founded by engineer and entrepreneur Jorge Rojas Barnett, aims to transform businesses into inclusive spaces through innovative technology. Barnett believes that fair and respectful customer service is essential to combating discrimination. Read more here.

Argentina HIV patients, medics fear impact of Milei's spending cuts

Argentina HIV patients, specialists fear impact of Milei's spending cuts — Claudio Mariani, 59, who was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1993, speaks during an HIV awareness event, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 29, 2024. REUTERS/Francisco Loureiro

Argentines living with HIV/AIDS and medics say spending cuts under President Javier Milei are harming treatment and could lead to more cases due to fewer condoms and tests. Milei's austerity drive aims to reduce the state size and address the fiscal deficit, resulting in frozen or capped public sector budgets. Read more here.

Abigail Johnson Boakye