Situation Reports

South African Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced that 11 train operating companies had met requirements to access South Africa's rail network and would now enter negotiations over commercial contracts defining the modalities of their access, Reuters reported on Aug. 22.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Aug. 21 with his counterparts from Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya during which he stressed Egypt's "categorical rejection of unilateral measures" on the eastern Nile Basin and said "water security" was "existential" for Egypt, Addis Standard reported on Aug. 22.

Nvidia ordered several suppliers and contractors for its H20 AI chip, including Amkor, Foxconn and Samsung, to suspend production, The Information reported on Aug. 21.

Chilean Finance Minister Mario Marcel resigned and was replaced by Economy Minister Nicolas Grau, Reuters reported on Aug. 21.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with officials from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, known collectively as the E3, during the week of Aug. 24-30 to discuss nuclear negotiations and sanctions, Reuters reported on Aug. 22.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the country would drop its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) rules of origin requirements, CTV News reported on Aug. 22, a day after Carney spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, has declared a famine in the Gaza governorate, stating that more than 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza City and the surrounding area are facing "catastrophic" conditions, giving the area a Phase 5 classification -- the highest possible -- in an Aug. 22 report.

The U.S. Trump administration has reportedly urged Israel to scale back "non-urgent" military operations in Lebanon to support the Lebanese government's move to begin disarming the political and militant group Hezbollah, Axios reported on Aug. 21.

Thousands of Tunisians marched in Tunis on Aug. 21 to demand union rights and broader civic freedoms amid escalating tensions between President Kais Saied and the country's most powerful labor union, The New Arab reported on Aug. 22.

Australia and the Philippines announced plans to sign a new defense cooperation agreement by 2026 to expand joint exercises and develop military infrastructure at five Philippine sites, Reuters reported Aug. 22.