WPR Leading Indicators 8/4/2014

Leading Indicators Aug. 4, 2014 United States Mexico, U.S. Examine Use of Force on Border Latin American Herald Tribune Mexican and U.S. officials met to discuss the use of force by U.S. federal agents on the border in an effort to reduce violent incidents during the apprehension of migrants, the Foreign Relations Secretariat said. Latin America Venezuela, Colombia to Set New Exchange Rate to Boost Trade Reuters Venezuela and Colombia have agreed to create a special exchange rate to boost plummeting bilateral trade between the two Andean countries, their presidents said. Colombia’s Santos Appoints New Ministers of Interior, Agriculture By Tim Hinchliffe | Colombia Reports Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos appointed two new members to his cabinet, the minister of the interior and the minister of agriculture, according to the office of the presidency. Mexico’s Lower House Passes Final Package of Bills for Energy Overhaul Latin American Herald Tribune Mexico’s lower house concluded early Saturday the process of debating and approving the secondary legislation needed to implement last year’s energy overhaul, which opens the oil sector to private investment. Asia-Pacific India's Modi Announces $1 Billion Credit Line for Nepal The Times of India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $1 billion line of credit for Nepal while addressing the country's Constituent Assembly. Afghan Presidential Candidates' Teams Join Audit Associated Press Representatives of both presidential candidates in Afghanistan have now joined the internationally supervised audit of ballots from the June runoff, an election official said Monday. Africa Mauritania's Abdel Aziz Sworn in for Second Term By AFP | The Financial Express Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz was sworn in for a second term in the presence of several fellow African leaders. Sudan to Host Nile Water Tripartite Meeting in Mid-August Sudan Tribune Khartoum will host a tripartite meeting of water ministers from Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia in mid-August to seek an agreement on a joint mechanism to implement the recommendations of a committee of experts on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Somali Lawmaker Killed in Mogadishu, Fifth Since April By Reuters | defenceWeb Islamist militants shot dead a Somali lawmaker in the capital Mogadishu on Friday by blocking his car and spraying him with bullets, police and witnesses said, after the fifth killing of a legislator in less than four months. China to Fund Joint Tanzania-Zambia Railway By Songa wa Songa | The East African China has expressed readiness to finance the reconstruction of the struggling Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) if the firm is to be managed jointly as originally envisaged. Tanzania Now Allows Free Flow of Capital for EAC The East African Tanzania will now allow East Africans to freely move capital in and out of the country—a move that is expected to increase cross-border investment and deepen economic integration. Uganda, Rwanda Police Chiefs Discuss Security Challenges By Abdulkarim Ssengendo | New Vision Rwanda and Uganda Police chiefs have held talks in Kabale to review the implementation of the existing partnership agreement between the two forces and agree on the development of joint initiatives that will help them manage and respond to security challenges along the Northern Corridor. Rwanda Air Starts Uganda-South Sudan Flights Today By Job Bwire | Daily Monitor Rwanda Air starts Entebbe-Juba flights today following the recently granted fifth freedom traffic rights from Uganda to South Sudan by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority. Europe Portugal Bank Collapse and Rescue Raises Questions By Barry Hatton | Associated Press A new Portuguese bank appeared Monday, born from the ruins of a collapsed business empire, and declared on its website that it was now "stronger and safer." Middle East Militants Attack Tunisian Army Base, Kill One Soldier Reuters A Tunisian soldier was killed after Islamist militants tried to storm an army base early on Sunday in the town of Sbitla near the Algerian border, the Tunisian government said Sunday.