Kim Ready to Talk Denuclearization, Seoul Says

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. March 6, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Kim Ready to Talk Denuclearization, Seoul Says South Korean envoys say Pyongyang is willing to discuss giving up its nuclear weapons and start negotiations with Washington following an unprecedented meeting with the North's Kim Jong-un. Pyongyang said it would freeze all weapons testing (NYT) during the proposed negotiations, according to Seoul. South Korea also announced that President Moon Jae-in and the North Korean leader will attend a summit (Yonhap) in the border village of Panmunjom late next month. North Korea said it would not need nuclear weapons (Korea Times) if the security of its regime could be secured, said Chung Eui-yong, who led the South's delegation. Kim also said denuclearization was his father's dying wish (Yonhap), according to Blue House officials. ANALYSIS "The prospect of a summit in Pyongyang distinguishes Moon as the most likely (and at present only) external counterpart for Kim, yet this role places additional pressure on Moon to serve as an effective conduit and broker for a denuclearization dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang," writes CFR's Scott A. Snyder. "North Korea has consistently asserted, as it did in the 2013 Law on Consolidating its Position of Nuclear Weapons State, that the regime’s nuclear weapons are for deterrence and that the reason for the North’s position is the United States," Jung H. Pak writes for the Brookings Institution. "Visible, direct diplomatic outreach would clarify North Korea's understanding of U.S. bottom lines, reduce the likelihood of miscalculation, improve U.S. capacity to manage escalation should an incident occur, and satisfy allies' and partners' desire to see the the U.S. make a meaningful effort to manage tensions," Ryan Hass writes for Axios. PACIFIC RIM China Boosts Diplomacy Budget The government presented a budget for 2018 that includes a 15 percent increase to China's foreign affairs budget compared to last year, part of its doubling of such expenditures (FT) under President Xi Jinping. CFR's Elizabeth C. Economy discusses Xi's vision for China's future on CNN. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Sri Lanka Declares State of Emergency Hundreds of security personnel were deployed to the central district of Kandy, where a curfew was imposed following mob attacks (Colombo Gazette) on members of the country's Muslim minority. At least one man was killed in the attacks (NYT). UZBEKISTAN: Tashkent will host an Afghan peace conference (UzDaily) later this month that will be attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and foreign ministers from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, according to the Uzbek foreign ministry. CFR's Courtney Cooper says now is the time to talk to the Taliban. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA U.S. Pauses Operations Against Islamic State in Syria A Pentagon spokesperson said U.S. ground operations against the self-proclaimed Islamic State in eastern Syria have been put on hold, though he said U.S. air strikes against the group continue (AP). The move comes as U.S.-backed Kurdish forces have turned their attention to a Turkish offensive in the north. UAE: Leaked emails show that a businessman with links to the United Arab Emirates and prominent fundraiser for Donald J. Trump's campaign urged the U.S. president to fire Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for insufficiently backing the UAE (BBC) in disputes against Qatar. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Ethiopia to Choose New Leader Following a surprise resignation last month by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the ruling coalition is expected to choose a leader from the Oromo ethnic group (Reuters) in a bid to quell anti-government sentiment. SOUTH AFRICA: Namibia joined Mozambique, Zambia, and Botswana in banning processed meats from South Africa (Business Day) following an outbreak of listeria. EUROPE EU Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. The European Commission announced a hundred U.S. products (FT) that could be subject to new tariffs, including ones on items such as motorcycles and denim that appear to target prominent brands (Bloomberg) based in U.S. states with strong Republican constituencies. CFR's Edward Alden says new U.S. tariffs are the most significant U.S. import restrictions in nearly half a century. GERMANY: President Frank-Walter Steinmeier proposed Chancellor Angela Merkel be elected to a fourth term (DW) following six months of political uncertainty as Merkel struggled to form a coalition government. AMERICAS Trump Brand Name Removed From Panama Hotel A worker used a crowbar to remove the Trump brand name (WaPo) from a Panama hotel after the majority owner said he won a legal battle with the company run by the U.S. president's family over management rights. CHILE: In her final days in office, President Michelle Bachelet announced she will send a new constitution to lawmakers (Reuters) that would guarantee equal pay for women and the right of workers to strike. UNITED STATES Ex-Bolivian Leader on Trial in Florida Former Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada and his defense minister are on trial in a federal court in Florida for allegedly ordering the murders of eight Bolivians (AP) among thousands the prosecution says they planned to have killed in 2003. Russia's deputy foreign minister said Russia has suggested a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart in Ethiopia later this week while both are on trips to Africa (Reuters).         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: March 06, 2018 at 11:02PM

Populist Party Surges in Italy Vote

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. March 5, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Populist Party Surges in Italy Vote A majority of Italian voters backed Euroskeptic and anti-immigrant parties in a general election, with early vote tallies pointing to a hung parliament (Guardian) that could lead to weeks of coalition talks. The anti-establishment Five Star Movement appeared to make the largest gain (BBC) on Sunday, winning 32 percent of votes, while right-wing parties the Northern League and Forza Italia, led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, claimed nearly 18 and 14 percent, respectively. The ruling center-left Democratic Party suffered a major blow, taking just 19 percent of votes (FT), as reports emerged that former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned as party head. ANALYSIS "Five Star has softened its euroskeptic stance; it now says a referendum on abandoning the euro would be a 'last resort' after attempts to overhaul EU treaties," John Follain and Chiara Albanese write for Bloomberg. "More than 600,000 mostly African migrants have reached Italy by sea since the country last voted in national elections. Most people view 'out of control migration' as the biggest problem in the nation," Barbie Latza Nadeau writes for the Daily Beast. "The weekend's events capped a year of elections in which the EU's broadly centrist governing establishment faced its strongest-ever challenges from insurgent movements, ranging from far-right nationalists to far-left anticapitalists," Marcus Walker writes for the Wall Street Journal. PACIFIC RIM South Korean Envoys Meet Kim Jong-Un Government envoys held a dinner meeting (Korea Times) with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang, the first time Kim Jong-un has met officials from the South since taking office in 2011. The group seeks to persuade Kim to agree to direct talks with the United States on denuclearization. CFR's Scott A. Snyder asks if Seoul's Olympic diplomacy will last after the games. VIETNAM: The USS Carl Vinson docked at Danang Port on Monday (Channel News Asia), marking the first visit by a U.S. naval aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.  SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Pakistan Elects First Woman Dalit Senator Krishna Kumari Kohli, running for the Pakistan Peoples Party, became the first-ever Hindu woman from the Dalit caste to be elected to Pakistan's senate (Asian Age). UZBEKISTAN: Human rights activists hailed the release of journalist Yusuf Ruzimuradov, jailed for nineteen years (Independent), and called on Tashkent to drop charges against two other journalists due in court this week.  MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Syrian Government Confiscates Aid to Ghouta A World Health Organization (WHO) official said the Syrian government removed most medical supplies (Reuters), including surgical kits, insulin, and dialysis equipment, from the first WHO convoy entering the besieged opposition-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta this week. CFR's Jamille Bigio and Rachel Vogelstein write for CNN that Syrian women have been underrepresented in peace negotiations. IRAN: Ahead of a visit to Iran, the French foreign minister said Tehran possesses missiles (France24) that "exceed the needs of defending Iran's borders" and put the country at risk of new sanctions. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Tillerson Readies for Africa Tour U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make his first trip to the continent (State Dept) since taking office, stopping in Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria. The State Department said the tour, which begins Tuesday, will focus on counterterrorism and security issues (VOA). SIERRA LEONE: Sierra Leoneans will vote for one of sixteen candidates (DW) in a Wednesday presidential election, potentially upsetting the political dominance held by two parties since the country gained independence in 1961. EUROPE U.S. Embassy in Ankara Closed Over Security Threat The embassy urged U.S. citizens in the city (Hurriyet) to "keep a low profile" and avoid large crowds on Sunday after Turkish police said they foiled a plot by the self-proclaimed Islamic State to attack the building. AMERICAS Guatemala Announces Jerusalem Embassy Move Speaking to a pro-Israel U.S. lobbying group, President Jimmy Morales said Guatemala will return its embassy to Jerusalem (DW) two days after the United States is scheduled to do so in May. MEXICO: Four police in the western state of Jalisco were arrested and charged with detaining three Italian men and handing them over to a local criminal gang (BBC). UNITED STATES New U.S. Tariffs to Apply to All Countries Peter Navarro, the president's top trade advisor, said there will be no country exclusions for steel and aluminum tariffs (CNN) announced last week by the Trump administration, but that exemptions will be available in some cases "so that business can move forward." CFR's Edward Alden says the new tariffs are the most significant U.S. import restrictions in nearly half a century. Hundreds of thousands of people remained without power on Sunday (NYT) following a Friday snow and rain storm across the northeast and mid-Atlantic that left eight people dead.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: March 05, 2018 at 11:08PM

U.S. Allies Protest Trump Tariffs

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. March 2, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA U.S. Allies Protest Trump Tariffs Fears of potential trade wars erupted as countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas protested U.S. President Donald J. Trump's decision to impose new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports as soon as next week. Trump invoked a Cold War–era law allowing presidents to restrict imports deemed a threat to national security (WSJ). The U.S. steel and aluminum markets complain they face a flood of cheap products (FT) on the global market from China, though analysts say other countries, including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Russia, and South Korea, are most likely to feel the brunt of the tariffs (CNBC) as top exporters to the United States. Trump reaffirmed the U.S. move amid global backlash, writing on Friday that "trade wars are good" (Twitter). ANALYSIS "The president's announcement yesterday was the clearest and most disturbing sign yet that he is quite prepared to take ill-considered actions that will chip away at the foundations of the global trading system," writes CFR's Edward Alden. "The U.S. steel industry has for decades gone to the government trough for new restrictions on its foreign competition, and the results [of] these import measures are always the same: immense consumer costs and very few, if any benefits to the industry and its workers," Scott Lincicome writes for the Cato Institute. "[These] remedies will provide the additional measures required to ensure the competitiveness of the steel industry in the U.S.," writes the steel and mining firm ArcelorMittal. PACIFIC RIM UK Probe Proposes Reparations for Child Migrants A UK investigation into child sexual abuse said the British government should compensate an estimated two thousand surviving migrants (BBC) sent to Australia and other former British territories as children by charities and the Catholic Church. Many of the migrants interviewed said they suffered physical and sexual abuse. CAMBODIA: Australia told Prime Minister Hun Sen that his threat to assault protesters if they burn an effigy of him (VOA) during an upcoming trip there is "not acceptable." In Project Syndicate, CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick writes that the United States has not paid enough attention to Cambodia's slide toward dictatorship. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Myanmar Military Buildup Triggers Alarm at Border Bangladesh's foreign ministry summoned Myanmar's ambassador in Dhaka (Dhaka Tribune) after Myanmar troops gathered in trucks loaded with ammunition near the border where thousands of Rohingya refugees have sought shelter (BBC). This CFR Backgrounder looks at the Rohingya refugee crisis.  INDIA: New Delhi said there was no change in its policy toward the Dalai Lama (Hindustan Times) following reports government officials were told to skip events marking the sixty-year anniversary of the Tibetan spiritual leader's exile.  MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Eight Turkish Soldiers Killed in Syria The servicemen died in fighting against Kurdish militias in northwest Syria; thirteen others were wounded. The defense minister said forty-one Turkish soldiers and 116 militants for the Free Syrian Army have died since January 20 (Hurriyet), when the Turkish operation began.  In the Atlantic, CFR's Steven A. Cook discusses why Turkey is attacking Syria's Afrin. PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Prince William will visit the territories this summer (Middle East Eye), the first British royal to do so since 1948. The UK ambassador to Israel said the trip "wouldn't be a political visit" (Ynet). SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Environmentalists Protest China-Backed Kenya Railroad Protesters called on the Kenyan government to comply with a court order to suspend the construction of a rail line cutting through the Nairobi National Park (AFP) after a Chinese firm set up equipment on park grounds last week. BENIN: President Patrice Talon will visit Paris next week in what is expected to be a test of French President Emmanuel Macron's vow to return artifacts from former African colonies (VOA) to the continent. EUROPE Germany Says Government Hack Ongoing The Interior Ministry said it allowed hackers "controlled" access to government networks (DW) in an attempt to track down the perpetrators of what they called a sophisticated cyberattack. Lawmakers had raised concern that they were not informed of the hack earlier. SPAIN: Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont announced that he will not seek to regain the presidency (BBC) in the northeastern region. He has been in exile in Belgium since an independence referendum opposed by Madrid last October AMERICAS Venezuela Delays Presidential Election The National Electoral Council announced it is postponing an upcoming presidential election (LAHT) by one month to May 20. An opposition coalition has vowed to boycott the vote. COLOMBIA: Presidential candidate Rodrigo Londono was hospitalized with heart problems (BBC) ahead of a May election. Londono was leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a now demobilized Marxist rebel group. UNITED STATES U.S. Ambassador to Mexico to Leave Post Roberta Jacobson announced her resignation after thirty-one years of government service, noting her difficulty making the decision given her "profound belief in the importance of the U.S.-Mexico relationship" (AP) and "knowledge that it is at a crucial moment."         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: March 02, 2018 at 11:03PM

Putin Touts New Nuclear Weapons

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. March 1, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Putin Touts New Nuclear Weapons The Russian president claimed that his country has developed nuclear weapons capable of avoiding missile defense systems (WaPo) and is working on adding to its arsenal cruise missiles that can strike anywhere around the world. In his annual parliamentary address, Vladimir Putin condemned a U.S. buildup of missile defense systems, saying it undermines an arms reduction treaty (TASS) between the two countries. Putin also vowed to cut poverty in half (Moscow Times) and boost funding to address a nationwide demographic crisis. The speech comes weeks ahead of a March 18 presidential election in which he is poised to win a fourth term. ANALYSIS "Giving half the time in the annual address to the Russian parliament to a graphic description of new weapons' capabilities is a measure of how close the U.S. and Russia have moved toward military collision," says Carnegie Moscow Center's Dmitri Trenin. "[Putin] is essentially repeating past election promises on which he has failed to deliver," Miodrag Soric writes for Deutsche Welle. "Russia is no longer a superpower, but rather a country of some 145 million people with an economy dependent on the price of oil and gas and no political ideology to offer the world," CFR President Richard N. Haass writes for Project Syndicate. PACIFIC RIM South Korean Conservatives Hold Pro-U.S. Rally Thousands demonstrated in Seoul to mark the country's independence from Japanese colonization (Korea Herald) and to call for stronger U.S.-South Korea ties and a preemptive U.S. strike against North Korea. Many also showed support (VOA) for ousted President Park Geun-hye, who faces a thirty-year sentence for influence peddling. AUSTRALIA: Some fifty-seven thousand illegal firearms were voluntarily surrendered (news.com.au) during a nationwide gun amnesty last year, according to new government data. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Taliban Cold on Kabul Political Deal The militant group has not replied to President Ashraf Ghani's offer to recognize them as a political party as part of a peace deal, but rejected a call for the group to recognize the Kabul government as legitimate (Reuters), calling it the "formula adopted by America to win the war." CFR's Courtney Cooper says now is the time to talk to the Taliban. KYRGYZSTAN: The son of a former Kyrgyz ambassador to the United States was arrested by U.S. authorities on charges of attempting to smuggle arms (RFE/RL) to Russia's Chechnya region. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Turkey Rejects Calls to Abide by Syria Cease-Fire A Foreign Ministry spokesperson called a U.S. statement that Turkish military operations in Syria are subject to a UN cease-fire (VOA) "baseless." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that new U.S.-Turkey commissions will address ongoing disputes between the NATO allies (Hurriyet) when they convene this month. EGYPT: The rights group Amnesty International said a video from the Egyptian armed forces proves "beyond doubt" that Egypt used banned cluster munitions (AI) in recent strikes in North Sinai. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Ethiopian Jews Threaten Hunger Strike Thousands of Ethiopian Jews with relatives in Israel said they will stage a hunger strike (AP) if the Israeli government eliminates funding for them to reunite with family in the Middle Eastern nation. SOUTH AFRICA: An elite South African police unit raided the home of an investigative journalist who wrote an exposé about ousted President Jacob Zuma (Mail and Guardian). The writer said authorities took "nothing significant." Cedric L. Suzman discusses the State of the Nation address made by new South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. EUROPE Ukrainian Leader Says U.S. Weapons on the Way President Petro Poroshenko said a first delivery of lethal defensive weapons from the United States is expected to arrive within weeks (RFE/RL) and will include anti-sniper devices, air defense equipment, and electronic warfare tools. AMERICAS Peruvian President Accused of Kickbacks President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski denied he received funding (Andina) for his 2011 election campaign from the graft-plagued Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. A former Odebrecht executive acknowledged the campaign contributions (Reuters) in interviews with Peruvian prosecutors this week. BRAZIL: In a move condemned by environmentalists, the supreme court upheld legislation that includes an amnesty program for deforestation carried out before 2008 (Reuters) and eases requirements for reforesting lands. UNITED STATES Trump Shocks Lawmakers in Gun Control Debate President Trump, in a meeting with lawmakers on Wednesday, called for expanding background checks and suggested looking into an assault weapons ban (NYT). Trump said the National Rifle Association has held "great power over" Congress (WaPo). Senators Mike Lee and Bernie Sanders called on the White House to end U.S. involvement in the conflict in Yemen, claiming that such participation is unconstitutional (Hill) without Congress's approval. Peter Salisbury discusses how to end the war in Yemen in Foreign Affairs.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. 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From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: March 01, 2018 at 11:05PM

Afghan Leader Offers Taliban Political Deal

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. February 28, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Afghan Leader Offers Taliban Political Deal Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called for the Taliban to be recognized as a political group (RFE/RL) and for its leadership to accept a "dignified peace" as representatives from more than twenty countries gathered in Kabul for a conference on ending the sixteen-year war. Ghani also offered to the militant group (Reuters) a cease-fire and prisoner release with no preconditions, but said the Taliban must recognize the government as legitimate. A government document detailing the peace offer (Tolo) says authorities must have "compassion to understand" the combatants' perspective. The Taliban has in the past refused direct talks with the Kabul government, calling it a "puppet regime," and has instead sought negotiations with the United States. ANALYSIS "Dialogue with the U.S. government cannot replace dialogue with [the Kabul] government and the millions of other Afghans who fear your attacks and your return," Barnett Rubin writes in an open letter to the Taliban in the New Yorker. "Successive U.S. administrations have held mixed positions on peace talks with the Taliban, but none of them prioritized efforts to conclude the conflict through a political process," writes CFR's Courtney Cooper. "In addition to the blood shed since 2001, gallons of ink have been spent writing strategies and plans, proposing theories and policies to win in Afghanistan. None have achieved their goal and Kabul is now a battleground," Abdul Waheed Ahmad writes for War on the Rocks. PACIFIC RIM South Korea to Shorten Work Hours A bill to reduce maximum weekly working hours from 68 to 52 passed in parliament on Wednesday, fulfilling a campaign promise (Korea Times) by President Moon Jae-in. South Korea ranks only behind Mexico (Bloomberg) for most hours worked annually, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. CAMBODIA: The White House announced $8.3 million in cuts to aid for Cambodia following senate elections in which the ruling party declared victory in every race (WSJ). In Project Syndicate, CFR's Joshua Kurlantzick writes that the United States has not paid enough attention to Cambodia's slide toward dictatorship. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Calls for Reform in India After Bank Fraud India's finance minister called for a "super regulator" to oversee the Reserve Bank of India (Nikkei) following a $2 billion fraud scheme involving the Punjab National Bank. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA U.S. Senators Call to Boost Military Aid to Israel A bipartisan group of lawmakers said they consider a $38 billion military aid package to Israel (Haaretz/Reuters), agreed upon in 2016 to be doled out over the following decade, a "floor" for U.S. support to the country. IRAN: German armed forces refueled a plane carrying Iran's foreign minister (DW) in Munich earlier this month after private fuel companies refused to do so in fear of violating U.S. sanctions, local media reported. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Zimbabwe Grapples With Reconciliation Hearings Activists disrupted a public hearing (Al Jazeera) into alleged atrocities during the rule of recently deposed President Robert Mugabe, calling for the government to request the International Criminal Court (Herald) probe abuses. In Foreign Affairs, Martin Meredith writes that the Mugabe state lives on in Zimbabwe. NIGERIA: Kidnappers abducted the wife and child (Vanguard) of a Voice of America journalist in Kaduna State and killed a neighbor who attempted to rescue them, according to the reporter. EUROPE German Court Backs Diesel Car Ban The country's top administrative court ruled that cities can ban diesel vehicles (DW) in a decision that could affect travel for millions of drivers. ITALY: The chief of staff of the finance ministry said some 150 "very rich people" had inquired about moving to the country (Bloomberg) following a new measure that allows residents to pay a flat tax of $123,000 regardless of income. AMERICAS Former Venezuelan Governor to Stand in Election An opposition coalition boycotting an April presidential election (BBC) expelled Henri Falcon, a former state governor, after he registered to run against President Nicolas Maduro. CFR's Shannon K. O'Neil says Venezuela's neighbors can't wait for a U.S. response to the refugee crisis. COLOMBIA: The National Liberation Army (ELN), the country's last major guerrilla group, killed five soldiers and injured ten more (Colombia Reports) in a bomb attack near the border with Venezuela. UNITED STATES Haley, in Honduras, Softens U.S. Rhetoric on Drugs UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said the United States "can't just focus on" countries that produce illicit drugs (VOA), an apparent tempering of a call by President Donald J. Trump to halt aid to countries that are "pouring drugs" into the United States. Puerto Rico's governor said the U.S. Treasury's delay in providing federal assistance and a more than $2 billion reduction in loans available to the island puts Puerto Rico in a "dangerous" financial situation (Bloomberg) amid recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. 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From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: February 28, 2018 at 11:11PM

UN Rights Chief Decries Inaction Over Global Rights Violations

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. February 27, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA UN Rights Chief Decries Inaction Over Rights Violations The UN human rights chief blamed the permanent members of the UN Security Council for the "continuation of so much pain" in countries around the globe, calling on the body to end the "pernicious use" of the council veto (AFP). The envoy, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, condemned ongoing humanitarian crises in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Syria, and Yemen as "some of the most prolific slaughterhouses of humans in recent times" and said little has been done by global leaders to stop such atrocities (UNHCR) despite warnings from his office. Al-Hussein, who has said he will not seek reappointment (AP) when his term finishes in August, made the comments in his address to the opening session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. ANALYSIS "The stark reality is that discussions of Security Council reform are dead," Michael Broning said in an interview in International Politics and Society. "Because the permanent members of the council can block reforms to the UN Charter, and by consequence to the Security Council, other countries have to find alternative ways to assert influence across the organization," Richard Gowan writes for World Politics Review. "The Trump administration has repeatedly suggested multilateral institutions are of no use to the United States, even though the country was instrumental in creating the UN, as well as many of the norms and laws that guide thinking about human rights today," Sarah Margon writes for Foreign Affairs. PACIFIC RIM Former South Korean President Faces Prison Prosecutors are requesting a thirty-year sentence for former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached last March (WaPo) following charges of influence peddling. Park could be tried and sentenced as soon as April (Korea Times). CHINA: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said a move by China's ruling party to scrap presidential term limits (VOA) is "a decision for China to make about what's best" for its country. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Taliban Calls for Direct Dialogue With U.S. In a statement ahead of a regional meeting in Kabul on ending the Afghan war, the Taliban called for a "peaceful channel" (Reuters) to discuss the demands of Afghans with the United States. In Foreign Affairs, Seth G. Jones writes that the Taliban is too weak for victory but too strong for defeat. INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an India-Korea business summit in New Delhi, welcomed business ventures in his country (PTI), saying he would "promote and protect" new foreign investment. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Russia Backs Hours-Long Truce in Syria Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a five-hour cease-fire (Al Jazeera) in the besieged Syrian suburb of Eastern Ghouta to allow civilians to evacuate. A UK-based monitoring group recorded 550 civilian deaths in the area over the last eight days. CFR's Jamille Bigio and Rachel Vogelstein write for CNN that Syrian women have been underrepresented in peace negotiations. SAUDI ARABIA: King Salman removed several top military commanders (Guardian), including his chief of staff, in a shake-up that comes as the country marks its third year leading a military intervention in Yemen. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Kenyan Court Rejects Opposition Figure's Deportation The High Court reversed the cancellation of attorney Miguna Miguna's passport and suspended a government declaration calling him a prohibited immigrant. He was deported after participating in a mock presidential swearing-in (Daily Nation) of opposition leader Raila Odinga last month. CFR's John Campbell discusses President Uhuru Kenyatta's response to Odinga's so-called inauguration. EUROPE Greece in Final Talks Before Bailout Ends Talks between Athens, European lenders, and the International Monetary Fund will focus on energy issues and privatization as Greece prepares to implement reforms (Reuters) before its bailout program ends in August. UK: The outgoing head of the UK counterterrorism police warned against the rise of right-wing extremism (Guardian) in the country, noting that four plots by such groups were foiled last year. AMERICAS Trump Hotel in Panama in Legal Brawl Panama's public ministry said it will investigate "punishable conduct" in a dispute between the Trump Organization and the owner of a Trump-branded hotel in Panama, who is seeking to oust the company (NYT) as manager of the hotel. BRAZIL: Presidential candidate and former Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin said he would privatize the embattled state oil company Petrobras (Reuters) if he wins the October election. UNITED STATES Supreme Court to Hear Internet Privacy Case The Supreme Court will hear a case between Microsoft and the federal government over authorities' ability to search for users' data stored overseas (NBC), stemming from a denied request by federal agents to access alleged drug traffickers' data stored on a server in Ireland. Joseph Yun, the U.S. special representative for North Korean policy, is leaving his post this week (VOA), citing personal reasons.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: February 27, 2018 at 11:08PM

Communist Party of China Moves to Extend Xi's Rule

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. February 26, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Communist Party of China Moves to Extend Xi's Rule China's ruling party announced that it intends to abolish presidential term limits, paving the way for President Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely. The announcement comes a week ahead of a meeting by the national legislature, which is expected to rubber-stamp the constitutional revision (Bloomberg) proposed by the party. The congress was already expected to formally approve Xi's second term in office, which will keep him in office through 2023 (NYT). It is unclear if Xi will also seek to stay on as the party's general secretary (WSJ), considered the country's most powerful political post, past an unwritten retirement age of sixty-eight. ANALYSIS "[The proposal] would abolish an institutional check introduced after Mao Zedong's death in 1976 and risks a return to internecine power struggles that hobbled China during past leadership successions," Chun Han Wong writes for the Wall Street Journal. "The party's move comes as Mr. Xi has proclaimed an era of China's greatness, when the country, he says, will take what he sees as its rightful place as a top global power," Jane Perlez and Javier C. Hernandez write for the New York Times. "Xi's term since 2013 has been marked by a mostly steady economy but also periods of volatility in the financial markets, typically triggering government intervention. Challenges loom, too, including taming the towering debt pile, the threat of slower economic growth, and dealing with the aging population," Justina Lee writes for Bloomberg. PACIFIC RIM South Korea Says North Open to U.S. Talks As the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang came to a close (WaPo), North Korean envoys told their counterparts from the South they are open to dialogue with the United States. The White House said any talks should represent the "first steps" (FT) on a path toward denuclearization. CFR's Scott A. Snyder discusses Seoul's diplomatic goals as host of the winter games. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Global Watchdog Warns Pakistan Over Terrorist Funding A thirty-seven-country financial task force chose not to place Pakistan on a list of nations that insufficiently crack down on terrorism financing (Dawn), but officials warned that Islamabad could be added if it does not develop a strategy with the watchdog by June. INDIA: Hundreds of people have fled their homes (Al Jazeera) in the Baramulla district of India-controlled Kashmir since a rise in cross-border attacks between India and Pakistan this year. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Syria Cease-Fire Not in Effect, More Violations Reported A family of nine was reported killed by government bombings (Reuters) in opposition-held Eastern Ghouta on Sunday despite a UN resolution approved unanimously by the Security Council a day earlier demanding a cease-fire. Local health workers said people in the Damascus suburb showed signs of chlorine gas exposure. CFR's Jamille Bigio and Rachel Vogelstein write for CNN that Syrian women have been underrepresented in peace negotiations. IRAQ: Saudi Arabia's soccer team will travel to Iraq for the countries' first match in four decades as part of a bid by Baghdad to see a decades-long FIFA ban (RFE/RL) on its hosting of matches lifted. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Scores of Girls Believed Taken by Boko Haram Nigeria confirmed that 110 female students are missing (Reuters) after an attack by Boko Haram militants at the girls' college in the town of Dapchi last week. The suspected abduction could be the largest since the 2014 kidnapping of more than 270 girls in the town of Chibok. ETHIOPIA: Foreign affairs officials met with the U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia (Addis Standard) after the United States condemned the country’s recent state-of-emergency declaration. EUROPE Turkey Seeks to Extradite Syrian Kurdish Leader Turkey's justice ministry said it is working to extradite a former leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (Rudaw) after Czech authorities arrested him in Prague at Turkey's request. Turkey indicted him for a 2016 bombing in Ankara (BBC) that killed thirty-seven people. MACEDONIA: The head of the European Commission said recent reforms in Macedonia put it "on the right track" but that it should resolve an ongoing dispute with Greece over its name as it seeks EU membership (RFE/RL). AMERICAS Venezuela's Electoral Authority Rejects 'Mega-Election' The National Electoral Council said it is not prepared to hold municipal, legislative, and state elections (DW) all on the same date as an upcoming presidential vote, going against a proposal by President Nicolas Maduro. COLOMBIA: Colombia extradited to the United States a prominent Ecuadorian drug smuggler charged with trafficking 250 tons of cocaine (LAHT) into the country. UNITED STATES More Than a Dozen Firms Cut Ties With NRA Prominent U.S. companies, including the airlines Delta and United, said they will end special deals offered to National Rifle Association members (FT) following a pressure campaign by gun reform advocates in the wake of a mass shooting at a Florida high school. This CFR Backgrounder compares U.S. gun policy with that of other developed nations. Billionaire investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett reported that his company gained a $65 billion profit in 2017, almost half of which it received as a result of a Republican overhaul of the tax code (Guardian).         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: February 26, 2018 at 11:06PM