Daily Brief: Uzbek Identified as New York Attack Suspect

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. November 1, 2017 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Uzbek Identified as New York Attack Suspect A spokesman for Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said local authorities are ready to assist U.S. investigators (FT) after one of the country's citizens was identified as the assailant in a New York terror attack that killed eight people on Tuesday. Twenty-nine-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, in critical condition after being shot by police, reportedly moved to the United States in 2010 (Guardian) and worked there as a driver. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the attack a "cowardly act of terror," while police reported finding notes referring to the Islamic State near the truck used to plow through pedestrians on a Manhattan bike path. Five of those killed were Argentine tourists (NYT); another was Belgian. U.S. President Donald J. Trump has ordered "extreme vetting" of immigrants (BBC) to be enhanced in response to the attack. No group has so far claimed responsibility (Al Jazeera). ANALYSIS "ISIS has for years encouraged so-called lone-wolf attacks, including the driving of vehicles into crowds," Katrina Manson writes for the Financial Times. "Authorities in many countries are growing increasingly worried about the threat posed by radicals from Central Asia, a region of traditionally moderate Islam where dictatorial regimes and economic disenfranchisement have led many to embrace extremism," Michael McGowan and Shaun Walker write for the Guardian. "A key difference between this attack and others that have occurred: Authorities took Saipov alive, meaning investigators could gain firsthand information from him rather than relying solely on the trail he left behind," Renae Merle, Devlin Barrett, and Mark Berman write for the Washington Post. PACIFIC RIM Malaysia Probes Breach of Millions of Phone Accounts Malaysia's communications commission is investigating reports that forty-six million mobile phone accounts in the country were breached, with personal information including home addresses leaked onto the dark web (BBC). The entire country of thirty-two million is believed to have been affected. CHINA: State media reported that the national capital region, home to eight of China's ten most polluted cities, will set up a joint anti-smog agency to oversee the region's war on pollution. The northern region already plans to cut industrial output and limit car use (Reuters) this winter. Sagatom Saha and Theresa Lou discuss China's coal problem in Foreign Affairs. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Report: Afghan Government's Reach Hits Two-Year Low The percentage of territory that Afghanistan's central government controls has reached its low point since a U.S. special inspector general began gathering such data two years ago. The Kabul government now controls or influences 57 percent (VOA) of the country's 407 districts. Foreign Affairs asked dozens of experts if it is time for a U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan. PAKISTAN: The party of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has decided to back his brother, Shehbaz, as candidate for prime minister if Nawaz remains ineligible to run (Dawn) following a Supreme Court ruling in a corruption case against him. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Medical Charity: Yemen Cholera Outbreak on Decline The medical charity Doctors Without Borders has announced it will close most of its cholera treatment facilities in Yemen as an outbreak of the disease appears to wane. The organization said millions are still in "dire" health situations (BBC) without access to basic health care. Asher Orkaby discusses the roots of Yemen's humanitarian crisis in Foreign Affairs. IRAQ: The World Bank has approved $400 million in financing (Reuters) in addition to $350 million already approved in 2015 for reconstruction of Iraqi territory recaptured from the self-proclaimed Islamic State.  SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Mogadishu Bans Trucks During Daytime Somali officials imposed earlier this week a daytime ban on large trucks and tankers in the capital city following a truck bombing last month that killed more than 350 people (SMN). NIGERIA: The Russian state-owned atomic energy corporation Rosatom has signed a deal with Nigeria to build two nuclear power plants (BBC). The firm is reportedly involved in similar negotiations with Ghana and South Africa. EUROPE France's Airbus May Have Violated U.S. Arms Rules The Toulouse-based airline manufacturer Airbus said in a report on Tuesday it provided false information to the U.S. State Department regarding its compliance with rules (NYT) on arms sales abroad. The company also warned that penalties it may face from European corruption investigations could significantly undermine its finances. BOSNIA: Bosnian authorities said Tuesday they have extradited a terrorism suspect to the United States (AP). Local media have identified the suspect as Kosovo-born Mirsad Kandic, an alleged Islamic State supporter. AMERICAS Honduran, Nicaraguan Immigrants Face U.S. Deadline Nearly sixty thousand immigrants from the two central American countries will learn on Monday if their temporary protected status in the United States will be extended. The status became available to nationals of the two countries in 1999 following environmental disasters (VOA). COLOMBIA: Colombia's defense minister has authorized the use of air strikes against dissident rebels (Colombia Reports) formerly members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which signed a peace deal with the government last year.  UNITED STATES California Wildfire Damage Claims Top $3.3 Billion Insurance claims after October wildfires that killed forty-three people and destroyed or damaged more than fifteen thousand homes and businesses now exceed $3.3 billion (AP), surpassing the total from California's 1991 Oakland Hills fire.         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: November 01, 2017 at 09:57PM