MM Stock

Mail Magazine to RSS

U.S.-North Korea Diplomatic Flurry | Italy's Political Crisis | Colombia Runoff

f:id:tatsuh:20180529220641p:plain

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. May 29, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA U.S., North Korea Ramp Up Diplomacy A senior North Korean envoy, General Kim Yong-chol, is traveling to the United States to discuss plans for a potential summit between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, President Trump wrote on Twitter early Tuesday. The trip makes Kim Yong-chol the highest-ranking North Korean official to visit the United States (WaPo) since 2000. Trump had called off a highly anticipated U.S.-North Korean summit, set to take place in Singapore on June 12, but he has since suggested it could go ahead (Yonhap) following a conciliatory statement by Pyongyang and mediation by Seoul. U.S. envoys were in Singapore yesterday (Reuters/Xinhua) to meet with a North Korean delegation. ANALYSIS "If a rescheduled summit comes relatively soon, then its goal should be to set an agenda—not to finalize a deal," CFR President Richard N. Haass writes for Foreign Affairs. "Seoul is perhaps the most eager for the meeting to take place. President Moon [Jae-in] has worked assiduously to coax Trump and Kim to meet at the negotiating table," write CFR's Patricia M. Kim and Jeremy Fuller. "The unknown element is the price of the inconsistency in Trump's approach. In the case of North Korea, playing 'games' while risking genuine efforts to seek denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula may come at an exceedingly high cost," Genevieve Hohnen writes for the Conversation. PACIFIC RIM Chinese Investment in Australian Properties Tumbles The number of Chinese investments in Australian properties halved in 2017, dropping to $11.4 billion (FT) from $24 billion the previous year, according to Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board. Australia has imposed new fees and taxes on foreign property buyers as home prices have soared in recent years. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA India Won't Follow Unilateral Sanctions, Swaraj Says Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said India will abide by UN sanctions but will not necessarily follow unilateral ones (Hindustan Times) imposed by the United States against countries such as Iran. Iran is the third-largest exporter of oil to India. BANGLADESH: Eighty-six people have been killed and some seven thousand arrested in antidrug operations (Reuters) in the past month, according to police officials, raising fears among human rights activists of a crackdown similar to that in the Philippines. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Paris Hosts Libyan Peace Conference French President Emmanuel Macron will host rival Libyan political figures (AP), along with envoys from two dozen countries and international organizations, on Tuesday. Leaders of the conference are hoping to push a political roadmap that includes presidential and parliamentary elections (France24) this year. PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas left a Ramallah hospital (Ynet) after a nine-day stay during which he was reportedly treated for a lung infection. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Kenyan Civil Servants Charged in Graft Probe Kenya's chief prosecutor announced charges against fifty-four people for stealing an estimated $100 million in public funds (DW) through the National Youth Service, a government program that offers vocational training. ZIMBABWE: For the first time in sixteen years, the European Union will deploy election monitors to Zimbabwe (AFP), for a presidential vote set for July. EUROPE Italy Appoints Interim PM Amid Political Crisis President Sergio Mattarella refused to accept the nomination for finance minister (Guardian) put forth by populist parties that together hold a narrow majority in parliament, prompting the resignation of the coalition's pick for prime minister. Mattarella appointed former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli to act as interim prime minister until fresh elections. In Foreign Affairs, Erik Jones discusses Italy's revolt against the European Union. AUSTRIA: Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said he supports sending EU border guards to North Africa (DW) to curb migration to Europe. The comments come weeks before Austria is set to take over the bloc's presidency. AMERICAS Colombia Readies for Runoff Election No candidate earned at least 50 percent of votes in the first round of a presidential election, prompting preparations for a June 17 runoff vote (Guardian) between right-wing candidate Ivan Duque, who opposes the government peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and leftist Gustavo Petro, a former Bogota mayor. In Foreign Affairs, Michael Shifter asks if Colombia will make peace with its peace deal. BRAZIL: A truckers strike that has caused major shortages of fuel and basic goods across Brazil entered its second week despite a government vow to lower diesel prices (FT). UNITED STATES Ivanka Trump Wins New Trademarks in China Beijing approved seven new trademarks (NYT) for White House advisor Ivanka Trump's consumer goods brand. Some U.S. watchdog groups have raised concerns about the move, which came around the same time President Trump offered relief to a Chinese telecommunications firm penalized for violating U.S. sanctions. An American imprisoned in Venezuela for two years returned home to Utah (AP), along with his Venezuelan wife, on Monday following negotiations between U.S. lawmakers and Caracas. This CFR panel examined U.S. policy options to address Venezuela's political and humanitarian crisis.         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: May 29, 2018 at 10:04PM