Xi, Zelenskyy Hold First Call Since Start of Ukraine War |
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the war in Ukraine (WaPo) yesterday in a call that Zelenskyy described as “long and meaningful.” Kyiv has sought for Beijing to pressure Moscow to de-escalate its war efforts, though Ukraine previously rejected a Chinese blueprint for peace talks that did not stipulate the return of Russia-occupied Ukrainian territories. Xi said a Chinese envoy will travel to Kyiv (AP) to tout a political resolution to the conflict.
A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said it was “a good thing” for Xi to hear a Ukrainian perspective on the conflict. China has not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Xi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin (CNN) in Moscow in March. Xi’s call with Zelenskyy came after China’s ambassador to France sparked outrage with comments that questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet nations. China’s foreign ministry later walked back the comments.
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Chinese Police Question Workers at U.S. Consulting Firm’s Shanghai Office |
Police visited the offices of Bain & Company two weeks ago, questioned employees, and confiscated computers and phones, the Financial Times reported. It is unclear what prompted the visit, which sparked concerns that Chinese authorities could be retaliating against U.S. restrictions on Chinese companies. |
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China Pledges to Deepen Military Cooperation With Pakistan |
A Chinese government statement on the ongoing visit to Beijing by Pakistan’s army chief called the two countries (Al Jazeera) “all-weather strategic cooperative partners and close friends” and said they would jointly protect regional stability.
U.S./Sri Lanka: Washington blocked a Sri Lankan provincial governor (UPI) from traveling to the United States, saying he committed “gross violations of human rights” during Sri Lanka’s civil war in the late 2000s.
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Middle East and North Africa |
Cambodia, UAE Agree on Terms for Trade Deal |
The countries reached the agreement (Reuters) less than six months after starting negotiations, Emirati state media reported. The deal is expected to benefit Cambodia’s food and agriculture sectors while also helping to maintain food security in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Libya: At least fifty-five migrants died on Tuesday when their boat sank (AP) off the coast of Libya, UN officials said. The first quarter of this year was the deadliest for migrants in the Central Mediterranean since that same period in 2017.
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Scientists: Climate Change Made Horn of Africa Drought One Hundred Times More Likely |
The calculation was announced (WaPo) by World Weather Attribution, an international initiative to analyze the links between climate change and weather. The ongoing drought left around twenty-three million people in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia facing extreme food insecurity at the end of 2022.
Sudan: The United States and African countries have pushed for the extension (Reuters) of a seventy-two-hour truce between Sudan’s warring military groups. Air strikes and antiaircraft fire were heard in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, today ahead of the cease-fire’s expiration at midnight.
For Foreign Affairs, Alex de Waal discusses what Washington and its Arab partners should do to quell Sudan’s descent into violence.
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Pope Allows Women to Vote in Important Church Advisory Meeting |
Five women will be allowed to vote (BBC) at an influential meeting of bishops in October, the Vatican said. A group that advocates for women priests called the change “a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling.” This episode of the Why It Matters podcast looks at the power of the pope.
Ukraine: More than 98 percent of the combat vehicles that Western backers promised Ukraine ahead of its planned spring counteroffensive have reached the country (NYT), a top North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) official said.
CFR’s Stephen Sestanovich weighs prospects for Ukraine’s planned military push.
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Colombian President Replaces Finance Minister in Cabinet Shake-Up |
Outgoing Finance Minister José Antonio Ocampo had become known as a moderating voice (Bloomberg) in Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s government. It is not yet clear if his replacement, Ricardo Bonilla, intends to play a similar role.
Brazil: Lawmakers began an official probe (FT) into the January 8, 2023, riot at Brazil’s capitol building.
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Justice Department Seeks Continued Pretrial Detention for Accused Intel Leaker |
U.S. prosecutors said in a filing that countries hostile to the United States could attempt to facilitate the escape (CBS) of Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira if he is allowed to return home before his trial, given his potential access to sensitive information. |
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Council on Foreign Relations |
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