STORIES
Barak Ravid of Israel's Channel 10 news1 hour ago
Netanyahu to cabinet: Trump has no concrete peace plan right now
Prime Minister Netanyahu briefed the Israeli cabinet today on his visit to the U.S. and his meeting with President Trump at the White House last Monday. According to two officials who attend the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu told the ministers:
"There is no concrete U.S. peace plan on the table at the moment. I am not saying there couldn't be one in the future, but right now there is none."
Peter Kellner Mar 8
EXPERT VOICES
Key questions unresolved in May's latest Brexit speech
In her address last Friday about Britain’s impending withdrawal from the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May failed to present a compelling vision for post-Brexit Europe. To lay the groundwork for trade negotiations in Brussels, the speech needed to meet three objectives but accomplished one at most.
May’s goals:
Erica Pandey 4 hours ago
China scraps term limits, clears path for Xi to rule indefinitely
China's National People's Congress overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment to eliminate presidential term limits, paving the way for President Xi Jinping to stay in power after his second term ends in 2023. The vote was as follows, per the AFP's Joanna Chiu: 2958 in favor, 2 against, 3 abstentions, 1 invalid vote.
Why it matters, according to Axios contributor Bill Bishop: Xi is working to obliterate any boundaries between party and state and to reinsert the Communist Party of China (CPC) into all aspects of China's economy and society — all while ensuring he's the unchallenged embodiment of the CPC. The end result will be Xi's complete dominion over all parts of Chinese government and society.
Erica Pandey Mar 10
FACTS MATTER
How the world's inventory of nuclear weapons grew — then shrunk again
There are 85% fewer nuclear warheads in the world today than there were during the peak of the Cold War, but proliferation continues to be a threat with newer, younger powers like North Korea adding weapons to their arsenals.
A look at where things stand...
Adham Sahloul Mar 10
EXPERT VOICES
Escalating attacks in Syria call UN, U.S. response into question
The rapidly deteriorating situation in Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus besieged since 2013 by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, now resembles Aleppo's in 2016.
Not only is the Assad regime continuing to violate the UN-brokered ceasefire, it is reportedly escalating its attacks by deploying chlorine gas and incendiary weapons such as napalm and phosphorus. Russian and Syrian government forces have also targeted at least 25 medical facilities since February.
Why it matters: As the UN and U.S. stand by, the humanitarian crisis on the ground is worsening. At least 5,000 people have been injured and 900 killed in the last two weeks, with the conflict's death toll now surpassing 500,000.
Palestinian Authority declines Trump's invitation for Gaza meeting
The Palestinian Authority turned down an invitation by the Trump administration to participate in a meeting on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which will take place at the White House on March 13, according to a senior Palestinian official.
Why it matters: This is yet another example of the deep crisis between the Trump administration and the Palestinian leadership which erupted after the President's Jerusalem announcement on Dec. 6. Since then the Palestinians refuse to engage in talks with the White House.
Barbara Slavin Mar 10
EXPERT VOICES
How a Kim-Trump summit could help save the Iran deal
News that President Trump has accepted an invitation for the first meeting between a U.S. president and a North Korean leader has provoked a range of reactions, from optimism that North Korea might actually curb its nuclear weapons program to concern that such a meeting will only legitimize its brutal regime. For those working to keep the U.S. in the Iran nuclear deal, however, a Kim-Trump encounter — assuming it comes off — would be encouraging.
Alexander Vershbow Mar 10
EXPERT VOICES
U.S. preparation, diplomatic team needed ahead of North Korea summit
The proposed summit meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un holds great promise but will require careful preparation if it is to secure a lasting solution to the North Korean nuclear threat.
The background: South Korean officials teed up the talks by persuading Kim Jong-un to meet the United States’ conditions for negotiations: denuclearization as the declared goal, suspension of nuclear and missile tests during talks and acceptance that economic sanctions and U.S.–South Korea military exercises will continue.
Haley Britzky Mar 9
Trump leaves door open to tariff exemptions for Australia
President Trump tweeted on Friday that the "great nation of Australia" may be exempted from steel and aluminum tariffs.
Why it matters: Trump has voiced the possibility of reprieve for Mexico and Canada as well. The reaction around the world to his tariffs have been mostly negative, with China and the E.U. saying they could retaliate with their own restrictions.
Bill Bishop of Sinocism Mar 9
China's view on possible Trump-Kim talks
Beijing is pleased with the news that President Trump accepted an offer to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Geng Huang called it “a step in the right direction,” Xinhua reports.
What I'm hearing: Chinese officials were not aware that Kim had suggested to the South Koreans he was willing to sit down with Trump, but they will be happy at the prospect that lowered tensions may be on the horizon.
Haley Britzky Mar 9
Aung San Suu Kyi stripped of human rights award over silence on Rohingya
Myanmar's de-facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been stripped of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's prestigious Elie Wiesel Award, the New York Times reports, for "failing to halt or even acknowledge the ethnic cleansing" in her country.
The bigger picture: A Nobel Peace Prizerecipient is leading a country in the midst of a possible genocide, and disappointing many of her former supporters abroad by not taking a stand.
Jazmin Goodwin Mar 9
Report shows African Americans still disadvantaged by racial inequality
A report released by the Economic Policy Institute shows that there has been no progress for African Americans in comparison to whites regarding employment, homeownership and incarceration since the release of the Kerner Commission in 1968.
Scoop: Netanyahu told Trump he's concerned about U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal
During his meeting with President Trump at the White House on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised concerns over a possible deal between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to build nuclear reactors in the kingdom, Israeli officials told me.
Where things stand: The officials, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, said Netanyahu asked Trump not to continue with the deal, but the message from Trump and his team was that if the U.S. doesn't sell the Saudis nuclear reactors other countries like Russia or France will.
Bill Bishop of Sinocism Mar 9
Africa is next in the U.S.-China race
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is warning Africans not to forfeit "any elements of your sovereignty" to China via its investments and loans, during his five-nation Africa tour. Separately, other U.S. leaders are growing more concerned about moves China is making on an important port in Djibouti.
Why this matters: Africa is the new target in the global influence race between China and America. Similar to a recent trip to Latin America, Tillerson is sounding the alarm over China's growing influence. But, China's reach is expected to continue expanding, especially as Chinese President Xi Jinping views President Trump's "America First" platform as a boon.
P.J. Crowley Mar 9
EXPERT VOICES
The biggest hurdle to a North Korean nuclear deal: American politics
News that President Donald Trump will sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the next three months is a stunning development. There is considerable risk associated with this dramatic gambit. Contrary to the normal diplomatic playbook, which calls for leaders to meet after experts have worked through complex details, this meeting will in essence kickstart negotiations.
What's next: If Kim is willing to bargain away his nuclear and missile capabilities — a big if — the biggest hurdle to an agreement will be less what North Koreans demand than what American politics allows.
Zachary Basu Mar 9
Turkish court sentences 25 journalists to prison for failed coup
A Turkish court has sentenced 25 journalists to prison terms of up to seven and a half years for links to Fethullah Gรผlen, an exiled preacher accused of organizing the country's 2016 failed coup, reports AFP. Almost all of those convicted worked for three media outlets — Zaman, Aksiyon and Rotahaber — that are considered close to Gรผlen, who denies having any role in the coup attempt.
Why it matters: President Erdoฤan has extended a state of emergency six timessince 2016, allowing authorities to arrest more than 50,000 people in an attempt to purge Gรผlen's influence from Turkish society. Turkey is considered the No. 1 worst jailer of press by the Committee to Protect Journalists, ahead of China and Egypt.
Richard Haass Mar 9
EXPERT VOICES
Prospect of North Korea talks calls for cautious diplomacy
Yesterday's offer by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to meet with a U.S. president and to freeze testing of nuclear weapons and missiles is a major development. But at this point, what we don’t know far exceeds what we do. We need to proceed with caution and careful diplomacy.
The invitation raises a host of vexing questions:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.