March 31, 2020

Daily News Brief

March 31, 2020

Editor’s note: CFR is fully operational. Due to the pandemic, all in-person events are suspended. Find all of CFR’s coronavirus-related resources here. 

Top of the Agenda

Lagos Joins 3.5 Billion People in Lockdown Worldwide

Three Nigerian states that are home to nearly thirty million people began a two-week, coronavirus-related lockdown (This Day) enforced by the country’s military. The lockdown includes Lagos, Africa’s most populous city. Dozens of other African nations have imposed restrictions (AFP) ranging from partial curfews to complete shutdowns.

The estimated 3.5 billion people worldwide (Guardian) under some kind of lockdown because of the virus now includes those in Moscow, Vietnam (WaPo), and some districts of Mecca and Dubai. Yesterday, Hungary enacted sweeping legal changes due to the virus, granting Prime Minister Viktor Orban the power to rule by decree indefinitely (CNN).

Analysis

“Africans and their friends have recognized that the new coronavirus had the potential to devastate a continent that is poor, has weak public health systems, often limited bureaucratic capacity, and governments that frequently enjoy little popular confidence,” writes CFR’s John Campbell.          

“What is left of [Hungary’s] political opposition has been rendered toothless. In view of the pressure that Orban’s government has put on migrants and asylum seekers, this law may well be used to target them, or to further strip the rights of the minority Roma community,” Emily Tamkin writes for the New Statesman.

Pacific Rim

Singapore Upholds Criminalization of Gay Sex

Singapore’s top court dismissed three appeals (Reuters) that challenged a law that says sex between men is unconstitutional.

North Korea: Pyongyang said it lost interest (Yonhap) in denuclearization talks with Washington after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraged other countries to continue to sanction North Korea.

South and Central Asia

Indian Migrant Workers Make Mass Exodus From Cities

Coronavirus-related lockdowns have prompted millions of India’s migrant and day laborers to leave cities (Guardian) and return to their rural villages in what is thought to be India’s largest mass movement since partition. Some authorities have erected shelters (Mint) for the travelers.

Pakistan: Watchdog group Reporters Without Borders denounced the disappearance (RFE/RL) of Pakistani journalist Sajid Hussain, saying it is possible that Pakistani intelligence services arranged his abduction.

Middle East and North Africa

Yemen’s Coalition Forces Conduct Air Strikes Against Rebels

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen carried out more than a dozen air strikes (Al Jazeera) on the rebel-held city of Sanaa. On Saturday, Riyadh intercepted two missiles the Houthis claimed to have launched.

Iran: Iranian authorities said they halted natural gas exports (Reuters) to Turkey after a militant attack on a pipeline on the Turkish side of the countries’ shared border.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Sierra Leone Ends Ban on Pregnant Girls Attending School

The ban, introduced in 2015, was ruled discriminatory (BBC) by West Africa’s top court.

Europe

France Provides Emergency Housing As Domestic Abuse Spikes in Lockdown

France said it would provide hotel rooms (Reuters) and counseling for victims of domestic violence after reports of abuse rose during the first week of the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald J. Trump spoke on the phone (AFP) about plunging oil prices and cooperation on the coronavirus pandemic.

CFR’s Thomas Graham looks at how the coronavirus threatens Putin’s global image.

Americas

Colombian Rebels Call Cease-Fire

Colombian guerilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) said it would observe a cease-fire (BBC) beginning April 1 as a “humanitarian gesture” during the coronavirus pandemic.

In Foreign Affairs, Gimena Sanchez-Garzoli looks at Colombia’s difficult exit from civil conflict.

Argentina: President Alberto Fernandez said the country still aims to avoid default (Bloomberg) on $69 billion worth of overseas debt that it had aimed to renegotiate before the coronavirus crisis.

In Foreign Affairs, Bruno Binetti writes that Fernandez’s legacy will be defined by his ability to manage Argentina’s debt.

United States

White House to Weaken Auto Efficiency Rules

The Trump administration is set to release a new rule that would lower gas mileage standards (WaPo) for U.S. automobiles, requiring auto companies to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 percent per year between 2021 and 2026 instead of the nearly 5 percent required by the Barack Obama administration. The change, which could be released as early as today, would release an additional 1.5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases over five years, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

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