EU to Announce Russian Oil Embargo Plan
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European Union (EU) officials are expected to present a proposal (WSJ) today for the bloc to phase out purchases of Russian oil by the end of the year. It would need unanimous support to take effect. Germany said it is willing to back the plan, which reportedly aims to give Hungary and Slovakia additional time to implement the embargo due to their high dependence on Russian oil.
While Germany’s backing represents a significant shift, the country’s economy minister warned that EU consumers should prepare (FT) for serious economic strains. The embargo would be part of the EU’s sixth sanctions package against Russia for the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
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“More fully isolating Russia from the global economy and cutting off its oil and gas revenues will limit the Kremlin’s capacity to fund its military in the future,” the Center for a New American Security’s Edward Fishman and Tufts University’s Chris Miller write for Foreign Affairs.
“While cutting off oil is good, [it is] important to note that this will lead to price spikes everywhere, further fueling inflation. Unlike gas, which is more difficult to transport, Germany will not have to feel the brunt of this action alone,” Johns Hopkins University’s Anita Kellogg tweets.
CFR offers background and analysis on the war in Ukraine.
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Leaked Draft Opinion Suggests Supreme Court Will Upend Abortion Rights
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A highly unusual leak of a draft Supreme Court majority opinion, seen by Politico, suggests the court could vote to overturn the landmark abortion rights decision on Roe v. Wade. Justices can change their votes as draft opinions circulate. So-called trigger laws in some states could immediately ban abortions (CNN) if the decision is confirmed.
For Think Global Health, CFR’s Samantha Kiernan tracks abortion access around the world.
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Japan, Thailand Sign New Defense Deal
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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha signed the deal, which facilitates military cooperation (Straits Times) between the countries, during Kishida’s visit to Bangkok yesterday. The leaders also signed deals on economic cooperation and COVID-19 assistance.
Australia: Ahead of general elections, the country’s central bank raised interest rates (SMH) for the first time in more than ten years.
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Germany Invites India to G7 Meeting, Pledges Climate Aid
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While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged over $10 billion (PTI) by 2030 to help India achieve its climate goals and invited Modi to next month’s Group of Seven (G7) summit.
Afghanistan/Iran: Iran’s deportations of Afghan migrants jumped 60 percent (AP) per month in January, February, and March, the UN migration agency said.
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Middle East and North Africa
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Iran’s Oil Minister Visits Venezuela’s Maduro
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Iranian Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, to discuss ways (AFP) to help their countries “overcome” the effects of U.S. sanctions.
This Backgrounder discusses the role of oil in Venezuela’s boom and bust.
Iraq: At least three thousand people fled (Al Jazeera) the northern town of Sinjar due to clashes between the Iraqi army and a militia linked to the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
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Mali’s Junta Ends Military Ties With France
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Mali’s military government announced that French and European forces can no longer enter or move freely (Bloomberg) within the country. French counterinsurgency forces were already withdrawing from Mali.
Ethiopia: A government-appointed rights body said it is investigating a video (Reuters) that shows men dressed in Ethiopian army uniforms assaulting and shooting a child.
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Germany’s Scholz Meets With Finnish, Swedish Prime Ministers
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Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will meet with Scholz as their countries weigh applying (Defense News) for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
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British Virgin Islanders Protest Prospect of Direct British Rule
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Council on Foreign Relations
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