China’s Party Congress Kicks Off Amid Economic Slowdown, Rare Protest |
The twice-a-decade meeting of the ruling Chinese Communist Party begins on Sunday, with President Xi Jinping set to be granted (The Guardian) a precedent-breaking third term as party leader. Speeches and leadership appointments are expected to signal Xi’s goals over the next five years for China’s economy, managing COVID-19, and relations with Taiwan. Xi’s likely third term suggests he will be renamed (FT) China’s president when the country’s legislature meets in March.
The party congress comes as China’s economy has slowed under continued harsh COVID-19 restrictions. Ahead of the event, authorities have surveilled and harassed critics (The Guardian) of the government. Mentions of a protester who hung banners criticizing Xi and his COVID-19 policies in Beijing yesterday have been scrubbed from the internet. |
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“The dominant way of looking at [Xi’s third term] in the West is that it shows Xi has crushed all opposition and wants to rule for life. That’s part of the story, but it’s also true that Xi was brought in a decade ago to make the party stronger—and he’s done that,” CFR’s Ian Johnson writes.
“None of [China’s] rising officials appears positioned to soon emerge as Mr. Xi’s heir apparent. There are no formal limits on how long he may rule, and his hold on power may weaken only if China suffers a profound crisis,” the New York Times’ Chris Buckley writes. This Backgrounder looks at the Chinese Communist Party. |
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North Korea Flies Warplanes Near Border With South Korea, Fires Artillery Shots Into Buffer Zone |
South Korea’s military said more than ten North Korean warplanes flew (Yonhap) close to the countries’ border, while hundreds of artillery shots landed in a maritime buffer zone set under a de-escalation accord Pyongyang and Seoul signed in 2018. North Korea also test-fired a missile toward the Korean Peninsula’s eastern waters. This Backgrounder looks at North Korea’s military capabilities. |
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India Scraps Rule to Change Voter Composition of Kashmir |
The rule would have allowed (Reuters) newer residents of India-administered Kashmir to vote in the region. The reversal came after critics called the rule an attempt to change the demographics of India’s only Muslim-majority region.
This Backgrounder examines how India’s Muslim communities are increasingly marginalized.
Bangladesh: The country recorded eight deaths (UNB) from dengue fever yesterday, its highest single-day death toll from the disease this year. |
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Middle East and North Africa |
Iraqi Legislature Elects New President |
After being elected president, former Water Minister Abdul Latif Rashid named as prime minister (WaPo) Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, a close ally of Iran-aligned former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Sudani now has one month to form a government. Palestinian territories: The Israeli army killed a Palestinian militant (AP) during a gun battle in the West Bank’s Jenin refugee camp, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Six other people were wounded, including a doctor. |
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Nigerian University Professors End Eight-Month Strike |
Their dispute with the government about improved pay for lecturers remains unresolved, the BBC reported.
Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni signed a new law (AP) that allows jail terms of up to ten years for people who share or intercept certain information online without authorization. Press freedom groups such as the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists had urged him to veto it. |
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AP: Russian Adoptions of Ukrainian Children Include Deceit, Coercion |
Amid the war in Ukraine, Russian forces have sent children to Russia and Russian-occupied territories without their consent, lied to them, and given them to Russian families, the Associated Press reported.
France: Some railroad workers and civil servants joined oil refinery workers (Le Monde, AFP) in striking for higher wages. Labor groups have called for a general strike on Tuesday. |
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U.S., Mexico Propose UN Sanctions Regime on Haitians Linked to Gang Violence |
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Panel Investigating Capitol Attack Subpoenas Trump |
The bipartisan panel presented evidence (NYT) that puts former President Donald Trump at the center of a plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Analysts said he is unlikely to appear for a formal deposition. |
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Council on Foreign Relations |
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