Daily News Brief

January 18, 2023

Top of the Agenda

The crash in a Kyiv suburb today killed Internal Affairs Minister Denys Monastyrskyi (NYT) and several other officials. It also damaged a kindergarten and a residential building, killing at least four children on the ground. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. The helicopter was on its way to one of the “hot spots” of the war with Russia, the president’s office said. 

As Ukraine tries to push back Russian forces in its east, the United States is drawing on its weapons stockpiles in Israel and South Korea to supply Ukrainian troops, the New York Times reported. Meanwhile, top U.S. and Ukrainian military officers met in person (AP) for the first time yesterday. They will meet with defense officials from some fifty countries tomorrow and Friday to coordinate further military assistance to Ukraine.

Analysis

“Monastyrsky oversaw the country’s police, its national guard and border patrol units. They included tens of thousands of combatants who have fought in the war, although some of the direct command had transferred to the army,” the New York Times’ Andrew E. Kramer writes.

“If the United States and Europe wish to see Russia leave Ukraine as a result of a negotiated settlement, they must, paradoxically, convince Moscow of their commitment to enabling Ukrainian soldiers to expel Russian troops by force and redoubling other penalties on Russia’s aggression,” Harvard University’s James K. Sebenius and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Michael Singh write for Foreign Affairs.

Pacific Rim

Nobel laureate Maria Ressa and her news organization Rappler were acquitted (NYT) of tax evasion, charges that Ressa said (Rappler) were politically motivated. Rappler and Ressa are the subject of three other active court cases.

South Korea: Police raided the headquarters (Korea Herald) of a major labor union in Seoul over suspicions that it provided illegal aid to North Korea.

South and Central Asia

Astana announced that visitors from Eurasian Economic Union member countries, including Russia, will only be allowed to stay (WaPo) in Kazakhstan for 90 days in a 180-day period. Previously, they could renew their stays by briefly leaving the country. The measure is expected to affect Russians most, including those who fled military conscription.

India: During a meeting about India’s 2024 general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told members of his party to reach out to Muslims (Bloomberg) and other religious minorities. He has pushed a Hindu nationalist agenda since coming to power in 2014.

This Backgrounder looks at India’s marginalized Muslim population.

Middle East and North Africa

Saudi Arabia’s finance minister said the country is working with multilateral financial institutions to create requirements (Bloomberg) for countries receiving its bailout funds. It has provided unconditional aid to distressed countries such as Pakistan and Egypt in recent years. 

Qatar/Brussels: Italian politician Pier Antonio Panzeri agreed to share details (WaPo) of an alleged bribery scandal between Qatar and several European Union (EU) officials in return for a reduced sentence.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will spend ten days (VOA) in Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia on a trip that aims to boost U.S. economic ties with the continent. 

For Foreign Affairs, Zainab Usman writes that the United States can foster an Africa boom by focusing on investment rather than aid alone.

Somalia: Aid from donors including the United States and Germany has postponed, but not eliminated (AP), the threat of famine in Somalia, the World Food Program’s chief said.

Europe

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU plans to issue funding and relax subsidy restrictions (FT) for member countries that provide incentives for green businesses. The proposed package follows the passage of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which some officials in Europe view as a threat to businesses on the continent. Any such EU measures would need the approval of European lawmakers. 

Americas

Almost 250,000 migrants moved northward (AP) across the Darién Gap, a dangerous stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama, in 2022, the International Organization for Migration said. The number marks twice as many migrant crossings compared to the previous year.   

This photo essay shows the perilous journey across the Darién Gap.

Brazil: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva removed forty troops (Reuters) from the group guarding the presidential residence over concerns about the military’s failure to stem the January 8 riots at the country’s capital.

United States

The move extends export curbs (Reuters) on technology that could support China’s chips sector, reflecting concerns that the technology could pass from Macau to mainland China. 

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