• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sudan’s armed forces and its paramilitary Rapid Support Forces agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire following “intense negotiations” mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Both sides announced their commitment to the ceasefire, but many fear that fighting could resume at a moment’s notice. (Financial Times) 
• Juan Guaidó, Venezuela’s most prominent opposition leader, said he’s on his way to the United States after being forced out of Colombia, hours after he crossed the border into the country after receiving threats from the Venezuelan government. Guaidó had previously presented the most serious challenge to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime by organizing an interim government and garnering the recognition of the United States and dozens of other nations, but the effort ultimately dissolved after a lack of progress. (The New York Times)
• Ukrainian forces are reportedly launching raids across the Dnipro river near the city of Kherson, with the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War using geolocated footage to assess that Kyiv had established a foothold on the east bank. The deputy head of the Kherson regional administration said the raids were intended to reduce the combat capability of Russian forces who have been shelling the city since being forced to retreat last year. (Reuters)
• U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres outlined a proposed extension and expansion of a deal with Russia that has allowed Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports. Details of the proposal have not been released, but the Kremlin indicated the letter “needs to be studied.” The proposal has also been circulated to Ukraine and Turkey, the deal’s other signatories. (The New York Times)

As Yoon Visits White House, Public Opinion Headwinds Are Swirling at Home

Morning Consult

Allies resist US plan to ban all G7 exports to Russia

Henry Foy et al., Financial Times 

EU and Japanese diplomats say that Washington’s proposal is ‘simply not do-able’.

Quad countries to bolster cyber defense with information-sharing 

Rieko Miki, Nikkei Asia 

Australia, India, Japan and U.S. aim for agreement by May summit.

Japan wins G-7 support for ‘avoided emissions’ climate concept 

Sayumi Take, Nikkei Asia 

Expert says guidelines help but are no substitute for cutting greenhouse gasses.

India pushes ‘Global South’ goals on to G-20 agenda

Kiran Sharma and Nana Shibata, Nikkei Asia 

Grouping of less industrialized countries remains loosely defined.

China’s planned changes to espionage law alarm foreign businesses

Yukio Tajima, Nikkei Asia 

Fears grow of more cases like Astellas employee’s detention.

Taiwan Isn’t Playing Dollar Diplomacy Anymore

Rocio Fabbro and Robbie Gramer, Foreign Policy 

Taipei can’t outspend Beijing to win friends. But it’s got other things going for it.

Lèse-majesté Abolition Push Is Gaining Ground in Thailand 

David Hutt, The Diplomat 

In the May election, a significant number of Thais are expected to vote for a party that has spoken about the need to reform – or even abolish – the lèse-majesté law.

China, Singapore plan military drills as Beijing forges defence ties

Ryan Woo, Reuters 

China and Singapore will hold a joint military exercise as soon as this week, their first combined drills since 2021, as Beijing deepens its defence and security ties with Southeast Asia, a region with strong existing U.S. alliances.

Ex-UN head Ban Ki-moon urges army to end Myanmar violence

Grant Peck, The Associated Press

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged Myanmar’s ruling military to take the initiative in finding a way out of the country’s violent political crisis, including releasing political detainees, after a surprise meeting with the army leader who seized power two years ago.

Russia’s Lavrov Leads U.N. Peace Meeting, Drawing Accusations of Hypocrisy

Farnaz Fassihi, The New York Times 

Taking advantage of its turn as president of the Security Council, Moscow sent Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov to preside over a session on peace and diplomacy.

Putin ally: We are probably on verge of a new world war

Guy Faulconbridge, Reuters 

An ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the world was probably on the verge of a new world war and the risks of a nuclear confrontation were rising.

The Grim Life and Brutal Death of a Wagner Recruit

James Marson, The Wall Street Journal

A Russian prisoner struck a deal to fight for six months in Ukraine in exchange for his freedom, one of many who hoped to collect his due.

Russia’s new T-14 Armata battle tank debuts in Ukraine – RIA

Lidia Kelly, Reuters 

Russia has begun using its new T-14 Armata battle tanks to fire on Ukrainian positions “but they have not yet participated in direct assault operations,” the RIA state news agency reported on Tuesday, quoting a source close the matter.

EU eyes new rules for generative AI this year: Vestager

Takashi Tsuji and Catherine de Beaurepaire, Nikkei Asia 

Bloc to weigh labeling requirement for works made by ChatGPT and similar tools.

Exclusive: EU tweaks draft patent rules making it easier for patent holders to sue

Foo Yun Chee, Reuters 

The European Commission has tweaked draft patent rules to make it easier for patent holders to sue companies over royalty disputes following criticism that an earlier draft favoured users while restricting patent owners from seeking injunctions.

EU outlines plan to take control of medicine production in health crises

Andy Bounds et al., Financial Times 

Proposal for compulsory licensing risks ire of pharma groups keen to protect patents and revenue.

Serbian leader lashes out at the West over Kosovo vote

Dusan Stojanovic, The Associated Press

The Serbian president on Monday sharply criticized Western officials who are mediating talks on normalizing ties with Kosovo, calling them liars and frauds, and said the Serb minority in the former Serbian province will no longer tolerate foreign “occupation.”

Migrants mount legal challenge to UK-Rwanda deportation plan

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press

Several asylum-seekers and refugee groups began a court challenge on Monday to the British government’s plan to send hundreds of migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda.

Haiti insecurity ‘comparable’ to nations at war, says UN

AFP via France24 

Insecurity in Haiti’s capital has reached levels similar to countries at war, the United Nations said Monday in a report that highlighted a surge in murders and kidnappings in the country.

Mob kills 13 suspected Haiti gangsters with gas-soaked tires

Evens Sanon, The Associated Press

A mob in the Haitian capital beat and burned 13 suspected gang members to death with gasoline-soaked tires Monday after pulling the men from police custody at a traffic stop, police and witnesses said.

Pope Francis hopes to visit native Argentina next year

The Associated Press

Pope Francis said he hopes to travel to his native Argentina in 2024, which would mark the first time he would step foot in his homeland since becoming pontiff a decade ago.

UN warns Sudan ‘on edge of abyss’ as brutal fighting sparks mass exodus

AFP via France24 

Foreign nations pushed on Monday with evacuations of their citizens from chaos-torn Sudan which, the UN chief warned, is “on the edge of the abyss” after 10 days of brutal fighting between rival forces.

Sudan crisis threatens to bring fresh turmoil to neighbouring Chad

Aanu Adeoye, Financial Times 

Tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees have already crossed into a country gripped by its own political crisis.

EU sanctions cousins of Syria’s Assad for alleged drug trafficking

AFP via France24 

The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on cousins of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the trafficking of stimulant drug captagon, a key source of income for the regime.

Men in military uniforms kill 60 people in Burkina Faso

Sam Mednick, The Associated Press

At least 60 people have been killed by men in military uniforms in northern Burkina Faso, authorities said.

Joe Biden prepares to take his case for a second term to US voters

James Politi and Lauren Fedor, Financial Times 

President hopes to set aside worries about his age and lacklustre polling in pursuing re-election bid.

U.S. Sent Teams into Foreign Networks to Hunt SolarWinds, Microsoft Hackers

James Rundle, The Wall Street Journal 

Mixed military-civilian cyber team spied on SolarWinds attackers, filched malware used against Microsoft email product.